The President — Part 2: Mercy, Discretion, Emergencies and the Vice-President: visual lesson, ICSE Class 10 History & Civics (H.C.G. Paper 1)

Lesson

Mercy, discretion, emergencies and the Vice-President

Part 2 — the President's judicial, discretionary and emergency powers, and the office of the Vice-President.

In this lesson you will

Part 2 at a glance

Diagram

Table of the five forms of mercy under Article 72: pardon, commutation, remission, respite and reprieve, with the meaning of each
Form of mercy	Meaning
Pardon	Frees the convict from the sentence and its consequences
Commutation	Changes the punishment into a lighter form
Remission	Shortens the period without changing the kind of punishment
Respite	Gives a lesser sentence because of a special fact, such as illness
Reprieve	Delays the carrying out of a sentence for a time

The President can show mercy, even in death-sentence and court-martial cases.

Worked example

Match each imagined case to the right word.

Worked example table matching imagined cases to forms of mercy: a shortened term is remission, a lighter kind of punishment is commutation, a delay is a reprieve, and a lighter sentence for a special reason is a respite
Imagined case	Form used
A ten-year sentence is cut to six years	Remission
A sentence of hard labour becomes simple imprisonment	Commutation
A hanging is delayed while a petition is heard	Reprieve
A pregnant convict is given a lighter sentence	Respite