Join the Runnymede Society’s chapter at uOttawa for a discussion featuring Justice Malcolm Rowe of the Supreme Court of Canada. Justice Rowe will discuss British jurist Albert Venn Dicey’s , published in 1885. His Honour will focus on Dicey’s contributions to Canadian constitutional theory in three areas:

1. Parliamentary democracy
2. The proper role of the courts
3. Curbing the arbitrary exercise of authority

In 19th century England, Dicey’s first principle manifested in tensions between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In Canada today, we see parallels between our own House of Commons and both the Courts and the Senate. On the second principle, Dicey argued that a bench of judges defining their own authority under the constitution risks becoming not just its “guardians” but its “masters.” On the third, Dicey sought to limit misuse of discretionary authority—like France’s , enforced by the Conseil d’État.