The Quebec Constitution: Royal Commissions and Instructions, 1763-1947
The current constitution of Quebec is made up of a constellation of documents. The same applies to the constitution of the Province of Quebec (1764-1791) and to those of Lower Canada (1792-1841) and the Province of Canada (1841-1867). However, two documents, now forgotten, once had considerable constitutional value. From the mid-eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century, royal commissions and instructions issued by the British Crown to the Governor of the colony served as the basis for the constitution of Quebec and Canada. This article also reveals that these documents have given rise to various debates in the political sphere.