WE, THE PEOPLE OF QUÉBEC,

WHEREAS Quebecers form a nation and Québec is a French-speaking nation;

WHEREAS the First Nations and the Inuit nation are present in Québec;

WHEREAS Québec has an English-speaking community;

WHEREAS Quebecers of all origins contribute to Québec’s development;

WHEREAS Québec possesses distinctive characteristics and a deep-rooted historical continuity in a territory over which it exercises its rights through the medium of a state endowed with its own democratic institutions, namely, a National Assembly, a Government, and impartial and independent courts of justice;

WHEREAS Québec has an inalienable right to freely choose its political system and determine its legal status;

WHEREAS the constitutional foundation of Québec has been enriched over the years by the passage of fundamental laws and as it is the prerogative of the Québec nation to express its identity through the adoption of a Québec Constitution;

HAVE DECLARED SOLEMNLY TO CONSTITUTE QUEBEC INTO ONE, INDIVISIBLE, SOVEREIGN, SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIAL REPUBLIC,

AND THEREFORE, THROUGH OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN THE PARLIAMENT OF QUÉBEC, ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Title I - ON SOVEREIGNTY[edit]

Chapter I - FUNDAMENTAL VALUES[edit]

Article 1.: Québec is a free and democratic society, constituted as an indivisible, sovereign, independent, secular, democratic and social Republic organized on a decentralized basis.; Québec is governed by the rule of law.; Québec is a land where individuals are free and equal in dignity and rights.; Québec promotes and protects its culture and the French language.; Québec contributes to the maintenance of peace and international security.; Québec supports social progress, economic development and cultural diversity throughout the world.; Québec acts in accordance with the principles of human development and sustainable development.

Chapter II - QUÉBEC CITIZENSHIP[edit]

Article 2.: Québec citizenship is hereby established. Citizenship is granted or lost as determined by law.

Chapter III - NATIONAL TERRITORY[edit]

Article 3.: Québec exercises its powers throughout its territory.; The territory and boundaries of Québec may not be altered except with the consent of the National Assembly of Québec.; The Gouvernement du Québec must ensure that the territorial integrity of Québec is maintained and respected.

Chapter IV - NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE[edit]

Article 4.: Québec preserves and enhances its natural and cultural heritage, including its archaeological, architectural, archival, artistic, ethnological, historical and religious heritage.

Chapter V - NATIONAL CAPITAL[edit]

Article 5.: The national capital of Québec is Ville de Québec.

Chapter VI - OFFICIAL LANGUAGE[edit]

Article 6.: French is the official language of Québec.; Rules to ensure the predominance of the official language are determined by law.

Chapter VII - NATIONAL SYMBOLS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAY[edit]

Article 7.: The flag of Québec is a white cross on a blue field, with a white fleur-de- lis in each canton or, in heraldic terms, azure, a cross between four fleurs-de- lis argent.; The emblematic tree of Québec is the yellow birch. The emblematic flower of Québec is the blue flag. The emblematic bird of Québec is the snowy owl.; The motto of Québec is “Je me souviens”.; The coat of arms of Québec uses tierced per fess, first azure, three fleurs- de-lis Or; second gules, a lion passant guardant of the second, armed and langued of the first; third, of the second, a sprig of three sugar maple leaves vert, nerved of the field.; The 24th of June is Québec’s national holiday.

Title II - ON RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS[edit]

PART I - INTERPRETATION OF THIS TITLE[edit]

Article 8.: This title must be interpreted and applied with due regard for the historical heritage and fundamental values of the Québec nation and, in particular, the importance of ensuring the predominance of the French language, protecting and promoting Québec culture, guaranteeing equality between women and men, and preserving the secularity of public institutions.

PART II - HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS[edit]

CHAPTER I - FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS[edit]

Article 9.: Every human being has a right to life, and to personal security, inviolability and freedom.; He also possesses juridical personality.

Article 10.: Every human being whose life is in peril has a right to assistance.; Every person must come to the aid of anyone whose life is in peril, either personally or calling for aid, by giving him the necessary and immediate physical assistance, unless it involves danger to himself or a third person, or he has another valid reason.

Article 11.: Every person is the possessor of the fundamental freedoms, including freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.

Article 12.: Every person has a right to the safeguard of his dignity, honour and reputation.

Article 13.: Every person has a right to respect for his private life.

Article 14.: Every person has a right to the peaceful enjoyment and free disposition of his property, except to the extent provided by law.

Article 15.: A person’s home is inviolable.

Article 16.: No one may enter upon the property of another or take anything therefrom without his express or implied consent.

Article 17.: Every person has a right to non-disclosure of confidential information.; No person bound to professional secrecy by law and no priest or other minister of religion may, even in judicial proceedings, disclose confidential information revealed to him by reason of his position or profession, unless he is authorized to do so by the person who confided such information to him or by an express provision of law.; The tribunal must, ex-officio, ensure that professional secrecy is respected.

Article 18.: In exercising his fundamental freedoms and rights, a person shall maintain a proper regard for democratic values, public order and the general well-being of the citizens of Québec.; In this respect, the scope of the freedoms and rights, and limits to their exercise, may be fixed by law.

CHAPTER I.1 - RIGHT TO EQUAL RECOGNITION AND EXERCISE OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS[edit]

Article 19.: Every person has a right to full and equal recognition and exercise of his human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.; Discrimination exists where such a distinction, exclusion or preference has the effect of nullifying or impairing such right.

Article 20.: No one may harass a person on the basis of any ground mentioned in Article 19.

Article 21.: No one may distribute, publish or publicly exhibit a notice, symbol or sign involving discrimination, or authorize anyone to do so.

Article 22.: No one may, through discrimination, refuse to make a juridical act concerning goods or services ordinarily offered to the public.

Article 23.: No one may in a juridical act stipulate a clause involving discrimination.; Such a clause is without effect.

Article 24.: The prohibitions contemplated in Article 22 and 23 do not apply to the person who leases a room situated in a dwelling if the lessor or his family resides in such dwelling, leases only one room and does not advertise the room for lease by a notice or any other public means of solicitation.

Article 25.: No one may, through discrimination, inhibit the access of another to public transportation or a public place, such as a commercial establishment, hotel, restaurant, theatre, cinema, park, camping ground or trailer park, or his obtaining the goods and services available there.

Article 26.: No one may practise discrimination in respect of the hiring, apprenticeship, duration of the probationary period, vocational training, promotion, transfer, displacement, laying-off, suspension, dismissal or conditions of employment of a person or in the establishment of categories or classes of employment.

Article 27.: No one may practise discrimination in respect of the admission, enjoyment of benefits, suspension or expulsion of a person to, of or from an association of employers or employees or any professional order or association of persons carrying on the same occupation.

Article 28.: No employment bureau may practise discrimination in respect of the reception, classification or processing of a job application or in any document intended for submitting an application to a prospective employer.

Article 29.: No one may, in an employment application form or employment interview, require a person to give information regarding any ground mentioned in Article 19 unless the information is useful for the application of Article 32 or the implementation of an affirmative action program in existence at the time of the application.

Article 30.: No one may dismiss, refuse to hire or otherwise penalize a person in his employment owing to the mere fact that he was convicted of a penal or criminal offence, if the offence was in no way connected with the employment or if the person has obtained a pardon for the offence.

Article 31.: Every employer must, without discrimination, grant equal salary or wages to the members of his personnel who perform equivalent work at the same place.; A difference in salary or wages based on experience, seniority, years of service, merit, productivity or overtime is not considered discriminatory if such criteria are common to all members of the personnel.; Adjustments in compensation and a pay equity plan are deemed not to discriminate on the basis of gender if they are established in accordance with the Pay Equity Act (chapter E-12.001).

Article 32.: A distinction, exclusion or preference based on the aptitudes or qualifications required for an employment, or justified by the charitable, philanthropic, religious, political or educational nature of a non-profit institution or of an institution devoted exclusively to the well-being of an ethnic group, is deemed non-discriminatory.

Article 33.: In an insurance or pension contract, a social benefits plan, a retirement, pension or insurance plan, or a public pension or public insurance plan, a distinction, exclusion or preference based on age, sex or civil status is deemed non-discriminatory where the use thereof is warranted and the basis therefor is a risk determination factor based on actuarial data.; In such contracts or plans, the use of health as a risk determination factor does not constitute discrimination within the meaning of Article 19.

CHAPTER II - POLITICAL RIGHTS[edit]

Article 34.: Every person has a right of petition to the President of the Republic, the for the redress of grievances.

Article 35.

Every person who

(1) has attained 18 years of age,

(2) is a Québec citizen,

(3) has been domiciled in Québec for six months,

(4) is not under curatorship, and

(5) is not deprived of election rights pursuant to law,

is a qualified elector.

Article 36.: Every person legally capable and qualified has the right to be a candidate and to vote at an election.

CHAPTER III - JUDICIAL RIGHTS[edit]

Article 37.: Every person has a right to a full and equal, public and fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, for the determination of his rights and obligations or of the merits of any charge brought against him.; The tribunal may decide to sit in camera, however, in the interests of morality or public order.

Article 38.: No one may be deprived of his liberty or of his rights except on grounds provided by law and in accordance with prescribed procedure.

Article 39.: No one may be subjected to unreasonable search or seizure.

Article 40.: Every person arrested or detained must be treated with humanity and with the respect due to the human person.

Article 41.: Every person confined to a correctional facility has the right to separate treatment appropriate to his sex, his age and his physical or mental condition.

Article 42.: Every person confined to a correctional facility while awaiting the outcome of his trial has the right to be kept apart, until final judgment, from prisoners serving sentence.

Article 43.: Every person arrested or detained has a right to be promptly informed, in a language he understands, of the grounds of his arrest or detention.

Article 44.: Every accused person has a right to be promptly informed of the specific offence with which he is charged.

Article 45.: Every person arrested or detained has a right to immediately advise his next of kin thereof and to have recourse to the assistance of an advocate. He has a right to be informed promptly of those rights.

Article 46.: Every person arrested or detained must be brought promptly before the competent tribunal or released.

Article 47.: No person arrested or detained may be deprived without just cause of the right to be released on undertaking, with or without deposit or surety, to appear before the tribunal at the appointed time.

Article 48.: Every person deprived of his liberty has a right of recourse to habeas corpus.

Article 49.: Every accused person has a right to be tried within a reasonable time.

Article 50.: Every accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.

Article 51.: No accused person may be compelled to testify against himself at his trial.

Article 52.: Every person has a right to be represented by an advocate or to be assisted by one before any tribunal.

Article 53.: Every accused person has a right to a full and complete defense and has the right to examine and cross-examine witnesses.

Article 54.: Every accused person has a right to be assisted free of charge by an interpreter if he does not understand the language used at the hearing or if he is deaf.

Article 55.: No accused person may be held guilty on account of any act or omission which, at the time when it was committed, did not constitute a violation of the law.

Article 56.: No person may be tried again for an offence of which he has been acquitted or of which he has been found guilty by a judgment that has acquired status as res judicata.

Article 57.: Where the punishment for an offence has been varied between the time of commission and the time of sentencing, the accused person has a right to the lesser punishment.

Article 58.: No testimony before a tribunal may be used to incriminate the person who gives it, except in a prosecution for perjury or for the giving of contradictory evidence.

CHAPTER IV - ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS[edit]

Article 59.: Every child has a right to the protection, security and attention that his parents or the persons acting in their stead are capable of providing.

Article 60.: Every person has a right, to the extent and according to the standards provided for by law, to free public education.

Article 61.: Parents or the persons acting in their stead have a right to give their children a religious and moral education in keeping with their convictions and with proper regard for their children’s rights and interests.

Article 62.: Parents or the persons acting in their stead have a right to choose private educational establishments for their children, provided such establishments comply with the standards prescribed or approved by virtue of the law.

Article 63.: Persons belonging to ethnic minorities have a right to maintain and develop their own cultural interests with the other members of their group.

Article 64.: Every person has a right to information to the extent provided by law.

Article 65.: Every person in need has a right, for himself and his family, to measures of financial assistance and to social measures provided for by law, susceptible of ensuring such person an acceptable standard of living.

Article 66.: Every person who works has a right, in accordance with the law, to fair and reasonable conditions of employment which have proper regard for his health, safety and physical well-being.

Article 67.: Every person has a right to live in a healthful environment in which biodiversity is preserved, to the extent and according to the standards provided by law.

Article 68.: Married or civil union spouses have, in the marriage or civil union, the same rights, obligations and responsibilities.; Together they provide the moral guidance and material support of the family and the education of their common offspring.

Article 69.: Every aged person and every handicapped person has a right to protection against any form of exploitation.; Such a person also has a right to the protection and security that must be provided to him by his family or the persons acting in their stead.

CHAPTER V - SPECIAL AND INTERPRETATIVE PROVISIONS[edit]

Article 70.: Any unlawful interference with any right or freedom recognized by this Charter entitles the victim to obtain the cessation of such interference and compensation for the moral or material prejudice resulting therefrom.; In case of unlawful and intentional interference, the tribunal may, in addition, condemn the person guilty of it to punitive damages.

Article 71.: Any complaint, dispute or remedy the subject-matter of which is covered by the Pay Equity Act (chapter E-12.001) shall be dealt with exclusively in accordance with the provisions of that Act.; Moreover, any question concerning pay equity between a predominantly female job class and a predominantly male job class in an enterprise employing fewer than 10 employees shall be settled by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail in accordance with Article 31.

Article 72.: The Charter shall not be so interpreted as to suppress or limit the enjoyment or exercise of any human right or freedom not enumerated herein.

Article 73.: The rights and freedoms set forth in this Charter are guaranteed equally to women and men.

Article 74.: The Charter shall not be so interpreted as to extend, limit or amend the scope of a provision of law except to the extent provided in Article 74.

Article 75.: No provision of any Act, even subsequent to the Charter, may derogate from Articles 9 to 57, except so far as provided by those Articles, unless such Act expressly states that it applies despite the Charter.

Article 76.: If any doubt arises in the interpretation of a provision of the Act, it shall be resolved in keeping with the intent of the Charter.

Article 77.: The Charter binds the State.

Article 78.: The Charter affects those matters that come under the legislative authority of Québec.

Article 79.: Every person who contravenes any of Articles 19 to 31 or the first paragraph of Article 68 is guilty of an offence.; If a legal person commits such an offence, any officer, director, employee or representative of such legal person who prescribed or authorized the committing of the offence, or who consented thereto or acquiesced or participated therein, is deemed to be a party to the offence whether or not the legal person has been prosecuted or found guilty.

Article 80.: (1) In Articles 17, 37, 46, 47, 52 and 58, the word “tribunal” includes a coroner, a fire investigation commissioner, an inquiry commission, and any person or agency exercising quasi judicial functions.; (2) In Article 31, the words “salary” and “wages” include the compensations or benefits of pecuniary value connected with the employment.; (3) In the Charter, the word “law” or “Act” includes a regulation, a decree, an ordinance or an order in council made under the authority of any Act.

PART III - FUNDAMENTAL LANGUAGE RIGHTS[edit]

Article 81.: Every person has a right to have the civil administration, the health services and social services, the public utility enterprises, the professional orders, the associations of employees and all enterprises doing business in Québec communicate with him in French.

Article 82.: In deliberative assembly, every person has a right to speak in French.

Article 83.: Workers have a right to carry on their activities in French.

Article 84.: Consumers of goods and services have a right to be informed and served in French.

Article 85.: Every person eligible for instruction in Québec has a right to receive that instruction in French.

Title III - ON LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY[edit]

Chapter I - PARLIAMENT OF QUÉBEC[edit]

Article 86.: The Senate, the National Assembly and the President of the Republic form the Parliament of Québec.; The Parliament passes legislative Acts, supervises the actions of the Government, and assesses public policy.; The Parliament approves Québec’s important international commitments.; The Senate and the National Assembly are collectively referred to as "the Houses".

Article 87.: Accordingly with Article 1, The Parliament has the exercise of the legislative power and the power of supervision over all the acts of the Government and of its departments and agencies.; No provision of this Constitution restricts the scope or exercise of those powers.

Chapter II - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF QUÉBEC[edit]

Article 88.: The National Assembly is composed of 125 Members. This number may be modified to reflect demographic changes in Québec.; A Legislature of the National Assembly lasts for five years. Only the President of the Republic may dissolve the National Assembly before the expiry of a Legislature.; Members of the National Assembly are elected by direct suffrage, as provided for by law.

Chapter II - SENATE OF QUÉBEC[edit]

Article 89.: The Senate is composed of 75 Members. This number may be modified to reflect demographic changes in Québec, but shall not exceed two-thirds, or be less than one-half, of the number of Deputies.; The term of a Senator shall be nine years. One-third of the Senate shall be renewed every three years.; Members of the Senate are elected by representatives of the municipalities, as provided for by law.

Chapter III - PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH HOUSES[edit]

DIVISION I - GENERAL PROVISIONS[edit]

Article 90.: The Houses are convoked and prorogued, and the National Assembly is dissolved, by the President of the Republic.

Article 91.: The quorum of a House or of its committee of the whole House is one-sixth of the Members, including the President.

However, when a committee of a House is sitting, the quorum of the relevant House or of its committee of the whole House is one-tenth of the Members, including the President.

Article 92.: The rules of procedure of each House are established by that House, and it alone has authority to see that they are observed.

DIVISION II - THE COMMITTEES[edit]

Article 93.: Each House may appoint committees, composed of Members of that House, to examine any matter within the jurisdiction assigned to them by the relevant House, and to carry out any mandate given to them by that House.

Article 94.: Each House must appoint a committee on the House to examine any matter referred to it by the House.; Each such committee shall also carry out any other function vested in it by this Act.

Article 95.: A committee may form subcommittees composed of Members of the relevant House.

Article 96.: A committee or a subcommittee may sit even when the relevant House is not in session.

DIVISION III - THE MEMBERS[edit]

Article 97.: No Deputy may sit in the Assembly, and no Senator may sit in the Senate, before making the oath provided in Schedule I.

Article 98.: A Member may resign his seat verbally at a sitting of the House in which he is a member.; He may also resign in a writing countersigned by two other Members of that House and sent to the President or the Secretary General of that House.; If a Member resigns in writing, the President must so inform the relevant House at its next sitting.

Article 99.

The seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if he

(1) dies;

(2) resigns;

(3) becomes a candidate at an election to the House of which he is not a member;

(4) is elected as President of the Republic;

(5) is convicted of treason;

(6) is convicted of corrupt electoral or referendum practices;

(7) is sentenced to imprisonment for an indictable offence punishable by imprisonment for over two years;

(8) is in a situation that makes him disqualified for election;

(9) is in such situation as may be provided by or under law, or by the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of Parliament.

Article 100.: If the seat of a Deputy becomes vacant at a time when the election held in the electoral division of the Deputy is contested or could still be contested within the legal limit of time, any subsequent election held in the electoral division during the same Legislature becomes null if, as a result of the contestation, the court declares elected a person other than the person proclaimed elected at the contested election or at a subsequent election.

DIVISION IV - THE PRESIDENTS OF THE HOUSES[edit]

Article 101.: At the beginning of its first sitting after a general election, each House shall elect a President and, subsequently, a first, a second and a third Vice-President from among its Members.

Article 102.: If the President of a House is absent or unable to act, or at his request, one of the Vice-Presidents shall replace him and exercise his parliamentary duties.

Article 103.: If the President and the Vice-Presidents of a House are absent or unable to act, the Secretary General shall notify the relevant House, and it shall designate a Member as interim President for his parliamentary duties.

Article 104.: If the office of President of a House becomes vacant, the Secretary General shall inform the relevant House, and no business may be transacted until a new President is elected.

Article 105.: In addition to his duties under this Act, the President of each House shall carry out the duties conferred on him by the relevant House.

Article 106.: On the dissolution of the National Assembly, or the partial renewal of the Senate, the President and the Vice-Presidents remain in office until they are replaced or reappointed by the new relevant House or by the renewed Senate.

DIVISION V - PARLIAMENTARY ASSISTANTS[edit]

Article 107.: The Government may appoint one or several Members as parliamentary assistants to assist a minister in the discharge of his duties. A parliamentary assistant may reply to questions addressed to the minister or take note of them on his behalf.; In no case, however, may the number of parliamentary assistants exceed twenty.

DIVISION VI - THE SECRETARY GENERAL[edit]

Article 108.: Each House, on a motion of its President, shall appoint a Secretary General and one or more associate secretaries general.

Article 109.: If the Secretary General is absent or unable to act, or in case of vacancy of the office of Secretary General, the President of the relevant House shall designate one of the associate secretaries general to replace the Secretary General during his absence or inability to act or during the vacancy of the office.

Article 110.: In addition to his duties under this Act, the Secretary General of a House shall carry out the duties conferred on him by the relevant House.

CHAPTER II - LEGISLATIVE ACTS[edit]

Article 111.: The Parliament passes the legislative Acts and the President of the Republic gives assent to them.

Article 112.: The President of the Republic shall declare that he either gives or withholds assent to a legislative Act passed by the Houses of Parliament, within fifteen days of its presentation to him.; An Act shall gain the force of law upon being assented to.; Where the President of the Republic withholds assent to an Act, it shall be returned to Parliament for reconsideration.; A legislative Act shall gain the force of law even without being assented to if it is repassed after reconsideration by a two-thirds majority of Members in both Houses, or if the President of the Republic neither gives nor withholds assent thereto within fifteen days of its presentation to him.

Article 113.: Any Member of either House, as well as the Government, may present a bill.; However, only a minister may present a bill having as its object the commitment of public funds, the creation of a charge on the taxpayers, the remission of a debt owing to the State or the alienation of property owned by the State, and these bills cannot be first presented in the Senate.

Article 114.: A legislative bill shall be considered successively in the two Houses, for the purpose of its adoption by them in identical wording.; If one House passes a legislative bill, and the other house rejects or fails to pass it, or passes it with amendments to which the first-mentioned house will not agree, and if within nine months the first-mentioned house passes the legislative bill again, with or without any amendments which have been made or agreed to by the second-mentioned house, and the second-mentioned house rejects or fails to pass the legislative bill, or passes it with amendments to which the first-mentioned house will not agree, the legislative bill shall be referred to a joint sitting of the Houses.; Such a joint sitting shall deliberate and vote on the legislative bill as last proposed by its House of origin, as well as on the amendments, if any, which have been made therein by one House and not agreed to by the other.; If the legislative bill, together with all amendments passed by the joint sitting, if any, is approved by the joint sitting, it shall be deemed adopted by both Houses.

Article 115.: Every legislative bill must have the following introductory formula:

“The Parliament of Québec enacts as follows: ”.

Article 116.: Upon the giving of assent to an Act, or its repassage after reconsideration, the Secretary General of the Senate shall enter the date of assent therein or repassage thereof. The entry forms part of the Act.

Article 117.: The Secretary General of the Senate has custody of the originals of the Acts.; In case of the loss or destruction of an original, the Secretary General may substitute for it a certified true copy; thereafter, that copy serves as the original.

Article 118.: The Secretaries General of each House shall affix their seals to every copy of an Act that they certify true.

Article 119.: After an Act has been assented to, or repassed after reconsideration, the Secretary General of the Senate shall send the Québec Official Publisher a copy certified true to the original enacted by Parliament.

Article 120.: Every year, the Québec Official Publisher shall publish a compilation of the statutes assented to during the preceding year.

Article 121.: The Office of the Parliament shall by regulation establish the conditions and modalities of printing, publication and distribution of the legislative Acts, the copies of the annual compilation of the statutes, the bills, and the other parliamentary documents.; The Secretary General of the Senate shall provide printed copies of the Acts, free of charge, to the President of the Republic, government departments and public bodies, according to the rules established by the Office.; For the purposes of this section, a public body is a body to which the Senate, the National Assembly, the Government or a minister appoints the majority of the members, to which, by law, the personnel is appointed in accordance with the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1), or whose capital forms part of the domain of the State.

Article 122.: The Secretary General of the Senate shall deliver a copy of the annual compilation of the statutes to the President of the Republic, and to the Registrar of Québec.

Article 123.: The Secretary General of the Senate, or the person designated by him for that purpose, shall supply certified true copies of any Act to any person who applies therefor, upon payment of the cost fixed by the by-law of the Office of the Parliament. The designation has effect from its publication in the Gazette officielle du Québec.; Sums received under this section are paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Article 124.: A copy of an Act certified true by the Secretary General of the Senate, or the person designated for that purpose, or the text of an Act published by the Québec Official Publisher is authentic and is proof of its existence and contents.

Article 125.: Every person who makes a request to the Parliament for the passage of a private bill must pay to the Parliament the fees prescribed by regulation.

CHAPTER III - INDEPENDENCE OF PARLIAMENT[edit]

DIVISION I - RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES[edit]

Article 126.: Each House has the power to protect its proceedings against all interference.

Article 127.: Every Member of Parliament is vested with full independence for the carrying out of his duties.

Article 128.: No Member may be prosecuted, arrested or imprisoned by reason of anything said or done or any document tabled by him in the carrying out of his parliamentary duties in either House or in any committee or subcommittee.

Article 129.: No Member may be bound to appear to answer a charge of contempt of court nor arrested or held for contempt of court while the House of which he is a Member or a committee or subcommittee in whose work he is taking part is sitting, or during the two preceding or two following days.

Article 130.: A Member is exempt from appearing as a witness in court or before any body or person empowered to summon witnesses while the House of which he is a Member or a committee or subcommittee in whose work he is taking part is sitting, and during the two preceding and two following days.

Article 131.: The President of the Senate may exempt a member of the personnel of the Parliament from appearing as a witness in court, or before any body or person empowered to summon witnesses where he considers his presence required for the proper functioning of the Parliament and its services.

Article 132.: No person may be prosecuted for publishing or distributing an unedited report or official summary of the debates of a House or committee or subcommittee, or for distributing, unedited, such debates or any document that has been submitted to them.

Article 133.: No person may be found guilty for publishing or distributing an abstract of the debates of a House or committee or subcommittee, of a report or of an official summary of the debates, or of a document that has been submitted to them, or for giving an account of them, unless it is proved that he acted with malicious intent.

Article 134.: A copy of a written or audio-visual document contemplated in Articles 132 or 133 certified true by the Secretary General of the Senate is admissible as evidence.

Article 135.: A House or a committee may summon and compel the appearance before it of any person, either to answer questions put to him or to produce such papers and things as it may deem necessary for its acts, inquiries or proceedings.

Article 136.: The President of either House or any Member of the Parliament or the chairman or any member of a committee or subcommittee may require a person appearing before it to make such oath as may be provided by law.

Article 137.: In no case may a person’s testimony before a House or committee or subcommittee be held against him in a court of law, unless he is being prosecuted for perjury.

Article 138.: No action may be instituted by reason of an official act performed in good faith by a person in the exercise of duties assigned to him under this Act or in carrying out an order of a House or committee or subcommittee.

Article 139.

No person may breach the privileges of the Parliament. The following acts, in particular, constitute breaches of the privileges of the Parliament:

(1) refusing to comply with an order of a House, a committee or a subcommittee;

(2) giving false or incomplete testimony before a House, a committee or a subcommittee;

(3) presenting a false document to a House, a committee or a subcommittee with intent to deceive;

(4) forging, falsifying or altering, with intent to deceive, any document of Parliament, a House, a committee or a subcommittee or any document tabled or presented before it;

(5) creating a disturbance liable to disrupt the course of parliamentary proceedings;

(6) using or threatening to use force or using undue pressure to have a sitting cancelled or suspended;

(7) assaulting, interfering with, bullying or threatening Members of the Parliament in the carrying out of their parliamentary duties or members of the personnel of the Parliament in the carrying out of their parliamentary duties;

(8) defaming a Member of the Parliament or using abusive language about him;

(9) bribing or attempting to bribe a Member of the Parliament or a member of the personnel of the Parliament;

(10) attempting to influence the vote, opinion, judgment or action of a Member by means of deceit, threats or undue pressure;

(11) suborning or attempting to suborn or threatening a person in regard to any evidence to be given by him before a House, a committee or a subcommittee;

(12) instituting an action with malicious intent against a Member;

(13) performing an act contrary to the parliamentary immunity conferred on a Member.

Article 140.: The person responsible for carrying out a warrant of a House, a committee or a subcommittee may demand the assistance of a peace officer or any other person.

Refusal to give assistance when demanded constitutes a breach of the privileges of the Parliament.

Article 141.: The bringing of a complaint before a House by a Member against another Member without a serious reason constitutes a breach of the privileges of the Parliament.

DIVISION VI - DEFENCE COSTS, JUDICIAL COSTS, EXPENSES FOR COUNSEL AND INDEMNIFICATION[edit]

Article 142.: A Member or a former Member is entitled, in accordance with law and subject thereto, to the payment of the defence costs and judicial costs arising out of proceedings brought against the Member or former Member by a third person for any act or omission in the performance of the Member’s or former Member’s duties of office.

CHAPTER IV - ADMINISTRATION OF PARLIAMENT[edit]

DIVISION I - THE OFFICE OF PARLIAMENT[edit]

Article 143.: An Office of the Parliament is hereby established.

Article 144.: The President of the Senate is the chairman of the Office, and the President of the National Assembly is the vice-chairman thereof. The Office is also composed of five other Members from each house.

Article 145.

The members of the Office other than the chairman and vice-chairman are designated, from the relevant House, by the Members of each party in the following manner:

(1) three from the Government party;

(2) two from the party of the Official Opposition or, where there are several opposition parties, one from the Official Opposition party and one from the party among the remaining opposition parties having obtained the greatest number of seats or, in case of equality of seats, from that having obtained the greatest number of valid votes.

Article 146.: Each of the designating parties shall also designate the same number of Members as substitute members of the Office; each of them may act in the place of a member who is absent or unable to act.

Article 147.: Within fifteen days from the beginning of a session, each party shall communicate to the President of each House the names of the members and substitute members it has designated from that House.

Article 148.: The President of a House shall submit the list of the designated Members to the relevant House. The House shall adopt or reject the list as a whole.

Article 149.: If a party fails to designate its representatives or if the composition of a House does not allow the application of Articles 145 and 146, the President of that House shall himself designate the Members to complete the composition of the Office.

Article 150.: When a House is prorogued or dissolved, the members of the Office designated from that House remain in office until they are replaced or designated again.

Article 151.: The Vice-Presidents of either House may take part, without the right to vote, in the proceedings of the Office.

Article 152.: If the President of a House is absent, or at that President’s request, the Vice-President designated by the President shall act as chairman or vice-chairman, as the case may be. Only the first Vice-President or the second Vice-President may be designated for that purpose.; If the President is unable to act or the office of President is vacant, the first Vice-President shall act as chairman or vice-chairman, as the case may be, during such inability or vacancy.; However, if the first Vice-President also is unable to act or the office of first Vice-President also is or also becomes vacant, the second Vice-President shall replace the first Vice-President in the circumstances described in the second paragraph.

Article 153.: Five members, including the chairman, constitute a quorum of the Office. In the event of a tie-vote, the chairman has a casting vote.

Article 154.: The Secretary General of the Senate is the secretary of the Office. If the Secretary General of the Senate is absent or unable to act, the Secretary General of the National Assembly shall replace him.; However, if the Secretary General of the National Assembly also is absent or unable to act, the Office shall designate an associate secretary general of either House to replace the Secretary General of the National Assembly in the circumstances described in the second paragraph.

Article 155.: The Office shall establish its rules of procedure.

Article 156.: The Office shall have managerial and regulatory functions, in accordance with law.; It shall have such other functions as the Parliament may assign to it.

Article 157.: The Office shall give its opinion on any matter referred to it by the President of either House.

Article 158.: The Office shall establish, by regulation, the terms and conditions, scales and modalities of reimbursement to the members, in accordance with law and subject thereto.

Article 159.: The Office shall, by regulation, establish the conditions, scales and modalities of payment to its members and to the members of and participants in a committee or subcommittee of either House of all allowances and expenses necessary for the performance of their parliamentary duties, in accordance with law and subject thereto.

Article 160.: The Office shall, by regulation, determine the rules according to which the personnel and the financial resources are to be allocated to any committee or subcommittee of the Assembly.

Article 161.: The Office shall, by regulation, determine the moneys that may be received from the Parliament, for research and support purposes, by the political parties represented in either House following the last general election and by independent Members, and the terms and conditions of payment thereof, in accordance with law and subject thereto.

Article 162.: The President of each House shall table in that House the rules and regulations adopted by the Office within fifteen days of their adoption if the House is in session or, if it is not sitting, within fifteen days of the opening of the next session or resumption.

DIVISION II - MANAGEMENT OF PARLIAMENT[edit]

Article 163.: Subject to this Act, Parliament shall continue to be managed within the scope of the Acts, regulations and rules applicable.; The Office may, however, by regulation, derogate from the applicable Acts, regulations and rules by specifically indicating the provisions derogated from and the provisions that are to apply in their place and stead.

Article 164.: Subject to this Act and for the purposes of this division, the Office may make any regulation it deems necessary for the management of Parliament.

Article 165.: The Office may, by regulation, prescribe the rules governing the expenditures of Parliament.

Article 166.: The Office shall fix the maximum number of staff needed by Parliament to administer its services and shall determine the apportionment of the staff.; The Office shall adopt the administrative organization plan of Parliament.

Article 167.: The organization and use of the premises as well as the use of the equipment of the Assembly and its services must be approved by the Office.

DIVISION III - SERVICES OF THE ASSEMBLY[edit]

Article 168.: The Office shall direct and administer the services of Parliament.

Article 169.: The Presidents of both Houses are jointly responsible for the security of the buildings or premises occupied by the Members and the members of the personnel of Parliament; each of them is individually so responsible for the security of the buildings or premises occupied by the Members and the members of the personnel of His House. The Presidents of both Houses shall also provide protection for persons and property in the premises.; For that purpose, the President of each House may establish an advisory committee to assist him with the examination and implementation of security and protective measures; the members of the committee are entitled, where such is the case, to the fees and other allowances determined by the Office.

Article 170.: The Office may delegate some of the Office’s administrative responsibilities to the President or to the first or the second Vice-President of either House who shall, within the limits of the delegation, have the same powers and duties as the Office.

Article 171.: Under the responsibility of the Office, the Secretary General of each House has the supervision of the members of the personnel of that House; he shall administer its day-to-day business and exercise the other functions assigned to him by the Office.; The orders of the Secretary General must be carried out in the same manner as those of the President.

Article 172.: The respective duties of the members of the personnel of Parliament not expressly defined by law or by the Office are determined by the President of the relevant house.

Article 173.: No deed, document or writing binds Parliament or may be attributed to the President of a House unless it is signed by him, by the Secretary General of that House or by another officer, and only, in this last case, to the extent determined by regulation of the Office.; The Office may, however, upon the conditions it fixes, allow the required signature to be affixed by means of an automatic device to such documents as it determines.; The Office may also allow a facsimile of the signature to be engraved, lithographed or printed on such documents as it determines. In such a case, the facsimile has the same force as the signature itself if the document is countersigned by a person authorized by the President.; Any copy of a document forming part of the records of the services of Parliament and certified true by a person authorized to sign the document under the first paragraph is authentic and has the same force as the original.

Article 174.: The Secretary General of the Senate shall have custody of the records of Parliament. He may, however, entrust their care to any members of the personnel of the Assembly he may designate.

DIVISION IV - BUDGETARY AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS[edit]

Article 175.: The President shall prepare the budget estimates for the Assembly every year. He shall, for that purpose, consult the Office.; Where, during a year, the President foresees that he will be required to exceed the budget estimates, he must prepare supplementary budget estimates and, for that purpose, consult the Office.; Furthermore, the budget estimates and, as the case may be, the supplementary budget estimates must be approved by the Office.

DIVISION V - LIBRARY OF PARLIAMENT[edit]

Article 176.: The Assembly shall put a library, called the “Library of Parliament”, at the disposal of its Members and the members of its personnel.

Article 177.: The head of the Library, his assistants and the other employees of the Library are members of the personnel of Parliament.

Article 178.: The head of the Library may update unusable or obsolete documents, transpose them to other data systems or treat them in any other manner approved by the Office.

Title III - ON EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY[edit]

CHAPTER I - GOUVERNEMENT DU QUÉBEC[edit]

Article 179.: The Government sets and oversees general policy in Québec, subject to the Presidential prerogative. It carries out legislation and has the power, as provided for by law, to make regulations.

The Government has the civil service and the armed forces at its disposal. The Prime Minister heads the Government. He directs and administers its actions, insofar as they do not clash with the Presidential prerogative.

CHAPTER II - THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC[edit]

Article 180.: The President of the Republic is the head of the State.; The President of the Republic must ensure that the Québec Constitution is respected.; The President of the Republic must ensure the proper functioning of the public authorities and the continuity of the State by his arbitration.; The President of the Republic negotiates Québec’s international commitments and represents Québec in relations with other States and international institutions.

DIVISION I - ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC[edit]

Article 181.: The candidate who obtained more than half of all valid votes in the first round shall be declared elected.; Where the results of the first round show that such a majority was not obtained by any candidate, a second round must be held twenty-one days after the first round.

Article 182.: Where a second round is to be held, only the two candidates who obtained the greatest numbers of votes in the first round may stand in the second round.; Where the results of the first round show a tie for first place, only the candidates who were in first place in the first round may stand in the second round. Where those results show a tie for second place, only the candidates who were in first and second place in the first round may stand in the second round.; Where, as a result of a withdrawal or a candidate ceasing to be such for any other reason after the end of the first round but before the second round, there are less than two candidates to stand in the second round, a re-determination of those candidates shall be made to take account of the withdrawal or cessation.

Article 183.: Where a second round is held, the candidate who obtained the greatest number of votes therein shall be declared elected.

Where the results of the second round show a tie for first place, a drawing of lots shall determine which candidate shall be declared elected.

DIVISION II - POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC[edit]

Article 184.: The Presidential prerogative extends over foreign affairs, national defense, and internal security. If the President of the Republic comes from the Government party, the Government may transfer jurisdiction over other matters to the Presidential prerogative.; The President of the Republic sets and oversees general policy in Québec as regarding matters of the Presidential prerogative. He directs and administers the actions of the Government in those matters.

Article 185.: The President of the Republic receives the credentials and letters of recall of diplomatic representatives accredited to Québec by foreign states.; The diplomatic representatives of Québec in foreign states shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic.

Article 186.: The Command-in-Chief of the Military and Security Forces of Québec is vested in the President of the Republic.; The President of the Republic presides over the higher councils and committees of national defense.

Article 187.: The President of the Republic may commute or remit sentences for offences against the laws of Québec, or grant individual pardons therefor.; General Amnesty may only be granted by the Parliament.

DIVISION III - OFFICE STAFF OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC[edit]

Article 188.: The President of the Republic may appoint his executive secretary and the other persons required for the orderly administration of his office.

Article 189.: The standards and scales according to which the executive secretary and the other members of the office staff of the President of the Republic are recruited, appointed and remunerated, as well as their other conditions of employment, are fixed by the Conseil du trésor.

CHAPTER II - CONSEIL EXÉCUTIF[edit]

Article 190.: The Conseil exécutif du Québec shall consist of the President of the Republic and the following Ministers:

(1) a Prime Minister; (2) Ministers of State; (3) such other Ministers as may be established by law. The Ministers shall be appointed by the President of the Republic and shall remain in office during pleasure. The Ministers other than the Prime Minister shall be appointed and dismissed after consulting the Prime Minister.

Article 191.: The President of the Republic shall be, ex-officio, President of the Conseil exécutif.; The Prime Minister shall be, ex-officio, President of the Conseil des Ministres.

Article 192.: In addition to the indemnities, allowances and other amounts and benefits to which he is entitled according to the Act respecting the conditions of employment and the pension plan of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-52.1),

(1) the Prime Minister shall receive an annual indemnity equal to 105% of the annual indemnity contemplated in section 1 of the said Act; (2) each other member of the Conseil exécutif shall receive an annual indemnity equal to 75% of the annual indemnity contemplated in section 1 of the said Act; (3) (subparagraph replaced).

The Government shall establish, by regulation, the conditions, scales and terms of payment, to members of the Conseil exécutif, of a lump sum allowance for their official expenses and an allowance to cover their travel and living expenses and any other expenses related to their duties.

If the Prime Minister at the same time holds one of the offices mentioned in section 4, he shall not be entitled to any other indemnity and allowance for entertainment expenses than those attached to the function of Prime Minister.

Article 193.: The sums contemplated in Article 192 shall be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Article 194.: The Government may define the duties to be exercised by any member of the Conseil exécutif and change the name under which a minister or department is designated.

It may also transfer one or more branches of a department from the control of a minister to the control of another minister or entrust part of the duties of a minister to another minister, or allow a minister to exercise part of the functions of another, under the latter’s direction. The minister to whom branches or duties are so transferred or entrusted shall, with respect to such branches or duties, have the same powers and perform the same duties as the minister who formerly had the control of or responsibility for them, or the minister under whose direction he acts, as the case may be. Every order in council adopted under the provisions of this section shall be in force from and after the date thereof and shall be afterwards published in the Gazette officielle du Québec.

Article 187.: The Secretary-General, the Associate Secretaries-General and the Deputy Secretaries of the Conseil exécutif are appointed in accordance with the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1).

The Secretary-General shall assist the Conseil in the performance of its duties; he shall have, with regard to the public servants of the Conseil, the powers assigned by the said Act to a Deputy Minister. The Secretary-General may, in writing, on the conditions, to the extent and for the time he specifies, delegate or subdelegate all or part of the responsibilities vested in him under this section. The Government may confer on every associate secretary-general of the Conseil exécutif the rank and privileges of deputy minister, which shall not be cause for the conferee to cease to discharge his duties under the authority of the Secretary-General of the Conseil exécutif. 1968, c. 12, s. 1; 1976, c. 7, s. 2; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1977, c. 14, s. 3; 1978, c. 15, s. 133, s. 140; 1983, c. 55, s. 141; 1992, c. 24, s. 4; 2000, c. 8, s. 242.

10.1. The Executive Secretary to the Prime Minister has the same rank and privileges as those of a deputy minister. This section does not grant him the classification of administrator of state within the meaning of the Public Service Act (chapter F-3.1.1). 1983, c. 55, s. 142.

11. (1) The powers, duties and functions of the members of the Conseil exécutif, as well as those of the Prime Minister, may, by order in council, be, wholly or in part, temporarily conferred upon any member of the Conseil appointed in virtue of section 3; provided such member of the Conseil exécutif be or become a member of the National Assembly. (2) Any member of the Conseil exécutif may, by order in council, be appointed Deputy Prime Minister and charged, as such, with the duties and powers of the Prime Minister when the latter is absent from the capital. (3) But every such member appointed under this section shall exercise his functions gratuitously. (4) The Government has and always had the power to fix the quorum of the Conseil exécutif.

DIVISION II.1 PUBLICATION OF ORDERS 1982, c. 30, s. 175.

11.1. Government orders must be published in the Gazette officielle du Québec not later than thirty days after being made. The Government may defer their publication for any grounds of public interest set forth in the orders. 1982, c. 30, s. 175.

11.2. The Government may, in cases prescribed by regulation, substitute for the complete text of the order a notice indicating the title of the order, the date on which it was made, its number and the number of pages it contains. The title must be sufficiently descriptive to allow the exercise of the right of access. 1982, c. 30, s. 175.

11.3. After obtaining the advice of the Commission d’accès à l’information, the secretary-general of the Conseil exécutif shall publish in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the text of a draft regulation contemplated in section 11.2, with notice that at the expiry of not less than forty-five days after the publication, the text will be submitted to the Government for approval. 1982, c. 30, s. 175.

11.4. Regulations passed under section 11.2 come into force on the date of their publication in the Gazette officielle du Québec or on any later date fixed therein. 1982, c. 30, s. 175. DIVISION II.2 OFFICE STAFF OF MINISTERS 1983, c. 55, s. 143.

11.5. Every minister may appoint an executive secretary and any other person required for the orderly administration of his office. 1983, c. 55, s. 143.

11.6. The standards and scales according to which an executive secretary and the other members of an office staff are recruited, appointed and remunerated, as well as their other conditions of employment, are determined by the Conseil du trésor. 1983, c. 55, s. 143.

11.7. The Ethics Commissioner appointed under the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-23.1) shall, by regulation, after consultation with the Premier, adopt rules of ethics applicable to office staff. The regulation is published in the Gazette officielle du Québec. 2010, c. 30, s. 123.

11.8. In response to a request in writing from an office staff member, the Ethics Commissioner shall provide a written advisory opinion, with reasons and any recommendations the Ethics Commissioner considers appropriate, on any matter respecting the obligations of the staff member under the rules of ethics. The advisory opinion is confidential and may only be made public by the person who requested it or with the person’s written consent, subject to the power of the Ethics Commissioner to conduct an inquiry and report on the facts alleged in or discovered in connection with the request for an advisory opinion. Section 88 of the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-23.1) applies, with the necessary modifications, to an advisory opinion provided to an office staff member by the Ethics Commissioner. 2010, c. 30, s. 123.

11.9. The Ethics Commissioner may publish guidelines for the office staff regarding the application of the rules of ethics, provided that no personal information is included. 2010, c. 30, s. 123.

11.10. In response to a request in writing from the Premier, the Minister responsible, or on the Ethics Commissioner’s own initiative, the Ethics Commissioner may conduct an inquiry to determine whether an office staff member has violated the rules of ethics. Sections 92 to 96 and 101 of the Code of ethics and conduct of the Members of the National Assembly (chapter C-23.1) apply, with the necessary modifications. The inquiry report of the Ethics Commissioner is sent to the staff member concerned, the Minister responsible and the Premier. If applicable, the Ethics Commissioner informs the person who submitted the request for an inquiry of the Ethics Commissioner’s findings. 2010, c. 30, s. 123. DIVISION III (Repealed, 2010, c. 30, s. 124). 1999, c. 40, s. 128; 2010, c. 30, s. 124.

12. (Repealed). R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 9; 1972, c. 24, s. 2; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 1999, c. 40, s. 128; 2010, c. 30, s. 124.

13. (Repealed). R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 10; 1968, c. 9, s. 68; 1977, c. 5, s. 14; 2010, c. 30, s. 124.

14. (Repealed). R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 11; 1965 (1st sess.), c. 80, a. 1; 1990, c. 4, s. 417; 2010, c. 30, s. 124.

15. (Replaced). R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 12; 1990, c. 4, s. 417.

16. (Replaced). R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 13; 1974, c. 11, s. 2; 1990, c. 4, s. 417. DIVISION IV AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND WITH MUNICIPALITIES 1996, c. 2, s. 674.

17. The Government may authorize a Minister designated by it to make with other governments and also with municipalities, any agreements which it deems conformable to the interests and the constitutional rights of Québec, for the joint execution of any project tending to safeguard and improve public health. R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 14; 1970, c. 42, s. 17; 1985, c. 23, s. 24; 1996, c. 2, s. 675.

18. Any municipality which is party to an agreement made in accordance with this division, may authorize, by resolution of its council, the acts and expenditure required for the execution of such agreement. R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 15; 1996, c. 2, s. 676.

19. The Gouvernement du Québec is authorized to make, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as an advance, payment of the whole or part of the contributory share of any party to such agreement. The sums thus advanced shall be repayable to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and shall be deposited therein as soon as collected by the Government. R. S. 1964, c. 9, s. 16; 1977, c. 5, s. 14.

Title III - ON JUDICIAL AUTHORITY[edit]

CHAPTER XII COURTS OF JUSTICE OF QUÉBEC 12. The courts of Québec are independent and impartial. Judges are appointed to serve during good behaviour and may not be transferred, suspended or dismissed against their will except pursuant to a judicial decision and on the sole grounds and in the sole manner prescribed by law. The organization and operation of the courts of Québec are provided for by law.

Title III - ON THE QUÉBEC CONSTITUTION[edit]

CHAPTER XIII AMENDMENTS TO THE QUÉBEC CONSTITUTION 13. A bill to amend this Constitution may be introduced by the Prime Minister or jointly by at least 25% of the Members of the National Assembly. Such an amending bill must be supported by a two-thirds majority of Members of the National Assembly. CHAPTER XIV SUPREMACY OF THE QUÉBEC CONSTITUTION 14. The laws and constitutional conventions applicable in Québec when this Constitution comes into force continue to apply provided they are consistent with the Constitution and so long as they are not amended in accordance with the applicable legislative provisions. This Constitution prevails over any rule of Québec law that is inconsistent with its provisions. CHAPTER XV FINAL PROVISION 15. This Act comes into force on (insert the date of assent to this Act).

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