The book "How Democracies Die" by Steven Levitsky discusses the essential checks and balances within democratic systems, highlighting the consequences when leaders undermine these principles. One critical aspect covered is the extensive power of the president to issue pardons, which is derived from the constitution. This power is significant because it can be exercised without constraints, raising concerns about its potential misuse.

The authors emphasize that such unrestricted authority allows a chief executive to potentially evade accountability and manipulate justice for personal or political gains. This characteristic of the presidential pardon power illustrates the vulnerabilities in democratic governance and the importance of maintaining robust institutions that can resist authoritarian tendencies.