Negative rights - Definition and Overview

A Negative right is a right, either moral or decreed by law, to not be subject to an action of another (usually abuse or coercion) so that restraint is incumbent upon another, as opposed to a positive right which is a right to be provided with something by the positive action of another. The former proscribes action, while the latter prescribes action.

One example of a negative right is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which makes it unlawful for anyone to abridge the speech of another. A law that would require another to provide him with a microphone would codify a positive right.

See also

• positive right
• positive liberty
• negative liberty

Example Usage of Negative