The Hyde Amendment, which disallowed any federal money from being spent for abortions, identified abortion as a negative right. Explain the difference between a positive right and a negative right

Negative rights are those that restrain others from interference. Examples are those found in the Declaration of Independence regarding the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. What this means is that the individual has a right to these and the rest of us have an obligation to refrain from interference. Positive rights are also called welfare or recipient rights in that they create the obligation to provide goods and services. Examples are benefits such as welfare and veteran's services. The Hyde Amendment treats abortions as essentially a negative right. You have the right to an abortion, but the government has no obligation in assisting you in the payment for the operation.