President George W. Bush has issued 14 new pardons, exercising in his closing months in office one of the few acts of the presidency that cannot be overturned or undone. The Associated Press reported that Bush also commuted the prison sentences of two other individuals.

Among the lucky recipients of this round of pardons - the first that Bush has issued since March - were a Missouri woman convicted of unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; a Georgia man who illegally acquired food stamps; and a Texas man convicted of illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste. Others had offenses ranging from tax evasion to bank embezzlement to narcotics charges. 

Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution grants the president "Power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment."

Bush has been stingy in doling out pardons so far, granting only 171 reprieves during his time in office, far fewer than either Presidents Clinton or Reagan. Both of those two-term presidents granted over 350 pardons. Two months remain in Bush's term.

The AP report lists the names of all the recent pardon and reprieve recipients.