What term describes a governmental act that can clear a felony record?

The term that describes a governmental act that can clear a felony record is “pardon.” A pardon is an official acknowledgment that a person is forgiven for their crime, leading to the removal of some legal consequences of that crime. When a felony record is pardoned, it can ultimately assist in restoring rights that may have been lost due to the conviction, such as the right to vote or to possess firearms. Pardon can also have the effect of mitigating the stigma associated with a felony conviction, which allows individuals to reintegrate into society more easily.

Other terms listed may have related meanings or implications, but they do not specifically refer to clearing a felony record in the same comprehensive way that a pardon does. For instance, exoneration typically refers to the legal absolution of someone from blame, often when new evidence shows they were not guilty of the crime for which they were convicted, rather than a formal act of forgiveness for the offense. Amnesty usually applies to a broader group of individuals in the context of political crimes or those who have not been prosecuted, while restoration often refers to the reinstatement of rights or privileges rather than the clearing of a criminal record itself.