Bill Overview
Title: Pardon Disclosure Act
Description: This bill retroactively requires Members of Congress who request presidential pardons for themselves or on behalf of other individuals, and individuals who receive such requests, to disclose the requests to the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate or the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives, as applicable. The disclosure requirements apply to requests made or received beginning on January 1, 2021.
Sponsors: Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by congressional pardon requests
Estimated Size: 600
- The bill concerns Members of Congress who have requested presidential pardons for themselves or others.
- Currently, there are 435 members in the U.S. House of Representatives and 100 members in the Senate, totaling 535 members.
- The bill spans requests made from January 1, 2021, indicating it applies to actions by current or recent former Members of Congress during this period.
- The affected population would also include individuals outside Congress who have had pardon requests made on their behalf from January 1, 2021, onwards.
- These scenarios imply a limited and relatively small number of individuals compared to the total U.S. population.
- The general public is not directly affected unless they are the recipients of requests by Members of Congress.
Reasoning
- The Pardon Disclosure Act is limited to a relatively small group of people directly, which includes approximately 535 members of Congress and possibly around 65 other people who may have had pardons requested on their behalf.
- The general public generally will not be directly impacted unless involved with an undisclosed pardon request, keeping the scope fairly contained.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy's resources will mainly cover administrative costs of policy implementation and monitoring, implying limited direct financial impact on individual wellbeing.
- Wellbeing impacts are likely subtle for most affected, as they pertain more to moral and ethical implications rather than direct financial gain or loss.
Simulated Interviews
U.S. Senator (Washington D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 12.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe transparency is crucial, especially when it comes to matters as serious as presidential pardons.
- The policy will ensure accountability in Congress and help maintain public trust.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Business Executive (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy feels intrusive, as my pardon was a matter between myself and the legal system.
- I fear it may be used for political leverage.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 5 |
Retired Member of Congress (Austin, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sharing such pardon requests with an ethics committee is a necessary step in preserving integrity.
- The act protects against abuse of power.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Legal Analyst (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act will likely deter future unethical pardon requests and adds a layer of scrutiny.
- It enforces the accountability necessary in high offices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Public Activist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Pardon Disclosure Act resonates with my battle for greater transparency.
- It aligns with public calls for cleaner governance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Political Commentator (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen many policies come and go; this one actually offers a compact mechanism for ethical management.
- The Act is crucial for historical records of pardon uses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Law Professor (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This Act offers a significant contribution to the field of ethics law by advancing the concept of transparency.
- It establishes a clear precedent for accountability in pardon requests.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
State Senator (Boston, MA)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a promising first step towards broader reforms I've advocated.
- The Act would support sanctity within the Congressional conduct norms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a necessary political move that could simplify pardon politics.
- However, I'm concerned it may complicate legitimate pardon dealings if over-regulated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Financial Consultant (Dallas, TX)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Financial transparency should extend to pardons when they're handled by public officials.
- It complicates my work slightly, but overall, it's a step in the right direction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $750000, High: $1250000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $750000, High: $1250000)
Year 3: $1000000 (Low: $750000, High: $1250000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $750000, High: $1250000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $750000, High: $1250000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $750000, High: $1250000)
Key Considerations
- Administrative costs can be absorbed by existing committee frameworks but might strain resources depending on the extent of disclosures required.
- Transparency and accountability objectives may enhance trust in governance practices, though not directly quantifiable in costs.
- Potential unquantified long-term benefits in maintaining ethical standards and deterring inappropriate pardon requests.