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One example of a negative right is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which prevents free speech from being reduced by laws. This is only a negative right because although the government will not prevent a citizen's speech, it is not obliged to take any active steps to make speech easier or more effective.
The distinction between negative rights and positive rights, while simple enough in theory, is very difficult to make in practice. This is due to the fact that most negative rights can only exist if they are guaranteed by some form of positive action (or the threat thereof). For example, the "negative" right to private property requires active intervention to protect property and punish anyone who violates it. Thus, negative rights can be seen as rights to protection from certain things.