Constitution Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, chapter 66 is a revised provincialAct by the
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
legislature
A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...
. The Act outlines the powers and rules governing the
executive
Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to:
Role or title
* Executive, a senior management role in an organization
** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators
** Executive dir ...
and legislative branches of the provincial
government of British Columbia
The Government of British Columbia (french: Gouvernement de la Colombie-Britannique) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of British Columbia. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assumi ...
. British Columbia is the only province of Canada to have such an act.
Prior to its enactment, the powers and rules of the British Columbia executive and legislature were derived from the ''
British Columbia Terms of Union The ''British Columbia Terms of Union'' is an Order in Council of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and forms part of the Constitution of Canada.Constitution Act, 1982, s 52(2)(b) and Schedule, Item 4.
British Columbia joined Confederation an ...
'', which officially joined British Columbia into Canada. Those terms of union, in turn, continued the government established in the terms of union between the Colony of Vancouver Island with the Colony of British Columbia. The ''British Columbia Terms of Union'' is still part of the Constitution of Canada, and so the ''Constitution Act, 1996'' can not conflict with it.
Unlike the
Constitution of Canada
The Constitution of Canada (french: Constitution du Canada) is the supreme law in Canada. It outlines Canada's system of government and the civil and human rights of those who are citizens of Canada and non-citizens in Canada. Its contents a ...
, the British Columbia Constitution is a regular Act of the legislature and can be amended by a normal
majority vote
A majority, also called a simple majority or absolute majority to distinguish it from related terms, is more than half of the total.Dictionary definitions of ''majority'' aMerriam-Webstersection 43 amending formula.
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...