Constitution Act, 1867

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/constitution-act-1867

1. What is the original enactment?
2. Why was the Constitution Act, 1867 important?
3. How does the Constitution Act, 1867 split powers between the federal and provincial governments?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the original enactment?British North America Act, 1867, by the Parliament of the United Kingdom
2. Why was the Constitution Act, 1867 important?It united Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into one country and made sure each part could make its own laws while sharing national powers.
3. How does the Constitution Act, 1867 split powers between the federal and provincial governments?Section 91 gives the federal Parliament powers over trade, defense, and criminal law, while Section 92 gives provinces powers over education, health care, and property.

Dominion of Canada: The name given to Canada upon its confederation in 1867, signifying a self-governing entity within the British Empire.
Westminster System: A parliamentary system of democracy characterized by a constitutional monarchy and responsible government, originating in the United Kingdom.
Patriation of the Constitution: The process by which Canada gained full legislative control over its Constitution, ending the requirement for British parliamentary approval for amendments.