Reprieves and Pardons.—­The ordinary powers of the President are also important.[45] One of the greatest is the power to grant reprieves and pardons.  A reprieve is the temporary suspension of the execution of a sentence.  By means of a reprieve the President may gain time to look into the evidence more carefully.  Complete release from a sentence is secured by a pardon.[46]

[Footnote 45:  For the power of the President over legislation by means of the veto, see pp. 78, 79.]

[Footnote 46:  President Harrison was called upon to consider 779 requests for pardon.  Of these 527 were granted, wholly or partially.  President Cleveland acted on 907 such cases, and granted 506, in whole or in part.]

Treaty-Making Power.—­Section 2, Clause 2. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the senators present concur.

While the power to conclude treaties seems to be without restriction, it is implied that no treaty shall in any way interfere with the authority of the Constitution.  The usual steps in the negotiation of treaties are as follows:  (1) In time of peace they are conducted at the capital of the nation that begins the negotiation.  If this is in Washington, the terms are considered by the Secretary of State and the minister of the other nation; if in a foreign capital, our minister acts under instructions sent him by the Secretary of State.  At times, one or more special ministers are sent abroad for the purpose of negotiating a treaty. (2) In time of war, the minister of the nation with which we are at war leaves the United States.  The interests of his nation are then intrusted to the minister of some neutral power, and through this minister negotiations for peace are usually begun. (3) The treaty of peace at the close of a war is generally negotiated in some neutral country by special commissioners appointed by the nations at war.

In all cases, the President exercises general control over the negotiation and framing of treaties.  After an agreement has been reached, the treaty is sent to the Senate.  It is discussed in executive or secret session.  This means that the treaty and all matters pertaining to it are kept secret until, by a resolution, the Senate allows the discussion to be made public.  The Senate may approve, reject, or modify the terms.  If amendments are made, they must be agreed to by the President and by the other nation interested.  When a treaty has been finally approved by the officials of both countries, duplicate copies of it are made on parchment.  Both of these copies are signed by the chief officers of each country, and the copies are then exchanged.  This is called the “exchange of ratification.”  An official copy of the treaty is thus secured by each nation.  The President then publishes the treaty accompanied by a proclamation, in which it is declared to be a part of the law of the land.