About Us

 

OVERVIEW

 

Seven/Fifty is managed by the Centre for Constitutional Studies, which is housed in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Law and funded by the Alberta Law Foundation.​

 

The Centre's main roles are to connect leading Canadian and international scholars, to contribute to constitutional debate, and to create resources that educate the public about the Constitution of Canada and constitutionalism generally. The Centre publishes a peer-reviewed journal, the Review of Constitutional Studies, and an online journal, Constitutional Forum, which promotes constitutional dialogue and debate. In addition to hosting national conferences and symposia to connect scholars and practicing lawyers, the Centre also reaches out to the public through public lectures, webinars, and podcasts.  

 

Seven/Fifty is intended to bridge the divide between our research and public education work by inviting and providing accessible, short-form scholarship and commentary on constitutional issues.

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WHY "SEVEN/FIFTY"?

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The 7/50 formula is the general procedure for amending Canada’s Constitution, telling us that, unless otherwise specified, constitutional changes require the consent of the federal Parliament and 7 provinces representing 50% of the population of all provinces combined. While this formula hasn’t been used successfully since 1983, its existence reminds us that the Constitution is an unfinished project that can be tailored to meet new challenges and address new realities. It also reminds us that the Constitution is a collaborative project — a project that depends on the consent of a multitude of institutional actors rather than a single sovereign voice.  

 

The 7/50 blog aims to approach the study of Canadian constitutional law in this spirit, as a collaborative, ongoing dialogue over how we govern ourselves. It invites contributions from scholars, lawyers, and others on current constitutional doctrine, and on future constitutional possibilities. In this sense, it is not just a law blog, but a blog that welcomes any contribution — from any disciplinary vantage point — that reflects on the Canadian constitutional project.