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Polity question from JKAS Prelims, 2023 by JKPSC

Consider the following sentences regarding the President's Pardoning Power in the USA.

1. All Presidents shall have the power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.
2. The power applies to both federal crimes and state crimes.
3. Those pardoned by the President cannot be tried under the laws of individual states.

The correct answer/s is/are:

Last updated May 15, 2026
Correct Answer: Option A — 1 only
Constitutional Authority (Statement 1 is Correct):
Under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the President is granted the power to "grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment." This means a President cannot use a pardon to stop an impeachment proceeding against themselves or any other civil officer.

Federal vs. State Crimes (Statement 2 is Incorrect):
The President’s power is limited to Federal offenses (crimes against the "United States"). The President has no authority to pardon someone for crimes committed against State laws. The power to pardon state-level crimes rests solely with the Governor of that specific state.

The Dual Sovereignty Doctrine (Statement 3 is Incorrect):
Because of the "Dual Sovereignty" doctrine in the U.S., the same act can be a crime under both federal and state law. A federal pardon only wipes away the federal conviction. It does not prevent a state prosecutor from charging the individual under state law for the same conduct. For example, if someone is pardoned for federal tax evasion, they could still be prosecuted for state tax evasion.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
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JKPSC JKAS 2023 Prelims

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Exam JKPSC
Recruitment JKAS
Stage Prelims
Year 2023
Subject Polity
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