Which term describes the process of moving a constitution from a colonial power to a domestic system?

• A. Ratification
• B. Patriation
• C. Adoption
• D. Amendment

Answer: (B)

Patriation is the process of moving a constitution from a colonial power to a domestic system. It describes bringing the legal authority over the constitution home to the country so it can be amended and governed without needing approval from the colonial power. That’s why this term is the best fit for describing transferring constitutional control from Britain to Canada, completed in 1982 with the Constitution Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ratification would be about approving a document within an existing system, adoption is choosing to establish a constitution, and amendment refers to making changes to an existing document. Patriation specifically captures the shift of ultimate constitutional authority from a colonial power to the country itself.