CONSTITUTION OF 1897 ARTICLE VII PARDONS

§ 1. Power of Governor; recommendation of Board of Pardons; entry in register and submission to General Assembly.

Section 1. The Governor shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures and to grant reprieves, commutations of sentence and pardons, except in cases of impeachment; but no pardon, or reprieve for more than six months, shall be granted, nor sentence commuted, except upon the recommendation in writing of a majority of the Board of Pardons after full hearing; and such recommendation, with the reasons therefor at length, shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State, who shall forthwith notify the Governor thereof.

He shall fully set forth in writing the grounds of all reprieves, pardons and remissions, to be entered in the register of his official acts and laid before the General Assembly at its next session.

§ 2. Composition of Board of Pardons

Section 2. The Board of Pardons shall be composed of the Chancellor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Auditor of Accounts.

§ 3. Information from Attorney General on Board’s duties.

Section 3. The said board may require information from the Attorney-General upon any subject relating to the duties of said board.