Legal Resources

• Primary sources of law are the laws and regulations themselves. These include: constitutions, statutes/acts and their amendments, regulations, legal cases and judicial decisions.
   
• There are many sources of law/regulations at various political levels and in various locations/areas. This is called jurisdiction.
   
• When consulting primary legal sources it's important to be clear on the jurisdiction of interest. Consider whether the legislation is at the federal, provincial or municipal level.
   
• Be aware that law changes over time through amendments and new case law. Make sure the resource you are consulting is appropriate to the point in time you are researching.

Statutes are acts of legislature. They are laws enacted at either federal or provincial/territorial levels. While statutes should be consistent with the Constitution they are less stable undergoing regular amendment and revision. Except for historical purposes, the most current revision of a statute should be used.

Regulations are made by entities Parliament appoints such authority, rather than by Parliament itself. This allows for greater efficiency within government as Parliament need not be consulted to frequently enact or amend statutes. As such, regulations are a subordinate form of law. While regulations have binding legal effect they typically state general rather than specific rules.

The ultimate authority of law in a country, a constitution sets out the state's mode of organization, establishes state institutions, regulates department functions and governs the relationship between the individual and the state.

Case law can be binding depending on jurisdiction and court level. Cases pertaining to statutes are important because if a court rules a section is to be interpreted in one way that interpretation becomes law.