A response to a criminal charge where the defendant bears the burden of proof, such as automatism, intoxication, coercion, duress, mistake, etc.: An affirmative defense goes beyond the simple denial of facts and gives new facts in favor of the defendant, if the information in the original complaint are true.

Action on the part of women to actively seek to be included on juries: In former times, affirmative registration did not exist because juries were comprised exclusively of men.