Comparison
Read two legal systems against each other
Because every portal follows the same fifteen-section outline, the comparison is genuinely like-for-like rather than a collage of whatever each government happens to publish.
Select up to six documented jurisdictions
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| Attribute | CanadaReviewed | JapanReviewed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal family | Bijural: common law and Québec civil law | Civil law with common-law influence |
| System of government | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| Constitution | Constitution Acts, 1867 and 1982 | Constitution of Japan |
| In force since | 1982 | 1947 |
| Capital | Ottawa | Tokyo |
| Official languages | English, French | Japanese |
| Currency | Canadian Dollar (CAD) | Japanese Yen (JPY) |
| Population | 41,200,000 | 123,500,000 |
| Division of powers | Sections 91 and 92 divide federal and provincial competence. Section 33 allows a legislature to override certain Charter rights for renewable five-year periods. | Parliamentary government with the Cabinet collectively responsible to the Diet, and a Supreme Court holding the final power of constitutional review. |
| How law is made | Three readings plus committee study in each chamber, then Royal Assent. Money bills must originate in the Commons. | Most bills are Cabinet-sponsored, drafted by ministries and reviewed by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, then passed by both houses; the lower house can override the upper by a two-thirds majority. |
| Legal profession | Provincial law societies regulate admission: an accredited degree, articles, and bar admission courses. Québec has separate avocat and notaire professions. | Candidates pass the national bar examination, then complete a year at the Legal Training and Research Institute before qualifying as bengoshi, judge or prosecutor. |
A comparison table flattens nuance by design. Where a difference matters to a decision you are making, open both portals and read the section in full — the constitutional detail behind a one-line summary is often the part that governs the outcome.