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"The fullest historical account and legal analysis of the presidential pardon power published in two decades. . . . Crouch usefully delineates the legal components of the clemency power. "-H-Net Reviews "A very readable and well-researched book in terms of the historical background of the pardon power and the legal precedents that constrain its usage. It could be used in graduate seminars on the presidency (and perhaps the courts)."-Political Science Quarterly "Makes a compelling argument for a change in a constitutionally granted power with excellent depth and well-chosen case studies. A welcome addition to the presidential scholarship library and continues the important discussion about the tools of presidential power, their uses, and their propriety."-American Review of Politics "Crouch addresses a surprisingly under-researched area in presidential scholarship-the constitutional presidential pardon power-and he does so in a manner that is part constitutional interpretation, part political history, and part analysis of contemporary usage. The connecting thread for these diverse elements in the book is Crouch's contention that contemporary presidential usage of the constitutional clemency power has departed from traditional norms and in so doing has dangerously undermined its legitimacy."-Choice "An accessible, wide-ranging discussion of an important aspect of presidential power."-Law and Politics Book Review.

Was President Donald J. Trump's use of the clemency power extraordinary or just ordinary? Does his record of pardons and commutations suggest that extensive reforms are needed? In this article, I take a close look at Trump's clemency record and the questions raised by his actions. I conclude by considering whether any aspects of the clemency power's review process require revision in the wake of the Trump administration.

On February 9, 2014, the New York Times editorial board described the Obama administration as "one of the least merciful … in modern history." Over the past year and a half, President Barack Obama has shown renewed interest in clemency. However, as of July 13, 2015, real reform remains elusive: Obama has granted less than 1% of pardon and commutation requests. Is anything likely to change in the remaining months of the Obama administration? In this article, I look for hints of Obama's plans by considering his clemency record in detail, paying particular attention to the types of offenses that have been deemed worthy of clemency and those that have not.