Simone Lawson
The Constitution Act of 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, is a major part of the Constitution of Canada. The Act, passed by the British Parliament, created a federal dominion and outlines the structure of the Government of Canada, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system. The Act also defines the distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures. It came into effect on July 1, 1867, and the anniversary of its enactment is celebrated annually as Canada Day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the country | Canada |
| Number of provinces | 4 |
| Names of the provinces | Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick |
| Official languages | English and French |
| Government structure | Federal dominion |
| Legislative authority | The Queen |
| Executive government | The Queen |
| Council to aid and advise in the Government of Canada | The Queen's Privy Council for Canada |
| Number of members in the House of Commons | 308 |
| Number of elected members in the House of Commons | 106 |
| Number of Senators required for a meeting | 15 |
| Judicial independence | Guaranteed |
| Freedom of expression | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Established the Dominion of Canada
The Constitution Act, 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, established the Dominion of Canada. The Act, passed by the British Parliament on 29 March 1867, created a federal dominion and defined the structure and operation of the Government of Canada.
The Act united the North American British colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into a federal state under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Province of Canada was divided into two: Canada West and Canada East, which were renamed Ontario and Quebec, respectively, and became full provinces. Thus, the Act established a union of four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
The Constitution Act, 1867, outlined the distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures, with the federal government being liable for the debts of the provinces. The Act provided for a parliamentary system modelled on that of Britain, with an executive government and authority vested in the Queen. It established the House of Commons and the Senate, with provisions outlining the roles and powers of these bodies.
The establishment of the Dominion of Canada through the Constitution Act, 1867, was a significant step towards the formation of modern-day Canada. The Act came into effect on 1 July 1867, and the anniversary of this day is now celebrated annually as Canada Day, marking the creation of the Dominion and the unification of the colonies into a federal state under the British Crown.
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Created a federal dominion
The Constitution Act, 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, created a federal dominion by uniting the North American British colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia into a federal state with a parliamentary system modelled on that of Britain. The act established the Dominion of Canada, also referred to as "one Dominion under the Name of Canada", with the union taking effect within six months of its passage. The former Province of Canada was divided into two: Canada West and Canada East, which were renamed Ontario and Quebec, respectively, and became full provinces.
The Constitution Act, 1867, outlines the structure of the Government of Canada, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system. It defines the distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures, with the Executive Government and Authority of Canada vested in the Queen. The act also provided for the eventual admission of other British North American colonies and territories into the union.
The creation of the Dominion of Canada on 1 July 1867 is celebrated annually as Canada Day and is Canada's national holiday. The act served as Canada's constitution until 1982 when it was renamed the Constitution Act, 1867, and became the basis of Canada's Constitution Act of 1982.
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Defined the operation of the Canadian government
The Constitution Act, 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, 1867 (BNA Act), is a major part of the Constitution of Canada. It was passed by the British Parliament on 29 March 1867 and came into effect on 1 July 1867. The Act outlines the structure of the Canadian government and defines its operation in several key ways.
Firstly, it established the Dominion of Canada by uniting the North American British colonies of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. This union was to take effect within six months of the passage of the Act, as stated in Section 3. The Act also confirmed "Canada" as the name of the newly formed country.
Secondly, the Act defined the federal structure of Canada, including the House of Commons and the Senate. It specified that the House of Commons would consist of 308 members, with 106 elected members. The Act outlined the role of the Governor General, who could appoint a Senator to be Speaker of the Senate and remove them if necessary. It also established the requirement for a minimum of 15 Senators, including the Speaker, to be present for a meeting of the Senate to exercise its powers.
Thirdly, the Constitution Act, 1867, addressed the division of the former Province of Canada into two subdivisions: Canada West and Canada East. These subdivisions were renamed Ontario and Quebec, respectively, and became full provinces under the Act. Additionally, it provided for the union of these two provinces with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, forming a federal state with a parliamentary system modelled on that of Britain.
Furthermore, the Act defined the executive government of Canada, stating that it would continue to be vested in the Queen, with the Governor General acting on her behalf. It also established the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, which would aid and advise in the government of Canada.
Lastly, the Act outlined the financial functioning of the Canadian government, establishing a fiscal union where the federal government is liable for the debts of the provinces. This indicated a distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures.
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Provided for the union of three British North American colonies
The Constitution Act, 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, 1867 (BNA Act), was a law passed by the British Parliament on 29 March 1867. It provided for the union of three British North American colonies—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada (which was divided into Ontario and Quebec)—into a federal state called the Dominion of Canada.
The Act established a federal dominion and outlined the structure and operation of the Government of Canada, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system. It defined the distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures, with the federal government being liable for the debts of the provinces.
The union of the three colonies came into effect within six months of the passage of the Act, and the name Canada was confirmed for the new country. The former Province of Canada was divided into two: Canada West and Canada East, which were renamed Ontario and Quebec, respectively, and became full provinces.
The Constitution Act, 1867, served as the foundation of Canada's Constitution and was modelled on the parliamentary system of Britain. It provided for a similar constitutional structure to that of the United Kingdom, with a Governor General representing the Queen and a Privy Council to aid and advise in the government.
The Act also made provisions for the eventual admission of other British North American colonies and territories into the union.
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Established the country's name as 'Canada'
The Constitution Act, 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, was enacted by the British Parliament on 29 March 1867. It played a pivotal role in establishing the country's name as Canada, uniting three British North American colonies into a federal state. This union brought together the colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada, which was subsequently divided into Ontario and Quebec.
The Act's enactment marked a significant milestone in the formation of modern-day Canada. By uniting these colonies, the act created a federal dominion with a parliamentary system modelled on that of Britain. This union was officially established within six months of the passage of the act, as outlined in Section 3 of the document.
Section 4 of the Constitution Act, 1867, played a pivotal role in confirming "Canada" as the name of the newly formed country. This section ensured that the word "Canada" in the act referred to the newly established federation and not the former province. This clarification was crucial in establishing the country's identity and distinguishing it from the previous colonial entities that existed before the act.
The Constitution Act, 1867, also outlined the structure of the Canadian government and defined the distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures. It established the Dominion of Canada, recognising the desire of the united colonies to be federally united under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This act served as the foundation of Canada's Constitution, providing a framework for the country's governance and political system.
The anniversary of the act's entry into force and the creation of the Dominion of Canada on 1 July 1867 is celebrated annually as Canada Day, a testament to the significance of this act in shaping the country's history and identity.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution Act of 1867, originally known as the British North America Act, is a foundational document of Canada's Constitution.
The Act united the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada into a federal dominion under the Crown of the United Kingdom. It also divided the province of Canada into Ontario and Quebec, and established the structure and operation of the Government of Canada.
The Act was passed by the British Parliament on March 29, 1867, and came into effect on July 1, 1867.
The Act established a federal structure with four provinces: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. It also outlined the distribution of powers between the central Parliament and the provincial legislatures, with the federal government being liable for the debts of the provinces.
Yes, the Act has been amended over time. In 1982, with the patriation of the Constitution, the British North America Act was renamed the Constitution Act, 1867. Section 92A was also added, giving provinces greater control over non-renewable natural resources.
