Patriation

Patriation is a legal term particularly used in Canada to describe the process of "bringing home" the Canadian Constitution in 1982.

Related Topics:
Canada - Canadian Constitution - 1982

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For many years the Constitution of Canada was just an act of the British Parliament, and was the property of the British Government, with the original document residing in Britain. The constitution could only be changed by an act of the British Parliament, as well. Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau felt the constitution should "return to Canada" and argued for the document's repatriation. Critics pointed out that the document could not "return" to Canada, as it was never made in Canada in the first place. Thus the term "patriation" was coined as a word meaning "to make something part of your own nation."

Related Topics:
Constitution of Canada - British Parliament - Canadian Prime Minister - Pierre Trudeau - Repatriation

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The term patriation is also used to describe the similar process with regards to the 1986 Constitution Act of New Zealand.

Related Topics:
1986 - Constitution - New Zealand

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