What is the basic foundation of the Canadian constitution?

Answer 1

Its difficult to interpret what this means.

The foundation of the Canadian constitution is described in the Constitution Acts 1867-1982. It describes the underlying structure of the government.

The original act from 1867 vests executive authority and government in the Queen, and describes the Governor General as the chief executive officer who carries out the government of Canada in the name of the Queen, on the advice or with the advice and consent of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada. It lays the foundation for a Parliament composed of the Queen - represented by the Governor General , the Senate, and the House of Commons, and describes their composition and functions. Also, it lays out the basic constitutions of the provinces, and the distribution of legislative power between the federal and provincial governments. Finally, it describes the Canadian judicature.

The act from 1982 adds the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the rights of Aboriginals, and the amendment formula for the constitution.

From another perspective, the basic foundation of the Canadian constitution is responsible government by a Westminster-style Cabinet. This means that the Government is accountable to the elected representatives of the people (ie Parliament), and that it operates based on consensus of its members. Further, the basic principle of the Canadian constitution is for Canada to be a free and democratic society, similar in principle to the United Kingdom.

Answer 2

Some key items of the Canadian constitution include:

Continuance as a Constitutional Monarchy

Section 9 of the Constitution Act, 1867 makes it very clear that executive government and authority is vested in Her Majesty the Queen of Canada. This section of the original document is at the very foundation of the Canadian system of government, lending constitutional legitimacy to the three branches of government: the Queen-in-Council, the Queen-in-Parliament and the Queen on the Bench.

Creation of the Parliament of Canada

Section 17 of the Constitution Act, 1867 creates the Parliament of Canada to be comprised of the Queen, the appointed Senate and the elected House of Commons. This dynamic has evolved considerably since its creation, with current constitutional arrangements allowing for Canadians to enjoy the comprehensive studies of a Senate that features longevity and institutional memory, but bowing to the democratic weight of the House of Commons.

Proportional Representation for the House of Commons

Section 51 of the Constitution Act, 1867 provides for the decennial adjustment of the seats of the House of Commons, to ensure that Commons seats roughly account for the populations of each of the provinces. Later, amendments to this part of the Act would guarantee, for minority representation, that a province's Commons seats could not be less than the province's Senate seats, and that no province would have its representation reduced beyond its 1986 level.

Money Bills the Exclusive Right of the House of Commons

Section 53 of the Constitution Act, 1867 provides that only the elected House of Commons may propose laws that would appropriate revenue or raise taxes. As the Government of Canada is accountable only to the Commons, this section is at the very foundation of Canada's system of responsible government. Later sections also provide that any appropriations of revenue must always be recommended to the House of Commons by the Governor General (for the Queen) on the advice of a minister.

Legislative Authority of Federal/Provincial Legislatures

Section 91 of the Constitution Act, 1867 provides that the Parliament of Canada can legislate on any issue that is not exclusively assigned to the authority of the provinces. The Act makes it clear that the authority of the provinces is meant to be very narrow, and that the authority of the national Parliament is meant to be very much supreme over the provinces.

Answer 3

The British North America Act. In an act of revisionist history the French Canadian Prime Minister that repatriated the Constitution, reached back into history to rename it because being French, he didn't like the history, or British part.

Answer 4

how the hell do i know