Mazurkova T.V.

The article discusses the creation of the Dominion of Canada as a federal state and the genesis of Canadian federalism in its first thirty years. In this context, the author explores the main characteristics of the British North America Act of 1867 as a written common law federal constitution and as the basis for centralized federalism. Courts’ decisions are analyzed in the first years of the Confederation, which established rules that determine the structure of government in modern Canada.

The article deals with the history of the Privy Council of Great Britain, legal nature of its appellate jurisdiction, role of royal prerogative and the Privy Council in the implementation of British colonial policy. Significant place is given to the legal issues of the implementation of the right of appeal from the colonies and dominions to the Privy Council.