Matlock Bioethics Practice Exam 2026 - Free Bioethics Practice Questions and Study Guide

Positive rights are entitlements that require someone, usually the government, to provide a good or service. Access to education funded by the state fits this because it obligates the state to allocate resources and ensure schooling is available to people. The other examples are negative rights: they protect individuals by prohibiting certain government actions rather than by requiring the government to supply something. Freedom from arbitrary arrest, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure all involve the state refraining from violating rights, not providing a service.