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.

All labels observed (15)

How this entity was disambiguated

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
linked to: Quebec, Canada
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constitutionalAmendmentProcess partly superseded by Constitution Act, 1982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
linked to: British Parliament
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

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (115)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Canadian federal government constitutionalDocument Constitution Act, 1867
Constitution Act, 1867 formerName British North America Act, 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Constitution Act, 1867 shortName BNA Act, 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Supreme Court of Canada legalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Crown in right of Canada basisIn Constitution Act, 1867
Canada foundingDocument Constitution Act, 1867
Cabinet of Canada constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Parliament of Canada createdBy Constitution Act, 1867
Parliament of Canada legalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Senate of Canada constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Senate of Canada establishedBy Constitution Act, 1867
Premier of Ontario constitutingInstrument Constitution Act, 1867
House of Commons of Canada establishedBy Constitution Act, 1867
House of Commons of Canada constitutionalDocument Constitution Act, 1867
Lieutenant Governor of Ontario createdBy Constitution Act, 1867
Legislative Assembly of Ontario governingDocument Constitution Act, 1867
Constitution of India inspiredBy Canadian Constitution
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Dominion of Canada establishedBy British North America Act 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Dominion of Canada constitutionalInstrument Constitution Act 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
British North American colonies (except some territories) significantEvent British North America Act 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Prime Minister of Canada constitutingInstrument Constitution Act, 1867
Governor General of Canada createdBy Constitution Act, 1867
Governor General of Canada constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Government of Ontario constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Government of Quebec constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Premier of Quebec constitutingInstrument Constitution Act, 1867
Federal Court of Appeal authorizedBy Constitution Act, 1867
Part VII – Judicature partOf Constitution Act, 1867
Part VII – Judicature relatedTo Part I of the Constitution Act, 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Part VII – Judicature relatedTo Part VI of the Constitution Act, 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Part VII – Judicature relatedTo Part VIII of the Constitution Act, 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Part X – Intercolonial Railway partOf Constitution Act, 1867
Australian Constitution influencedBy Canadian Constitution (British North America Act 1867)
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
National Assembly of Quebec constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
Lieutenant Governor of Quebec createdBy Constitution Act, 1867
General amending formula relatedConcept Constitution Act, 1867
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador follows Constitution Act, 1867
Supreme Court of Canada constitutionalBasis Constitution Act, 1867
subject linked to: SCC
CSC relatedTo Constitution Act, 1867
Province of Canada dissolvedBy British North America Act 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Act of Union 1840 repealedBy British North America Act, 1867
linked to: Constitution Act, 1867
Act of Union 1840 supersededBy Constitution Act, 1867
Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan createdBy Constitution Act, 1867
Legislative Assembly of Manitoba legalBasis Constitution Act, 1867