INTRODUCTION. 
ministers. His power is therefore of a much more limited 
nature than that enjoyed by the President of the United 
States. The President during his term of office may act 
independently of his ministers, who are to be regarded rather 
as heads of departments than as advisers of the Chief of the 
State. 
The Canadian Parliament has full power to legislate on all Pope 
matters not assigned to the Provinces, and not directly or on 
indirectly reserved to the Imperial Parliament. Twenty-nine 
classes of subjects are enumerated in the Union Act of 1867 
as within the legislative competence of the Dominion, but it 
1s expressly declared that such enumeration shall not restrict 
the general power given “to make laws for the peace, order 
and good government of Canada in relation to all matters not 
coming within the classes of subjects assigned exclusively to 
the legislatures of the Provinces.” The enumeration of specific 
subjects is therefore to be taken by way of illustration, or as 
throwing light on the specific powers assigned to the pro- 
vinces. 
The Dominion legislature is restricted not merely by the 
provincial powers but by the express and implied reservations 
in favour of the Imperial Parliament. No duties as be- 
tween the different provinces can be imposed by the Dominion, 
nor can the Dominion alter the leading principles of its Con- 
stitution. In such matters the Imperial Parliament alone 
can take action, and when, for example, it was thought de- 
sirable to provide for the representation of the North West 
Territories in parliament, an Imperial Act had to be ob- 
tained giving the requisite power to pass the necessary 
legislation. 
Comparing the powers of the Dominion Parliament with Dominion 
those of the United States Congress the chief differences are ment and 
as follows: ot 
1. The only portion of Criminal Law delegated to Con- L Hig 
gress relates to counterfeiting securities and current coin of the