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2.1 – CLASSIFYING LAW
LAW 12
Sources of Law in Canada
Constitutional
Law
Statute Law
Common Law
Common Law





Laws that originate from previous decisions made
by judges
Based on British common laws
Largest source of current Canadian laws
Lawyers look for favourable precedents (previous
cases) to argue cases
Judges can reject previous decisions – called
distinguishing a case
Statute Law




Laws passed by the elected government
Come in the form of “Acts” after being passed
through formal procedure in Parliament/Legislature
Can over-ride previous common law
Various levels:
 Federal
– applies to all of Canada
 Provincial – applies to whole province
 Local – Bylaws effective in a town/city
 Self-governing Aboriginal Bands – apply on reserve
land
Constitutional Law



Highest level of law – all other laws must comply
Limits powers of the government and what kind of
laws they can pass
Statute laws can be struck down if found to be
“unconstitutional”
Categories of Law – ‘Big Picture’
Constitutional
Law
Public Law
International
Law
The Law
Administrative
Law
Procedural
Law
Criminal Law
Substantive
Law
Tort Law
Domestic Law
Contract Law
Family Law
Private Law
Wills & Estates
Property Law
Employment
Law
International vs Domestic Law
Constitutional
Law
Public Law
International
Law
The Law
Administrative
Law
Procedural
Law
Criminal Law
Substantive
Law
Tort Law
Domestic Law
Contract Law
Family Law
Private Law
Wills & Estates
Property Law
Employment
Law
International vs Domestic Law

International Law = laws that govern relations
between nations
 Diplomatic
immunity = agreements not to prosecute
diplomats for certain offences while in a host country

Domestic Law = laws that govern relations within a
country’s borders
Substantive vs Procedural Law
Constitutional
Law
Public Law
International
Law
The Law
Administrative
Law
Procedural
Law
Criminal Law
Substantive
Law
Tort Law
Domestic Law
Contract Law
Family Law
Private Law
Wills & Estates
Property Law
Employment
Law
Substantive vs Procedural Law

Substantive Law = law that defines the rights,
duties, and obligations of citizens and government
 …is
the ‘content’ of the law
 Eg. Driving under influence

Procedural Law = laws that prescribe the methods
of enforcing the rights and obligations of
substantive law
 …is
the ‘proper steps’ that law enforcement must follow
 Eg. Proper investigational methods for DUI
Public Law vs Private Law
Constitutional
Law
Public Law
International
Law
The Law
Administrative
Law
Procedural
Law
Criminal Law
Substantive
Law
Tort Law
Domestic Law
Contract Law
Family Law
Private Law
Wills & Estates
Property Law
Employment
Law
Public Law vs Private Law

Public Law = law related to the relationship
between individuals and the state
 Constitutional
Law = body of law dealing with the
distribution and exercise of government powers
 Administrative Law = law related to the relationship
between people and government departments, boards,
and agencies
 Criminal Law = law that identifies crimes and
prescribes punishment