1. Legal Definition of Right
2. Perfect Versus Imperfect Rights
3. Absolute and Qualified
4. Natural and Civil Rights
5. Political Rights
6. Civil Rights
7. Absolute and Relative Rights
8. Legal and Equitable Rights

This word "right" is used in various senses:

  • Sometimes it signifies a law, as when we say that natural right requires us to keep our promises, or that it commands restitution, or that it forbids murder. In the English language it is seldom used in this sense.

In this latter sense alone, this word will be here considered. Right is the correlative of duty, for, wherever one has a right due to him, some other must owe him a duty.

Perfect Versus Imperfect Rights

Rights are perfect and imperfect. When the things which we have a right to possess or the actions we have a right to do, are or may be fixed and determinate, the right is a perfect one; but when the thing or the actions are vague and indeterminate, the right is an imperfect one. If a person demands their property, which is withheld from them, the right that supports their demand is a perfect one; because the thing demanded is, or may be fixed and determinate. In cases where a low income person requests relief from those from whom they have reason to expect it, the right, which supports their petition, it is an imperfect one; because the relief which they expect, is a vague indeterminate, thing.

Absolute and Qualified

Rights are also absolute and qualified. A person has an absolute right to recover property which belongs to them. An agent has a qualified right to recover such property, when it had been entrusted to their care, and which has been unlawfully taken out of their possession.

Natural and Civil Rights

Rights related to property may also be divided into natural and civil rights. All rights in which a person has received from nature have been modified and acquired anew from the civil law, it is more proper, when considering their object, to divide them into political and civil rights.

Political Rights


Civil Rights


Absolute and Relative Rights



