Which statement best defines negative rights?

• A. Requires government to provide services.
• B. Imposes a duty to help someone obtain something.
• C. Entails a positive obligation to assist.
• D. Imposes a duty not to interfere with a person's obtaining something.

Answer: (D)

Negative rights are freedoms from interference. They protect individuals by limiting what others, including the government, may do to them, rather than promising that someone will actively provide a good or service. In this view, the right creates a duty to refrain from blocking or hindering a person’s access to something.

The statement that describes a duty not to interfere with a person's obtaining something fits this idea exactly: it emphasizes non-interference rather than requiring active help or production of services. In contrast, saying the government must provide services or that someone must help you obtain something describes positive rights, which require action or resources from others.