414
Opinion of the Court
tions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel").
Of course, although the Constitution vests in the President a pardon power, it does not require the States to enact a clemency mechanism. Yet since the British Colonies were founded, clemency has been available in America. C. Jensen, The Pardoning Power in the American States 3-4 (1922). The original States were reluctant to vest the clemency power in the executive. And although this power has gravitated toward the executive over time, several States have split the clemency power between the Governor and an advisory board selected by the legislature. See Survey of Release Procedures, supra, at 91-98. Today, all 36 States that authorize capital punishment have constitutional or statutory provisions for clemency.14
14 Ala. Const., Amdt. 38, Ala. Code § 15-18-100 (1982); Ariz. Const., Art. V, § 5, Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 31-443, 31-445 (1986 and Supp. 1992); Ark. Const., Art. VI, § 18, Ark. Code Ann. §§ 5-4-607, 16-93-204 (Supp. 1991); Cal. Const., Art. VII, § 1, Cal. Govt. Code Ann. § 12030(a) (West 1992); Colo. Const., Art. IV, § 7, Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 16-17-101, 16-17-102 (1986); Conn. Const., Art. IV, § 13, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 18-26 (1988); Del. Const., Art. VII, § 1, Del. Code Ann., Tit. 29, § 2103 (1991); Fla. Const., Art. IV, § 8, Fla. Stat. § 940.01 (Supp. 1991); Ga. Const., Art. IV, § 2, ¶ 2, Ga. Code Ann. §§ 42-9-20, 42-9-42 (1991); Idaho Const., Art. IV, § 7, Idaho Code §§ 20-240 (Supp. 1992), 67-804 (1989); Ill. Const., Art. V, § 12, Ill. Rev. Stat., ch. 38, ¶ 1003-3-13 (1991); Ind. Const., Art. V, § 17, Ind. Code §§ 11- 9-2-1 to 11-9-2-4, 35-38-6-8 (1988); Ky. Const., § 77; La. Const., Art. IV, § 5(E), La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15:572 (West 1992); Md. Const., Art. II, § 20, Md. Ann. Code, Art. 27, § 77 (1992), and Art. 41, § 4-513 (1990); Miss. Const., Art. V, § 124, Miss. Code Ann. § 47-5-115 (1981); Mo. Const., Art. IV, § 7, Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 217.220 (Vernon Supp. 1992), 552.070 (Vernon 1987); Mont. Const., Art. VI, § 12, Mont. Code Ann. §§ 46-23-301 to 46-23- 316 (1991); Neb. Const., Art. IV, § 13, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 83-1, 127 to 83-1, 132 (1987); Nev. Const., Art. V, § 13, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 213.080 (1991); N. H. Const., pt. 2, Art. 52, N. H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 4:23 (1988); N. J. Const., Art. V, § 2, ¶ 1, N. J. Stat. Ann. §§ 2A:167-4, 2A:167-12 (West 1985); N. M. Const., Art. V, § 6, N. M. Stat. Ann. § 31-21-17 (1990); N. C. Const., Art. III, § 5(6), N. C. Gen. Stat. §§ 147-23 to 147-25 (1987); Ohio Const., Art. III, § 11, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2967.1 to 2967.12 (1987 and Supp. 1991);
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