What is the difference between a legal right and a duty?

Asked by: Consuelo Howe  |  Last update: February 5, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (28 votes)

A legal right is an entitlement or freedom protected by law (like free speech), allowing you to do or receive something, while a legal duty is an obligation or responsibility to act (or refrain from acting) in a certain way, often to uphold another's right (like paying taxes or jury duty). Rights are what you can claim, while duties are what you must do; they are two sides of the same coin, with one person's right often creating another's duty.

What is the difference between a duty and a right?

Definition & meaning

The terms "duties" and "rights" refer to obligations and entitlements that individuals may have, either morally or legally. A duty is an obligation to act or refrain from acting in a certain way, while a right is a claim or entitlement to act in a certain manner or to receive certain treatment.

What is the difference between a legal right and a legal duty?

Jellinck: a right is the will power of man applied to utility or interest recognized and protected by a legal system. Right is what others must do for me. Duty is what I must do for others.

What is the relationship between legal rights and duties?

If one has the right, the other has the duty related to that right. If one enjoys the right, it becomes the duty of the other not to prove an obstacle in the enjoyment of his right. For instance, if I enjoy the right to life it is the duty of other not to cause any harm to my life.

What is the legal definition of a duty?

A legal duty is an obligation, created by law or contract. A legal duty requires a person to conform their actions to a particular standard. And it also carries with it a recognition that the law will enforce this duty to the benefit of other individuals to whom this duty is owed.

Difference between ordinary legal right and Fundamental Right

30 related questions found

Which law defines legal rights and duties?

substantive law. Law which governs the original rights and obligations of individuals. Substantive law may derive from the common law, statutes, or a constitution. For example, a claim to recover for breach of contract or negligence or fraud would be a common law substantive right.

What are the 4 types of duty?

The four classes of duty are thus: perfect duties to oneself, such as the prohibition of suicide; perfect duties to others, such as the prohibition of deceitful promises; imperfect duties to oneself, such as the prescription to cultivate one's talents; and imperfect duties to others, such as the prescription of ...

What is the definition of a legal right?

Legal rights are those bestowed onto a person by a given legal system (they can be modified, repealed, and restrained by human laws). The concept of positive law is related to the concept of legal rights.

What is the relationship between rights and duties under the law?

The relationship between rights and duties forms the cornerstone of any well-functioning legal and social system. Rights empower individuals by granting them certain freedoms and protections, while duties impose obligations to respect and uphold these rights, ensuring a harmonious society.

What did Gandhi say about rights and duties?

Mahatma Gandhi had said “the true source of right is the duty. If we all discharge our duties, rights will not be far to seek”. Part 51 A was introduced in the Indian Constitution in the year 1976 with the attempt to balance between an individual's civic freedoms with his civic obligations.

What constitutes a legal right?

A legal right is an interest, power, or claim that is recognized and protected by a system of law. It grants an individual or entity the ability to demand certain actions or forbearance from others, or to act in a particular way, and is enforceable through legal processes, such as courts or administrative bodies.

What is an example of rights and duties?

For example, if the State gives the right to life to a citizen, it also imposes an obligation on him to not to expose his life to dangers, as well as to respect the life of others.

What is the legal duty rule?

The legal duty rule basically governs promises to perform acts that the promisor is already legally required to perform. There are two kinds of pre-existing legal duties: public duties and, contractual duties.

Do your duty first then ask for your rights.?

If we all discharge our duties, right will not be far to seek. If leaving duties unperformed we run after rights, they will escape us like a will-o'-the-wisp. The more we pursue them, the farther they fly. - Mahatma Gandhi #MotivationalThought.

What is the difference between human rights and duties?

Rights are advantages or privileges granted to us by law, while responsibilities are our duties or obligations that allow us to enjoy these rights. In other words, every right comes with a duty to comply with and act upon it.

Is duty a matter of law?

However, “duty” is a matter of law applied to circumstances by the court out of the presence of the jury. A court may be forced by the defendant to consider one item, i.e., a “helmet,” as a duty for the plaintiff.

What are three rights of everyone living in the United States?

First Amendment: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. Second Amendment: the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Third Amendment: restricts housing soldiers in private homes.

Is paying taxes a right or responsibility?

Congress used the power granted by the Constitution and Sixteenth Amendment, and made laws requiring all individuals to pay tax. Congress has delegated to the IRS the responsibility of administering the tax laws known as the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and found in Title 26 of the United States Code.

How are rights and duties related to each other?

Rights are what one want others to do for him/her, whereas duties are those acts that one should perform for others. Thus, a right comes with an obligation to show respect for the rights of others. The obligations that accompany rights are in the form of duties.

Can legal rights be suspended?

Article I, Section 9, Clause 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.

What is the difference between right and legal?

A law is an enforceable direction that can be met with punishment if not followed. Ideally, our laws would be dictated by strict adherence to our rights. However, this is not always the case. This leads us to another large distinction between rights and laws: Laws are more easily altered.

What are the 7 prima facie duties?

The Prima Facie Duties or Moral Guidelines

  • Fidelity. Duties of fidelity are duties to keep one s promises and contracts and not to engage in deception. ...
  • Reparation. This is a duty to make up for the injuries one has done to others. ...
  • Gratitude. ...
  • Non-injury. ...
  • Harm-Prevention. ...
  • Beneficence. ...
  • Self-Improvement. ...
  • Justice.

What exactly does "duty" mean?

If you look up duty in the dictionary, you may find that it is most commonly defined as "an occupation, a service, action, or task assigned to one, especially in the military." While this normally applies to something akin to guard duty or jury duty, one should think of duty in the context of its other definition as a ...

What is Kant's doctrine of right?

The “universal principle of right” Kant offers is thus “Any action is right if it can coexist with everyone's freedom in accordance with a universal law, or if on its maxim the freedom of choice of each can coexist with everyone's freedom in accordance with a universal law” (6:230).