Constitution of Canada
2 definitions found for this term.
Definitions are presented in the order source books were published (most recent first).
The supreme law of Canada. Laws inconsistent with the Constitution of Canada are of no force or effect. Section 52(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 defines it as including the Constitution Acts, 1867–1982, the Canada Act 1982, and thirty Acts and orders in the schedule to the Constitution Act, 1982.
The written Constitution includes three categories of instruments: i) the Canada Act 1982, which contains the Constitution Act, 1982 (which in turn includes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms); 2) thirty imperial or Canadian statutes and orders (such as the Constitution Act, 1867) set out by schedule to the Constitution Act, 1982; and 3) amendments to any of these instruments (of which there are presently eight). The Canadian constitution also includes unwritten rules, principles and conventions.