From the Center for Investigative Reporting in PRX, this is Reveal.

I'm Al Etten.

It's summertime and it's easy to get caught up in all the celebration around the 4th of

July.

Fireworks, hot dogs, hamburgers, family and friends and all of that is important.

It definitely has its place.

But I would argue, in this age, it's just as important to reflect on America, who we've

been, who we are and who we want to become.

To that end, we're going to start the show with a look back at one of the documents that

helped shape this country, the Constitution.

Specifically, we're zooming in on one part of it that's gotten a lot of attention since

Donald Trump took office, the part that talks about presidential pardons.

Article 2, Section 2, clause 1 says, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons

for offenses against the United States except in cases of impeachment.

Those 21 words are what this show is all about.

In today's English, granting clemency can mean one of two things.

There's a pardon, which wipes someone's record clean after they've already left prison.

They get their civil rights back, the right to vote, they can get business licenses,

and even own a firearm.

Then there's a commutation of sentence, where the president lets you out of prison, but

you still have a criminal record.

President Trump has used the clemency power 12 times, and many of those cases have been

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