Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Front Matter i
2. Contents vii
3. Illustrations ix
4. Acknowledgments xi
5. Introduction: Reference Cases as a Mix of Law and Politics 3
6. Origins and Implications of the Reference Power 22
7. Contestation and Reference Cases 42
8. Routine Politics and Nonroutine Litigation: References after 1949 78
9. “It’s Always a Little Bit of Politics”: Why Governments Ask Reference Questions 118
10. Why Not Refer Everything? The Padlock Act and Blasphemy 149
11. Seeking the Court’s Advice and the Delegation of Decision Making 174
12. Conclusion: A Legal Solution to Political Problems 209
13. Canadian Reference Legislation 221
14. Reference Case List 225
15. Notes 233
16. References 253
17. Index 269