Which statement describes the appointment and powers of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles?

Which statement describes the appointment and powers of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles?

• A. 5 members appointed by governor, confirmed by Senate; power of executive clemency; 7-year terms
• B. 5 members elected by the people; 6-year terms
• C. 5 members appointed by governor, subject to Senate confirmation; power of executive clemency; 7-year terms
• D. 5 members appointed by the Secretary of State; 7-year terms

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is how this board is formed and what authority it has. In Georgia, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles is a five-member body appointed by the Governor, with the appointment subject to Senate confirmation. Members serve seven-year terms. This setup creates a balance: the Governor selects nominees, but the Senate reviews and approves them, ensuring a check on who sits on the board. The board itself wields executive clemency powers, meaning it plays a central role in decisions about pardons, reprieves, and, in practice, parole and clemency recommendations as part of the Governor’s clemency process. That’s why the correct description matches this precise constitutional phrasing: five members, appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation, serving seven-year terms, with the power of executive clemency. The alternatives fail because they propose elected membership, appointment by the Secretary of State, or omit the Senate confirmation phrasing, none of which align with the actual constitutional framework.

The key idea here is how this board is formed and what authority it has. In Georgia, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles is a five-member body appointed by the Governor, with the appointment subject to Senate confirmation. Members serve seven-year terms. This setup creates a balance: the Governor selects nominees, but the Senate reviews and approves them, ensuring a check on who sits on the board. The board itself wields executive clemency powers, meaning it plays a central role in decisions about pardons, reprieves, and, in practice, parole and clemency recommendations as part of the Governor’s clemency process.

That’s why the correct description matches this precise constitutional phrasing: five members, appointed by the Governor and subject to Senate confirmation, serving seven-year terms, with the power of executive clemency. The alternatives fail because they propose elected membership, appointment by the Secretary of State, or omit the Senate confirmation phrasing, none of which align with the actual constitutional framework.