Amnesty. Amnesty, in criminal law, sovereign act of oblivion or forgetfulness (from Greek amnēsia) for past acts, granted by a government to persons who have been guilty of crimes. ... Amnesty is granted usually for political crimes against the state, such as treason, sedition, or rebellion. the President (executive) has the power to grant amnesty for offences against the States, but understood that this power to grant amnesty was included in the power " to grant pardons