Which term identifies immunity from personal liability for federal employees performing official duties?

• A. Absolute immunity
• B. Qualified immunity
• C. Sovereign immunity
• D. Statutory immunity

Answer: (A)

Absolute immunity is the protection that stops personal liability for actions a federal employee takes as part of performing official duties. It shields officials from civil suits for acts that are within the scope of their official functions, so they can perform their responsibilities without the distraction or fear of constant lawsuits. This blanket protection is what makes it different from other forms of immunity.

Qualified immunity, by contrast, only shields officials from civil liability unless they violated clearly established rights, so it isn’t an automatic shield for all official acts. Sovereign immunity refers to the government itself and whether it can be sued at all, often requiring a waiver. Statutory immunity isn’t the standard term used to describe personal liability protection for federal employees in this context.