what does amnesty mean?

Answer 1

It's like a ceasefire in a war. Both parties agree to stop fighting until a peaceful resolution can be found. Sometimes there can be an amnesty on firearms for instance. The police will allow you to hand in your weapons without any criminal charges or asking any questions where the firearms came from, that could be considered an amnesty.

Answer 2

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Amnesty is defined as:

A general pardon granted by a government, especially for political offenses.

To grant a general pardon to.

The Columbia Encyclopedia relates the following:

amnesty
(ăm´nsymbolstē) , in law, exemption from prosecution for criminal action. It signifies forgiveness and the forgetting of past actions. Amnesties are usually extended to a group of persons during a period of prolonged disorder or insurrection. The criminals are offered a promise of immunity from prosecution if they will abandon their unlawful activities. After a revolution or civil war the victorious side will often extend amnesty to the losers; e.g., the United States granted a qualified amnesty to the Confederate forces after the Civil War. An amnesty is distinguished from a pardon, which is an act of forgiveness after the criminal has already been convicted.

Detailed information can be found on Wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty

Answer 3

Amnesty is "the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals."

You're looking for something more specific to economics though? Give us a hint...

Answer 4

Definition of amnesty:

A general pardon granted by a government, especially for political offenses.

Click this link for more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty

Answer 5

Basically, it means forgiving, with no blame and no questions asked.

For instance, a knife amnesty means that people with knives, machetes etc can hand them in at a Police station and no questions will be asked on their identity or why they had them.

Answer 6

immunity from judicial sentencing, imprisoning and fines

(though in the case of amnesty international what is meant is simply that it should not be a crime to belong to the opposition party)

Answer 7

Check the dictionary for the meaning.

Answer 8

It means that up to 12 million illegal immigrants will be permitted to stay in America!

Answer 9

a pardon is given to people who have commited an offence against the government; also a period during which people who admit to committing an offence are not punished.

Answer 10

It's like, protection from getting charged with crimes. Usually crimes committed against a government.