Should We Get Rid of the Pardon Power?

[@iammrbeat]

What are your opinions on the pardon power? Please consider supporting the sponsor of this video. Sponsors, Patreon supporters and channel members help keep this channel going when KZbin demonetizes my videos. I cannot thank them enough. Get 50% off your first order of CookUnity meals - go to cookunity.com/mrbeat and use my code MRBEAT50 at checkout to try them out for yourself! Thanks to CookUnity for sponsoring this video!

[@BadChess56]

I don't like the pardon power.

[@TrueShepardN7]

I am more in favor of the pardon being at least limited if not straight up abolished. I think we good theoretically pass a law that prevents presidents from pardoning family members or close friends.

[@BadChess56]

@@TrueShepardN7 there was an amendment for that, but it didn't pass...

[@ZonamaPrime]

I think the pardon is a look into said politician's true character. Who they pardon and why says a lot

[@eonmusic00001]

I support the ability to pardon, but i don't support how it's used. However i think that's more a problem with pokiticians in a capitalist free market, seeking personal gain, rather than the system itself. Ideally politicians look out for their constiuency, and that includes using partisan power for them. It's a known shame that politicians suck

[@bradcofo]

I hope we can all agree that PARDONING YOURSELF is a power that should not exist. Just putting that out there for future conversations.

[@iammrbeat]

I strongly agree

[@georgewaters6424]

@@iammrbeat I hard agree.

[@balabanasireti]

Yep

[@Dzod500]

Absolutely agree

[@fire_tower]

The base idea that it could exist is silly and merits no serious consideration.

[@martinbruhn5274]

The more I hear about the founding father, the more I get the impression, that there biggest fallacy was to think "but the president would never do something like that, not the president, that would be below him".

[@crabser2253]

One thing obvious about the federalist papers is that they were very idealistic. The antifederalists were more realistic about human nature and government.

[@ffreeze9924]

They also didn’t even consider the influence that political parties would have, since they effectively give the president control of congress (the president elect’s party is more likely than not to also win congress)

[@DiamondKingStudios]

I wonder how much of this shortsightedness is just due to the limited franchise they had for elections back then, and them not expecting to have to deal with a broader electorate. It wouldn’t be until the 1820s that the average white man could vote.

[@miscaccount9438]

@@ffreeze9924 George Washington was actually against political parties

[@miscaccount9438]

@@martinbruhn5274 but not the whole slavery thing? Calling the indigenous peoples "merciless savages"?

[@yahyag8679]

Alternative title: "Mr. Beat tries to sneak in as many 'pardon me' puns in one video as possible."😂

[@tomstable]

I'm surprised you never mentioned Bill Clinton pardoning his brother.

[@iammrbeat]

I also should have mentioned Carter pardoning those who fled the country to avoid the draft during the Vietnam War!

[@tomstable]

@iammrbeat I forgot about that. Great video as always Mr. Beat!

[@rickwiles8835]

Bill's brother had already served his time Biden's son was pardoned so he wouldn't serve a day behind bars. Roger paid his debt to society, and Hunter was given a get-out-of-jail-free card.

[@tamalexpert9212]

Also all those turkeys that get pardoned every year for no reason.

[@sammonicuslux]

@@iammrbeat Another reason to respect Carter.

[@cocacolaa1000]

Other Founding Fathers: Maybe we should put some limits on this... Alexander Hamilton: Nah

[@iammrbeat]

Hamilton was fairly keen on a king-like president

[@TPSREAL-00]

@@iammrbeatplease forgive him he was just new to things but actually forgive him Mr beat

[@FireCat34]

​@@iammrbeat I wonder about Alexander Hamilton so keen King like President aka a President service for life because most or all head of states service for life back then he thought was best for USA stability if USA President was King like

[@sydguitar99]

It's unfortunate how many of the limits that the president has were all based on verbal agreements and nothing legal

[@marshallmckinney3275]

Mr Beat is the Mr Rogers for history buffs. Calm, relaxed, speaks slowly, goofy humor. And puppets! I’ve learned so much from these videos.

[@DanTheMan-rr3yg]

Honestly, dissecting parts of The Constitution could be a good video series -- I liked that history behind how and why the founding fathers added this particular amendment, and how it has affected/changed how today on what the founding fathers thought. Could and would love to see more of these kind of videos -- even if they're shorts or long formatted like this! Keep it up!

[@johnchessant3012]

Jimmy Carter pardoned all Vietnam War draft evaders! Another point in favor of the pardon

[@thesenate1844]

And he did it on his second day in office, not in his final days

[@charlie-j4o7u]

Common Jimmy Carter W

[@brianjonker510]

LMAO That is a point in favor of getting rid of the pardon

[@Compucles]

That one is debatable. On one hand, they had no business illegally defying the U.S. military like that just because it was an unpopular war. No one would even entertain the idea of widespread pardoning of WWII draft dodgers. On the other hand, the legality of entering that conflict in the first place with no declaration of war and no support from the U.N. was always highly questionable at best.

[@anthrolitestudios]

@@Compucles In hindsight. Good thing they didn’t fight

[@roundmaster2418]

16:14 oh… that’s gore of my comfort character

[@alejandragomez8492]

@@roundmaster2418 underrated comment

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Babe, Wake up! Mr Beat just dropped another video on the complexeties of american politics

[@balabanasireti]

Oh, shut up

[@iammrbeat]

I doubt babe wakes up. lol

[@breakingbacon658]

I’m pretty sure that pig has been dead for years. Good movies though.

[@LibertyAnd1776]

@@iammrbeatYou might need to pardon her first before she wakes up.

[@DiamondKingStudios]

@@LibertyAnd1776He should ask her pardon instead; even if I wake up to two million dollars downstairs, it is still an interruption of sleep.

[@johnsonnghiem9018]

We shouldn't get rid of pardons.. But there should be restrictions/limits to nepotism for pardons.

[@corbingovers7559]

I agree, the pardon power needs to be available to the executive as a check against the judiciary. Especially as laws change and people convicted for those old offenses should be released/commuted (see non-violent drug offenders). The blatantly corrupt ones, however, like most of Trump's and Hunter's pardon need some sort of restriction.

[@adampica9815]

Why shouldn’t we get rid of pardons? I don’t understand why people are so attached to this blatant insult to the justice system

[@DontWalkRunProduct]

Kinda funny that Joe Biden's presidency began with him denying the existence of Hunter's laptop and is ending with Biden pardoning Hunter for his 💻😂,

[@CidVeldoril]

@@adampica9815 Because the government is a manifestation of the will of the people with the President as the head of that system. A society logically can decide not to punish a transgressing member of said society even if those who decide on rulebreaking say that they should. Also, since the justice system is often as partisan as politics, it makes sense for there to be checks and balances to prevent a hostile court from engaging in lawfare.

[@johnsonnghiem9018]

@@adampica9815 Because, justice system can be flawed too. There are many instances where people are arrested merely because they said too much & the police's/officer's job should be to find the actual criminal. But in most cases in realworld/practically it is a check in the box for them & abuse of power to just occam's razor it. Get the most convenient guy arrested.

[@mackb909]

I live in Chicago. I remember when Rod Blagojevich mismanaged the state when he was governor and whined like the spoiled little narcissist he is that Illinoisans didn't appreciate him enough for granting free public transportation to seniors (in the scheme of things in Illinois and Chicago, seniors are as a group NOT economically disadvantaged relative to other demographic groups). I remember when he gave life-long mediocrity Roland Burris the U.S. Senate seat vacated by then-President Elect Barack Obama in 2008. I remember his corrupt sister-in-law Debbie Mell being the only member of the State Assembly to vote against his impeachment. I remember the jury not buying his lies, and attempting to throw his own older brother Robert (who raised, and spoiled and coddled, Rod after their parents died) under the bus during his criminal corruption trial. And I remember Trump pardoning him, and Blagojevich, ostensibly heretofore a progressive Democrat, effusively praising Trump and supporting his reelection in 2020.

[@qjames0077]

Funny you live in Chicago, Biden pardoned a county manager in Illinois who was convicted of embezzling millions over twenty years in her small town

[@tiffanyganton550]

signs of the times, watching history unfold. Fortunate to live in a city with such a rich history!

[@TheSkyheart5]

While I think he deserved his sentence, I can understand the argument it was too harsh. Blagojevich was the 2nd governor in a row that was convicted on corruption charges, so I can believe the book may have been thrown at him partially over another persons crimes and as a warning to future governors.

[@hkhjg1734]

salt

[@balabanasireti]

​@@hkhjg1734 what do you even mean lol

[@cazpira]

i pardon you for making this video. i might appreciate this video actuslly

[@iammrbeat]

Pardon me. Thank you for watching. :)

[@mcmann7149]

One of the reasons that I would argue a pardon power would be needed is the necessary need for a check against the Judicial branch of government. If someone is unjustly convicted or punished for a crime, there should be a power that is available to rectify that potential action.

[@blakekaveny]

It’s not the judicial branch that convicts though. The judicial branch holds the trial yes but the jury convicts. But also that’s what appeals are for. You see it all the time in which appeals are successful. The vast majority of the time someone who was unjustly convicted doesn’t need a pardon because they get off on appeal.

[@mcmann7149]

@@blakekaveny The jury is part of a trial. Part of the judicial system is that the accused has a right to a fair and speedy trial to a jury of their peers. Appeals are part of the judicial system as well, where another set of judges look at the case and either agree with the verdict they are looking over or they appeal the previous verdict. None of this exists outside of the judicial system and thus, doesn't exist outside the Judicial branch.

[@Bill-im6nt]

That was the original idea.

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

​@@mcmann7149yep past the jury trial itself, it's only appeals judges making the decisions anyways.

[@DaglasVegas]

when your country has the death penalty on the books... pardon power is a necessary. you could get rid of both, but removing pardon power without removing the death penalty first is really bad idea.

[@ayenul]

We should get rid of them both as a compromise then, right? Right? 😅

[@paisleepunk]

@@ayenul that's just the correct answer (ideally)

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

Well, being able to imprison someone for life is reason enough to keep the pardon power available. That said the death penalty needs to go too.

[@JAGzilla-ur3lh]

Somehow I doubt many of the Founding Fathers seriously resisted putting the power of the pardon in the constitution. I can just picture them looking around at each other while they debated this, knowing one of them was going to become president and have the ability to pardon the others in the event they needed it. "If I vote for you, you'll have my back, right George?"

[@angrychickengod3831]

I also wouldn't be surprised if in all their patriotic pride they simply thought "The people wouldn't elect someone who would need to pardon themselves!"

[@fredd036]

😂

[@Compucles]

@@angrychickengod3831 Then why did they bother granting Congress the power to impeach the President? They knew that there could be corrupt Presidents. I just think that they thought that the very idea of a self-pardon is so ridiculous that it didn't need to be specifically mentioned as a restriction.

[@balabanasireti]

​@@Compucles To be honest, as much as I respect the Founding Fathers you could tell that some of them were too idealistic and naive

[@livephysiology]

The pardon can also be a means of efficiency rather than a contradiction to the criminal justice system. For example, if civic disobedience is participated in to enact change that is successful, many would feel those who participated in the civic disobedience should not be punished, and a pardon is appropriate despite those participating knowing what they were doing was against the law. It may be tricky wording for a law that would legalize the civic disobedience only for those who did it for the cause while still keeping the same act illegal for everyone else. However, a pardon can be that specific rather easily, relieving those who participated in the civic disobedience of any legal challenges while leaving the laws they broke still in place

[@unionmaster]

Love the Incubus reference at the end there

[@plusmin09]

so boomer

[@Izomak12]

Does Gen Z know about Pardon Me?

[@paawansagar8269]

Mr.Beat I love that you used Pardon me for the outro music. Great touch and great song!

[@iammrbeat]

I used to listen to that song as a kid so much.

[@Joutube_is_trash]

Pardon probably needs a rework, but it's such an iconic ultimate the government doesn't want to touch it.

[@kennethbode2017]

pardons are an important tool for the benefit of correcting injustice as we have seen in the past. Sometimes the pardons end up being an injustice in itself. That is a risk worth taking in a free society.

[@iammrbeat]

Well put

[@ibrahimkalmati9379]

No I want a proper legal framework for correcting injustice rather than giving a individual absolute power to the veto judiciary j

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

​@@ibrahimkalmati9379 correct, it's a check on the judiciary. Having some rules would be nice, but you still need the check.

[@ezrawilliam-h4l]

My biggest concern is how we are going to survive all these financial and political crises, especially the power struggle in the US. The government has really made things difficult for its citizens and we cannot just sit by and suffer the consequences of bad governance🙏...

[@Mariaanda259]

I don't really blame people who panic. Lack of information can be a big hurdle. I've been making more than $21k passively by just going into crypto investment , and I don't have to do much work. Inflation or no inflation, my finances remain secure. So I really don't blame people who panic.

[@francisco236]

I am new to the crypto world and don't understand how it really works. A friend told me trading with a professional trader is the best strategy for beginners and busy investors, but for months now I've been making so research and haven't found any.please any recommendations

[@mackayIII]

Thanks to Mrs. Ksenia Alice

[@mackayIII]

She's a licensed broker and successful entrepreneur from the state.

[@mackayIII]

I first met her last year at a conference in Washington DC, invested $2,000 and within a week of trade I make over $15,000.

[@edsova5089]

2/3 of congress should be able to override a presidential pardon

[@ivinnium]

I'd say a simple majority should be it.

[@ObsessedCollector]

I agree. sometimes these pardons go TOO FAR

[@FC-qe1wl]

Better yet ONLY congress can grant pardons and by a three quarters vote in both houses.. However I would rather see it abolished

[@Sōsūke_Aizēn_GOAT]

​@@FC-qe1wlHaha that would never happen

[@giz8527]

There goes an edward snowden pardon.

[@ugoewulonu4936]

I was about to say he should play “Pardon Me” by Incubus and then BAM! It’s playing at the end!

[@iammrbeat]

I played just enough to not get a copyright violation. lol

[@1994hondacivic-i8u]

Love it

[@BeyondThePresidency]

You inspired me to create my own videos to this channel which I will post every week! U.S. History is so intresting to me! You grew my passion for the subject and am now dreaming to become a U.S. history teacher!

[@mrcat5508]

It’s been an entire hour. Where’s the 500 video playlist on every President /s

[@iammrbeat]

YAS. That's amazing to hear. Good luck to you!

[@UrsaJeager]

I probably would have said pardons should be allowed but that was before SCOTUS decided any official act by a president is protected from criminal prosecution.

[@warlordofbritannia]

I think dictatorships are bad. Sorry, 49.4 percent of American voters.

[@iammrbeat]

ikr??

[@rockmycd1319]

How is that the straw that broke the camel’s back? This was already the greatest and most evident source of corruption in the country.

[@riffdex]

I know you didn’t read the Supreme Court decision and just got the footnotes from the internet, because the SCOTUS did **not** say that any official act by the President is protected from criminal prosecution, but that official acts performed by the President have “presumed immunity”, which basically just means that you have a higher threshold to pass in order to charge for official acts. In other words, Presidents can be charged for official acts that are deemed improper and illegitimate, but the presumption of innocence exists until that legal standard is passed. The only things Presidents have absolute immunity for are core Constitutional duties. Sounds like you didn’t bother to research the case very thoroughly.

[@rockmycd1319]

@@riffdex No, “presumptive immunity” in this case meant that the plaintiff had to demonstrate that the prosecution of officials acts outside of “core constitutional duties” (and absolute immunity for this is completely insane in its own right) did not threaten the power or function of the executive branch specifically, not some miscellaneous “threshold” that needs to be passed. How does one prosecute an ex president for an official act considered immune by first principle without threatening the power of the executive? God knows lmao. Also the biggest issue here is that it effectively makes an attempted military self-coup by the president completely legal, or anything else the president orders the military to do. Almost like executive immunity is an idea that should be reserved for the monarchists.

[@thomasr.jackson2940]

I would think the record for number of people pardoned is held by President Carter, who pardoned all draft evaders of the Vietnam era on his first day of office. An estimated half a million people were covered, including over 200,000 with formal accusations or convictions.

[@ioflottv]

the amount of dad jokes go so hard on this... and I'm all here for it

[@slipstick985]

Nearly 100 years ago, Governor of Texas "Pa" Ferguson was removed from office & his wife "Ma" Ferguson assumed the office. A man walking down the hall bumped her & said "Pardon me." She answered, "You'll have to talk to Pa about that."

[@Trafoder]

16:16 First Paul McCartney, then Chappell Roan, now Mr. Beat?? When will this madness end?!

[@pellejoens7886]

Yes, the government must have a mechanism for granting pardons. As the legal system is designed and administered by humans, errors are unavoidable. Therefore, it is crucial to have a process in place to promptly address and rectify such mistakes within a reasonable timeframe.

[@rockmycd1319]

Correct, that’s why we have something called “appeals”. A power that exists outside of that process that unconditionally reverses those rulings is just used for corruption.

[@notsolm]

​@rockmycd1319 except there are times when the current appeals process has refused to hear new evidence that potentially exonerates a convict because for procedural reasons they weren't entitled to an appeal.

[@johanr3434]

Thanks!

[@SadSadSadSquishSquishSquish]

I would agree with removing pardons for family members, relatives, in laws etc.

[@billsherman1565]

Why not stop there? Go with, "no pardoning your political allies and donors"

[@FLIXr]

the outro was awesome Mr Beat! I was like no way is he quoting some incubus rn...and then the music started lol! great and informative video as always, thank you!

[@welcometonebalia]

As a French, I've always thought "pardon my French" was a very weird thing to say. (And I didn't understand what you said at that moment in the video.) But thank you. Presidential pardons are also a thing in France, and the debate is very similar...

[@itsROMPERS...]

"Pardon my French" actually means "Pardon my different language". Saying "Pardon my Swahili" would mean the same thing, but saying "French" just became the expected other language.

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

Now I'm reminded of the Dreyfuss Affair and how he _didn't_ accept a pardon.

[@dancingdingo]

🎶🎵 I beg your pardon 🎵 I never promised you a rose garden 🎵🎶 The song suddenly came to mind and I can't get it out!

[@ObsessedCollector]

If Madison's wife was allowed to issue one would it be "Dollys Pardon?" 😂

[@arthur.greenwood]

This is one of the funniest yet most informative videos I've ever watched 💀

[@bigbrother98]

“You don't go by Monopoly, man. That game is nuts. Nobody just picks up Get Out of Jail Free cards. Those things cost thousands.” - Creed Thoughts

[@jeffgumawid7554]

Easy enough to fix: -The President can only pardon people from a list of eligible inmates submitted to him by the Attorney General and the DOJ -Eligible inmates are based off a checklist (sentence should not be death penalty/without parole, must have spent 25% of his sentence with good behavior, must not have been solitary confined recently (last 5 years for sentences more than 10 years with parole, 3 years for lesser sentences), recommendation by doctors on medical grounds, etc -Eligible person must have spent at least 15% of their sentence in prison (e.g. a newly sentenced individual is not eligible for immediate parole, so does those who are yet to be sentenced) -Person must not be related to any President, VP, Cabinet Member, Senator or Congressman up to the 3rd degree, nor have contributed more than $1Million on a campaign or PAC of the sitting president's party. -Lastly, the President can only pardon once a year

[@taleraneran]

For nixon's pardon in 1974 never forget

[@sackdeep]

Nixon rules!

[@iammrbeat]

I haven't forgotten

[@miscaccount9438]

​@@sackdeepNixon was a racist war criminal

[@joeyhoy1995]

No​@@sackdeep

[@mattdeluccia153]

It was the correct decision to pardon Nixon. Props to president Ford for taking all the political heat to do the right thing

[@zacharyhenderson2902]

I was really surprised to learn how pardon power differs from state to state. For example, in Pennsylvania that power is not unilateral, because a governor can only pardon someone the parole board determines is eligible for it, while other states tend to model the federal government more closely.

[@edgarbarajas4575]

Mr. Beat keeps getting cooler. So happy that he's an Incubus fan rock on!

[@youngballar00]

Mr Beat is the history teacher I never had. I've learned soooooo much from him. Thanks for this!!

[@jakewilburn6295]

If you’re an Incubus fan they just re-recorded Morning View and it sounds great IMO.

[@iammrbeat]

HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS

[@cainejohnson4611]

@@iammrbeatyeah this is a national emergency, CALLING ALL 12 INCUBUS FANS

[@rawkguy4896]

​@@cainejohnson4611 Fym 12? Lol I saw them at Welcome to Rockville. There were thousands of people going apeshit for Incubus

[@clockinthewalls]

But what has succubus been up to?

[@mustang8206]

I'm fine with it. I don't always necessarily agree with who the president pardons but when you elect someone you do so with the understanding that they will have certain powers such as pardons, military action, vetoing, and executive orders

[@Coreyc04]

I think the pardon should stay but Congress should be able to veto them with a 2/3s majority

[@joshuanaumowicz5115]

I'd like to see pardon's evolve. A lot of the beneficial points of pardons revolve mainly around righting an unjust wrong. I see this as a sort of temporary solution that really doesn't address where the wrong originates; usually from an unjust political, governmental, or judicial system. I would say THAT is probably something that should be the focus of presidents who pardon rather than just pardoning someone because they were screwed by said system(s). Frankly, if it can be abused then someone will abuse it.

[@Mrworldwideohmy]

I agree with the pardon it can be used when the justice has either been too strict or conservative. Like pardoning draft dodgers

[@admiralofcuteness]

Two pardons should not be acceptable: 1. Pardoning yourself 2. Pardoning your family I perish the thought that either one of these opinions may be controversial

[@Arjay404]

While it seems logical to agree with your second point, I do have to bring up a counter for your consideration. If injustice was committed against a family member of a person with pardoning power, why is it okay for that person to not have the option of being pardoned simply because of who their family is? Injustice was committed, we should seek to fix that injustice if the only person that can fix that injustice is that person's family member, that that's just what we have to do. I guess a solution we could come up with is to have a second person being allowed to have that pardon power. For example, when it comes to federal charges/convictions, we have the president have pardon power, but also the speaker of the house. So if a person had injustice committed against them but their father was president, they could instead ask the speaker of the house for a pardon. The person (likely) didn't have a say in their family member becoming president/governor, so it doesn't seem right that they should lose a privilege just because of relationship to the person.

[@spicyshizz2850]

It definitely should be revised. There should be some reasonable vote threshold on the pardon

[@jdotoz]

Far from being abolished, there should be more pardons and reprieves granted. But it should be subject to some reform to end gross conflicts of interest. 2:23 Legally, that's exactly what it means. The pardon removes (or prevents, in the case of a preemptive pardon) all legal consequences of a conviction. It is not a declaration of innocence, but "not guilty" is not the same thing as "innocent." 13:22 Regardless of whether it's a good idea, the way the pardon power is written makes it quite clear that the President can pardon himself from offenses he commits against the United States. He just can't use that pardon to avoid impeachment and removal from office; that's the only limitation given.

[@Compucles]

A strong argument can still be made, and even this Supreme Court would probably agree, that the limitation against self-pardons is implicit. If we didn't have implicit restrictions in the Constitution, then things like slander and selling guns to the mentally ill would also be legal.

[@jdotoz]

@Compucles There's no accounting for what five judges will do, but the plain text is pretty clear here.

[@iammrbeat]

"quite clear" uh no, buddy. It's not. Your confidence is unsettling.

[@jdotoz]

@iammrbeat There is no limitation in the text on which offenses against the United States the pardon power applies to.

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

​​@@jdotozit doesn't say he can't, so yeah he probably can. Which is why you introduce an amendment, rather than just hoping that judges keep interpreting that he can't.

[@pnwtree]

I don't necessarily mind the pardon I do think that the house and or all of Congress should be able to deny a pardon for keeping it in check from the executive

[@jljordan1]

I see what you did there with that outro song 👀

[@iammrbeat]

I used to that song on repeat back in high school! :)

[@Eagle-mn9mo]

What'd he do there with that outro song

[@Bvffghjkjghhbbb2669]

@@iammrbeathow did y’all comment before the video was out

[@flibbidyx2]

I do wish there was a little more oversight regarding pardons. Maybe just something requiring congressional review if a person being pardoned has a direct connection to the president (family or otherwise). But as mentioned, major change to pardons would likely require a constitutional amendment.

[@rockmycd1319]

So it’s literally just a more scuffed version of the appeals process lmao.

[@fireballman31]

the special effects are next level

[@grecleclerc8486]

No. All branches of government need a check and the pardon power is a valuable check on the judiciary and also the legislature. It could however use some explicit limitations like specifically stating it cannot be used to pardon yourself (although I already think it cannot), an immediate family member, or a member/former member of your administration. An explicit declaration that it cannot be used to pre pardon someone for events that have not yet occurred would also be good, although again, I think that’s already the way it works. An important modification would be to ensure the pardon power cannot be used for “any and all crimes committed between x and y”, but only for the specifically listed charges and the charges that would necessarily be included inside those explicitly mentioned charges.

[@TheOldSkoolGarage]

From a long time Canadian subscriber, GREAT VIDEO! Keep up the good work!❤

[@HumanWAname]

Take a shot every time Mr beat says pardon

[@marlenepearson3936]

Wonderful ending, Mr. Beat. 🔥

[@mrsticky005]

In the manga (Japanese comics) "Beet the Vandel Buster" which is about a boy named "Beet" (no relation to Mr. Beat) who wants to run around beating up Vandels which are Vampire Devils and not Vandals who commit vandalism though the Vandels do that too but they also run around hurting random villagers for laughs and to "level up" and earn more "stars" so its like kindergarten just for cartoony supervillains. Later in the story Beet and Poala who is his future wife according to Beet and not necessarily according to Poala who is shy run into Kiss, no not the band but rather Beet's best friend and its a happy reunion. Or is it? No. It's not because Kiss is actually secretly working for a Vandel and he betrays Beet to die. However don't worry this is fiction and Beet has plot armor and not only doesn't die but he beats the bad guys and tells Kiss to stop working with the bad guys because it makes Kiss sad. So Kiss teams up with Beet and Poala because teaming up with friends makes him very glad. Later Beet, Poala and Kiss meet the BB Buster which is a top buster named Milfa. Yes really. Milfa has the power to arrest rogue busters and since Kiss worked for a Vandel she could arrest him but she doesn't because well they like each other but they are also shy. It kinda makes you wonder if the power to arrest should really be in the hands of teenagers but I digress. So anyways we later find out that Milfa is actually...Princess Milfa. Yes that's right she is royalty and her father is the King and thus has the power to pardon Kiss. At first the King seems like he doesn't like Kiss and will put him in prison because he doesn't want some slick bad boy near his daughter however after Kiss fights more Vandels and shows some courage and grit the King decides to pardon Kiss and now treats him kinda like a son The story is ongoing and a lot more happens but I just wanted to talk about a case albeit a fictional one where someone gets pardoned and it is seen as a good thing and also it's an excuse to talk about a great story. If you like RPGs you may like Beet the Vandel Buster.

[@xxGreenRoblox]

I really thought this had absolutely no relation to the video

[@casualbanter6939]

I like how you covered English history in this video. It would be cool to see you tackle more non-American history. I know you're the American history guy but it would be neat and I would watch.

[@florinivan6907]

To be fair some pardons are given to people who are assumed to have been wrongfully convicted in some form. Either too harsh a punishment or the evidence was dubious etc.

[@JorgeTorresH]

I think there's kind of an ok fix for pardons broad power: limit pardons only to those who formally and publicly request for such pardon and make it so that it can only be issued at the moment the person is sentenced or after.

[@fifty784]

really? i usually take issue more with the specific pardons than the mass ones. the specific ones usually lead to political support or something

[@JorgeTorresH]

@fifty784 the mass ones are usually requested with letters addressed to the office of the President. What I recommend would at least set a closer experience between politically favored people and those that are not. Plus, it hits differently when a request has to be made instead of it being talked behind doors and just doing it.

[@Jay-mh3cp]

Pardon Luigi

[@Jeoffrtgfgg]

Congrats on Hitting one million Mr Beat!

[@Stealth-Operator]

6:53 cat🐈

[@iammrbeat]

That's Ollie!

[@sammonicuslux]

Hungry cat 😿

[@DontWalkRunProduct]

😂

[@RandPersonn]

In many countries where the independence of judociary is much much less existent than in the USA, there is not much of a need or use of the pardon power of the president because the judiciary tends to be beholden to the president and the president can indirectly or covertly order the judges to give decisions based on the will of the president(whether it be exoneration etc)

[@Compucles]

That system seems like it's just as open to abuse in its own ways. It sounds even scarier, since that kind of abuse of power can spread to other legal areas beyond just pardons.

[@rolandmueller7218]

I remember in 2003 when the Governor of Illinois, George Ryan, commutated the death sentences of 169 people on death row to life sentences.

[@Compucles]

That sounds like an abuse of power as a whiny protest just because he doesn't agree with Illinois state law on capital punishment

[@benshapiro4625]

@@Compucles Calling someone who saved 169 people an “abuser of power” and “whiny” is kind of insane

[@rolandmueller7218]

@ Ryan was concerned about people that were executed, but later exonerated.

[@Lorchenzo2020]

NOW PARDON ME WHILE I BURRSTTTT IN TOOOOOO FUHLAMESSSSSS LMAOOO MR BEAT YOU AND YOUR MUSIC TASTE STRIKES AGAIN!! Haha I wish I could jam with you one day😭😭😅😅😅😅

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

HAPPY NEW YEAR! thanks For this ❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@iammrbeat]

Happy new year!

[@alex_flamer]

Lol Pardon Me by Incubus playing as the outro music! 😆😆😆

[@christofos]

Dear Mr. Beat, You are JACKED. Looking great! That is all.

[@williamcfox]

If we did the math, would more pardons have been applied to the powerful - or would they have gone to clemency for the oppressed? I actually wonder if a fellow political scientist ever did this research. While such a utilitarian analysis wouldn’t justify or condemn the pardon power alone, it would be cool to know

[@iammrbeat]

I think it'd be more accurate when analyzing the math to look at the comparison of powerful people pardoned vs. powerless people pardoned as a percentage of all incarcerated, meaning powerful folks incarcerated are a very small group of people. I predict it's much more statistically likely to be pardoned as a powerful person vs. powerless person.

[@williamcfox]

@@iammrbeatgood point

[@sindrelrdal346]

Easy question! Yes, it should be removed in its current form (out of the hands of one person). If you think Pardon Power is something that should be there, consider setting up some sort of Clemency Board consisting of more then one person. And this Clemency Board need to have some clear rules for how the Pardon Power should be used, one obvious one being inability to pardon people for payment and/or clear personal ties...

[@TheSkyheart5]

That sounds like a parole board but with more power.

[@Compucles]

@@TheSkyheart5 That sounds fine to me. Then if someone on the board does have personal ties to someone under consideration, he/she can excuse him/herself or enough of the others vote to force him/her to do so. However, it should still be a small group, as I agree that decisions like these get bogged down too much or wind up playing politics on what should be a non-partisan power in a larger group.

[@rockmycd1319]

Isn’t that just SCOTUS? This seems unnecessary

[@erikkrauss8481]

Great music choice at the end I thoight of "Pardon Me" with the puns at the start

[@caseclosed9342]

Even if I disagree with who gets it sometimes, I support pardon power.

[@obamaissus1586]

why it is literaly abusable

[@iammrbeat]

I support pardon power only when it benefits me or my team. :)

[@andrewadams4256]

I was going to skip the "Cook Unity" ad/sponsorship but then I seen your CAT 🐈 !!! 'So I watched it

[@technetium9653]

I think we should expand pardon powers to potential crimes you might commit in the future

[@BrianArcangeli]

What a liberal application of the power 😅

[@rockmycd1319]

Lol. I am also pro-kleptocracy

[@thesecretthirdthing]

I legally cannot pardon you for making this video mr beat. Serve your time, as is the way of the law.

[@crabser2253]

14:30 A suggestion I saw floating around before Biden pardoned Hunter was that Trump should pardon him as a sign of goodwill.

[@blakekaveny]

Ya because Trump would totally do something like that

[@tigoreonjames9702]

Yes. Presidents also shouldn't pick our judges for supreme court or the attorney general. It just ruins the separation of powers.

[@TheGIGACapitalist]

Many countries have pardons in some form, America is one of the few that has 0 checks and balances and just annoints God-king power to a single person.

[@goose2k6]

I had walked away from my phone at the end of the video (yes i was watching on my phone) and I could have sworn my college playlist came on automatically!

[@theocdogg]

What a time to be alive

[@ayenul]

Mr. BASED with that Incubus reference

[@wally3155]

I fully understand pardons, but both parties tend to pardon people that I believe should be in prison. If only we had that power for anything we did. Can only imagine…

[@iammrbeat]

I pardon myself preemptively!

[@valmid5069]

Can’t wait for more historical content from this channel!!!’

[@danielplayspiano]

What could possibly go wrong? 11:29 👀

[@iammrbeat]

heh heh

[@fintan3563]

🎼 I beg your pardon. 🎤 I never promised you a rose garden. 🎵🎵 🌹🌹🌹

[@donotneedahandle]

But why such power is given to a person and not to a some collective institution like parliament?

[@suruxstrawde8322]

Fr, collective power should always be what we aim for above all

[@Compucles]

Because everything would get bogged down in politics on what should be a quickly decided non-partisan power. Although, we've seen that giving that power to just one person also has major issues, so perhaps a small committee would be best.

[@wankertanker1813]

Get rid of pardoning of crimes not yet convicted. Wait? It actually says it in the Constitution that a prez Can?? pardon someone of a crime not yet convicted? I have my doubts. But, show me.

[@CalvinNoire]

​@@Compucles agreed completely.

[@Wompwomp184]

Mr. Beat you should make a video about the Tennessee legend, Davyyyy, Davy Crockett king of the wild frontier

[@silvestervanmeijgaarden5350]

I'm glad to have seen this video within 10 minutes after uploading, interesting video as always, keep it up Mr. Beat!!!

[@iammrbeat]

Thanks for being here early to watch!

[@silvestervanmeijgaarden5350]

@iammrbeat The pleasure is mine, thank you as well!!!

[@michaelchen8643]

No, I think the power departed by the executive should be maintained as it is without any checks and balances it’s an essential part of our constitution and would cause problems if it were limited or removed

[@Nothing2150]

An *unforgivable* idea if I ever heard one

[@iammrbeat]

Care to elaborate?

[@Nothing2150]

@@iammrbeat Pun on the idea of removing the power to pardon (forgive) someone haha

[@Nothing2150]

@@iammrbeat Sorry for the bad pun, but love your content !

[@aggodoggo5532]

Hey Mr Beat, I actually know very little about the former president Jimmy Carter. I would definitely watch a video of yours discussing his policies and his legacy!

[@davidroddini1512]

So a president has broad pardon powers? But what about dude pardon powers? 😜

[@iammrbeat]

😆

[@aaronTGP_3756]

I think the pardon ought to be limited. Maybe a 2/3rds majority in both Houses of Congress can override it, though admittedly, it would not fix the problem entirely. At the VERY LEAST, the President should be explicitly unable to pardon themself.

[@adamwheelerproductions1607]

I don't think the pardon power should exist at all, but if it absolutely must exist, I think there needs to be restrictions, such as: -You cannot pardon yourself -You cannot pardon family members -You cannot pardon political allies