Amnesty

Has no technical meaning in the common law: is merely the synonym of " oblivion," which, in English law, is the synonym of "pardon." The literal meaning is " removal from memory." 2 Properly belongs to international law, applying to rebellions which by their magnitude are brought within that law." " Pardon " i$ remission of guilt; " amnesty " an act of oblivion or forgetfulness.' By act of May 22, 1872, the political disabilities imposed by the third section of the Xl Vth Amendment were removed from all persons except members of the thirty-sixth and thirty -seventh Congresses, officers in the judicial, military, and naval service, heads of departments, and foreign ministers, of the United States.* See Oath, Of office; Pardon.