Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[[Greek]] amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember  

[[Greek]] amnēstia forgetfulness, from amnēstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember  

*Date: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1580]]

*Date: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Century 1580]]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*the [[act]] of an [[authority]] (as a [[government]]) by which pardon is granted to a large [[group]] of [[individuals]]

*the [[act]] of an [[authority]] (as a [[government]]) by which pardon is granted to a large [[group]] of [[individuals]]

==Description==

==Description==

An '''amnesty''' may be extended when the [[authority]] decides that bringing [[citizens]] into compliance with a [[law]] is more important than punishing them for past offenses. Amnesty is often used to get people to turn in contraband, as in the case of China's gun restrictions, or the Kansas City ban on pit bulls. Advantage of using amnesty may include avoiding expensive prosecutions (especially when massive numbers of violators are involved); prompting violators to come forward who might otherwise have eluded authorities; and promoting [[reconciliation]] between offenders and [[society]]. An example of the latter was the amnesty that was granted to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objector conscientious objectors] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_dodger draft dodgers] in the wake of the [[Vietnam War]] in the 1970s, in an effort by President Carter to heal the injuries of [[war]].

An '''amnesty''' may be extended when the [[authority]] decides that bringing [[citizens]] into compliance with a [[law]] is more important than punishing them for past offenses. Amnesty is often used to get people to turn in contraband, as in the case of China's gun restrictions, or the Kansas City ban on pit bulls. Advantage of using amnesty may include avoiding expensive prosecutions (especially when massive numbers of violators are involved); prompting violators to come forward who might otherwise have eluded authorities; and promoting [[reconciliation]] between offenders and [[society]]. An example of the latter was the amnesty that was granted to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscientious_objector conscientious objectors] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_dodger draft dodgers] in the wake of the [[Vietnam War]] in the 1970s, in an effort by President Carter to heal the injuries of [[war]].

[[Category: Law]]

[[Category: Law]]