However, individual rights are not subordinate to common good. In complex, democratic societies such as the United States, the primary goal is striking the proper balance between individual rights and public concerns. Restriction of human rights by the government may be justified only under limited circumstances strictly regulated by law. Generally, the government is not allowed to restrict individual liberties just for the welfare of majority. Today in the world there is no general consensus about positive definitions of human rights.
Bills of rights differ from nation to nation.
Even in the Western world scope and exercise of human rights differ from one country to another. In non-Western countries, observance of human rights is based on quite different premises. For example, socialist and communist countries have emphasized social-welfare rights, such as right to education, right to job, and right to health care. However, their citizens often have limited political rights. In some cultures, the Western idea of human rights as individual rights is rejected.