What is the act of granting exemption from legal punishment by the President called?

The act of granting exemption from legal punishment by the President is known as a pardon. A pardon absolves an individual of criminal conviction and relieves them of the penalties associated with that conviction. It is an official act of forgiveness that restores rights and privileges lost due to the conviction.

Pardons are typically granted to individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation and remorse or when there are compelling reasons showing that continuing punishment is no longer justified. This can occur after a legal process that may include petitions or applications, but ultimately, the decision lies with the President, who has the constitutional authority to grant pardons for federal offenses.

Amnesty, while similar, usually refers to a broader forgiveness of a group of individuals, often for political offenses rather than criminal convictions. Parole is a supervised release of a prisoner before the completion of their sentence, and probation is a court-ordered period of supervision in the community, generally instead of serving time in prison. Each of these terms represents different aspects of the legal and correctional system but does not relate directly to the presidential act of granting pardon.