Constitution Act, 1867

E8244

The Constitution Act, 1867 is the foundational statute that created the Dominion of Canada and established its federal system of government, dividing powers between the federal and provincial levels.


Statements (63)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
constitutional statute
foundational document of Canada
appliesTo New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Quebec
cameIntoForceDate 1867-07-01
constitutionalAmendmentProcess partly superseded by Constitution Act, 1982
constitutionalStatus part of the Constitution of Canada
containsPart Part I – Union
Part II – Union
Part III – Executive Power
Part IV – Legislative Power
Part IX – Miscellaneous Provisions
Part V – Provincial Constitutions
Part VI – Distribution of Legislative Powers
Part VII – Judicature
Part VIII – Revenues; Debts; Assets; Taxation
Part X – Intercolonial Railway
Part XI – Admission of Other Colonies
country Canada
createdEntity Dominion of Canada
definesInstitution House of Commons of Canada
Parliament of Canada
Senate of Canada
federal courts framework
office of the Governor General of Canada
provincial legislatures in Canada
provincial lieutenant governors
provincial superior courts
dividesPowersBetween federal government of Canada
provincial governments of Canada
enactedBy Parliament of the United Kingdom
establishedFormOfGovernment federal system
formerName British North America Act, 1867
inForce true
jurisdiction Canada
keyProvision section 121 – free trade of provincial products
section 133 – use of English and French in Parliament and courts
section 91 – federal powers
section 92 – provincial powers
section 93 – education
section 94A – old age pensions and supplementary benefits
section 95 – agriculture and immigration
section 96 – appointment of judges
languageProvision guarantees use of English and French in Legislature of Quebec
guarantees use of English and French in Parliament of Canada
guarantees use of English and French in courts of Quebec
guarantees use of English and French in federal courts
legalSystemContext common law tradition
originalSectionCount 147 sections
patriatedBy Constitution Act, 1982
providesFor admission of other colonies and territories into Canada
renamedBy Constitution Act, 1982
royalAssentDate 1867-03-29
sectionCountApprox 147 sections (as amended)
shortName BNA Act, 1867
subjectMatter distribution of legislative powers
judicial system
provincial constitutions
public finance and taxation
structure of federal institutions

Referenced by (57)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Cabinet of Canada
Crown in right of British Columbia
Government of Ontario
Government of Quebec
Governor General of Canada
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
National Assembly of Quebec
Premier of Alberta
Senate of Canada
Speaker of the Senate of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
constitutionalBasis
Governor General of Canada
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Parliament of Canada
Speaker of the Senate of Canada
createdBy
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan
Premier of Ontario
Premier of Quebec
Prime Minister of Canada
Speaker of the Senate of Canada
constitutingInstrument
Canada Day
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
Parliament of Canada
Supreme Court of Canada
legalBasis
CSC
Part VII – Judicature ("Part I of the Constitution Act, 1867")
Part VII – Judicature ("Part VI of the Constitution Act, 1867")
Part VII – Judicature ("Part VIII of the Constitution Act, 1867")
relatedTo
Dominion of Canada ("British North America Act 1867")
House of Commons of Canada
Senate of Canada
establishedBy
Canadian federal government
House of Commons of Canada
constitutionalDocument
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
governingDocument
Part VII – Judicature
Part X – Intercolonial Railway
partOf
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
appointedUnder
Federal Court of Appeal
authorizedBy
Crown in right of Canada
basisIn
Charles III, King of Canada
constitutionalFramework
Dominion of Canada ("Constitution Act 1867")
constitutionalInstrument
Province of Canada ("British North America Act 1867")
dissolvedBy
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
follows
Constitution Act, 1867 ("British North America Act, 1867")
formerName
Canada
foundingDocument
Australian Constitution ("Canadian Constitution (British North America Act 1867)")
influencedBy
Constitution of India ("Canadian Constitution")
inspiredBy
General amending formula
relatedConcept
Act of Union 1840 ("British North America Act, 1867")
repealedBy
Constitution Act, 1867 ("BNA Act, 1867")
shortName
British North American colonies (except some territories) ("British North America Act 1867")
significantEvent
Act of Union 1840
supersededBy

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