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amnesty |
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amnesty (ăm`nəstē), in law, exemption from prosecution for criminal action. It signifies forgiveness and the forgetting of past actions. Amnesties are usually extended to a group of persons during a period of prolonged disorder or insurrection. The criminals are offered a promise of immunity from prosecution if they will abandon their unlawful activities. After a revolution or civil war the victorious side will often extend amnesty to the losers; e.g., the United States granted a qualified amnesty to the Confederate forces after the Civil War. An amnesty is distinguished from a pardon pardon, in law, exemption from punishment for a criminal conviction granted by the grace of the executive of a government. A general pardon to a class of persons guilty of the same offense (e.g., insurrection) is an amnesty . ..... Click the link for more information. , which is an act of forgiveness after the criminal has already been convicted. amnestyIn criminal law, a sovereign act of oblivion or forgetfulness (from Greek amnestia, “forgetfulness”) granted by a government, especially to a group of persons who are guilty of (usually political) crimes in the past. It is often conditional upon the group's return to obedience and duty within a prescribed period. See also pardon. amnesty Law a pardon granted by the Crown or Executive and effected by statute How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| Unable to find jobs that pay a
living wage --minus welfare contributions--these amnestied workers will
contribute to our country's "race to the bottom. (In 1993, some members of the new Cossacks took part in the
storming of the White House, were arrested for this, then amnestied. Surrendering Taliban warriors have been greeted with
open arms; some are amnestied, while others, especially foreign Taliban,
are imprisoned. |
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