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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CANADA UNDER THE FRENCH RÉGIME.
Nature of first Government, pp. 1-3--Constitution of Supreme,
afterwards Superior, Council, pp. 3-4-No semblance of Muni-
cipal Government, pp. 4-5-Feudal Tenure, p. 5–Whole
System of Administration centred in the King, p. 6.
CHAPTER II.
GOVERNMENT FROM 1760 To 1774.
Terms of Capitulation in 1760, p. 7-Treaty of Paris, pp. 7-8—
Military Government for Three Years, p. 8—Proclamation
of 1763, establishing System of Government in Quebec,
pp. 8-10. No Assemblies called, p. 10—Unsettled State of
the Country, pp. 10-11-Uncertainty as to Laws in Force,
p. 11.
CHAPTER III.
QUEBEC ACT, 1774.
Intervention of Parliament in Canadian Affairs; Charter of
Government granted, p. 12-Opposition to the Quebec
Act in the Province, p. 13-Details of the New Consti-
tution, p 14-Legislative Council Established, pp. 14-15-
Inauguration of the New Constitution, p. 16-Formation of a
Privy Council, p. 16.
CHAPTER IV.
CONSTITUTIONAL ACT, 1791.
Two Provinces Established, p. 17-Immigration of United
Empire Loyalists, pp. 17-18-Legislative Institutions in Upper
and Lower Canada, pp. 19-23-Meeting of the Legislature of
Lower Canada at Quebec, 17th December, 1792, p. 24-of
Legislature of Upper Canada at Newark, 17th September,
1792, p. 24-A New Constitutional System intended as a
Transcript of the British Constitution, p. 25-Description
of Ceremonial at first Opening of Legislature in Upper
Canada, p. 25. Political Difficulties, p. 25-Dispute between
Executive and Assemblies with respect to Control of Supplies
and Civil List, p. 26-Frequent Dissolutions of Quebec Legis-
lature, p. 26-Political State of Provinces described, pp. 27-28
-Rebellion of 1837-8, p. 28-Suspension of the Quebec
Constitution, p. 29-Arrival of Lord Durham as Governor-
General and High Commissioner, p. 30-His Ordinance of
28th June, 1838, p 31.
CHAPTER V.
UNION ACT, 1840.
Lord Durham's elaborate Report on Political Difficulties, p. 32-
Value of his Suggestions, pp. 32-33-Upper and Lower Canada
reunited, pp. 33-34-Outline of the New Constitution, pp. 35-
36-Commencement of new Era, p. 36-Responsible Govern-
ment, pp. 37-38-Arrival of Lord Elgin, p. 39-Importance of
Legislation from 1841-1867, p. 40-Municipal System, p. 40—
Settlement of Clergy Reserves, pp. 41-42-Abolition of Seig-
niorial Tenure, p. 43-Civil Service, pp. 43-44-Complete
Control over Civil List and Provincial Revenues, 45-Freedom
of Trade, pp. 46-47-Use of French Language in Records, etc.,
p. 47-Elective Legislative Council, pp. 47-48.
CHAPTER VI.
FEDERAL UNION OF THE PROVINCES.
Political Difficulties, p. 49-Representation by Population, p.
50-Double Majority Theory, p. 51-Political Deadlock, p. 52
-Understanding between Political Leaders, p. 53-Federal
Union, pp. 53-54—Adoption of Seventy-Two Resolutions as
Basis of Federal Union, pp. 54-55-Legislature of Canada
pass Address to Queen, p. 55-Delay in the Maritime
Provinces, pp. 55-56-New Constitution finally Adopted, p.
56-Passage of Act of Union (B. N. A. Act, 1867) by Imperial
Parliament, pp. 56-57-Meeting of first Parliament of the
Dominion, p. 57-Acquisition of the North-West, p 58- Insur-
rection in Red River, p. 59-Establishment of Province of
Manitoba; Meeting of first Legislature; Representatives
take Seats in Parliament, p. 59—Admission of British Colum-
bia, p. 60—of Prince Edward Island, pp. 60-61-Newfound-
land declines to enter Confederation, p. 61-Imperial
Order-in-Council piacing all British North America except
Newfoundland under control of Canada, pp. 61-62.
CHAPTER VII.
CONSTITUTION OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
Wide Extent of the Dominion, p. 63-Executive Government, p.
64-Office of Governor-General, pp. 64-5—Advised by a Privy
Council, p. 68-Its Character and Functions, pp. 68-70—
Formation of first Ministry of the Dominion, p. 71-Func-
tions of Ministers, pp. 71-72-Organization of Public Depart-
ments, pp. 72-74.
CHAPTER VIII.
CONSTITUTION OF PARLIAMENT.
Governor-General opens and prorogues Parliament; assents to
or reserves Bills, p. 75--dissolves Parliament, pp. 76-77-
General Features of the Senate or Upper House, pp. 77-81-of
the House of Commons, pp. 81-82-Duration of Parliament,
pp. 82-83-Representation, pp. 83-85-The Franchise, pp. 86-87
-Control over Revenues and Duties, p. 88.
CHAPTER IX.
CONSTITUTION OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATION
OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORIES.
Control of General Government over Provinces, p. 90-Lieuten-
ant-Governor appointed and removed by the Governor-
General in Council, p. 90—His Duties and Responsibilities,
pp. 91-92-Represents the Queen in the performance of certain
Executive Acts, p. 93-Constitution of Local Legislature of
Ontario, pp. 93-94-of Quebec, pp. 94-96—of Nova Scotia, pp.
96-97-of New Brunswick, pp. 98, 99-of Prince Edward
Island, pp. 99, 100-of Manitoba, p. 101-of British Colum-
bia, pp. 101, 102-Government of the North-West Territory,
pp. 103, 104-Creation of Provincial District of Keewatin,
p. 104—Imperial Legislation to remove doubts as to the
power of Canadian Parliament to legislate with respect to
new Provinces in the Territories, etc., pp. 105, 106-Local
Legislatures may amend Local Constitutions, except as re-
gards the Office of Lieutenant-Governor, p. 106.
CHAPTER X.
DISALLOWANCE OF PROVINCIAL ACTS.
Power of disallowance, pp. 108-110-Disallowance of Streams
Act of Ontario Legislature, pp. 110-112-Of Act of Manitoba
Legislature incorporating Winnipeg South-Eastern Railway
Company, pp. 112, 113-Powers and Responsibilities of Dom-
inion Government in this respect, pp. 113, 114.
CHAPTER XI.
DISTRIBUTION OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS.
Object of the Framers of the Constitution, pp. 115, 116-Powers