Adam Dodek 
The Canadian Constitution 

The Hill Times: Best Books of 2016




A new, expanded edition of the first-ever primer on Canada’s Constitution — for anyone who wants to understand the supreme law of the land.




The Canadian Constitution makes Canada’s Constitution readily accessible to readers. It includes the complete text of the Constitution Acts of 1867 and 1982 accompanied by an explanation of what each section means, along with a glossary of key terms, a short history of the Constitution, and a timeline of important constitutional events.
The Canadian Constitution explains how the Supreme Court of Canada works, and describes the people and issues involved in leading constitutional cases.



Author Adam Dodek, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, provides the only index so far to the Canadian Constitution, as well as fascinating background on the Supreme Court and the Constitution. This revised and expanded edition is a great primer for those coming to Canada’s Constitution for the first time, and a useful reference work for students and scholars.

Table of Content

• Acknowledgements


• Foreword by the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada


• Introduction by the Right Honourable Beverley Mc Lachlin, Chief Justice of Canada


• Preface: How This Book Came About


• Glossary of Key Terms


• 1: A Short History of the Canadian Constitution;


• 2: The Constitution Acts, 1867 and 1982


• 3: The Supreme Court of Canada


• 4: Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada


• 5: Key Constitutional Cases


• 6: Key Dates in Canadian Constitutional History


• 7: Interesting Facts about the Constitution and the Supreme Court


• Appendix A: Additional Sources on the Constitution of Canada


• Appendix B: Index to the Constitution Acts, 1867 and 1982


• Notes


• Acknowledgements


• Image Credits

About the author

Adam Dodek is a professor and the former dean of the University of Ottawa Common Law Section. He teaches and writes about the Canadian Constitution and the Supreme Court of Canada. He has worked at the supreme Courts of both Canada and Israel, as well as the US Court of Appeals. Adam lives in Ottawa.