Quebec

==Law==
{{Main|Quebec law|Bar of Quebec}}
[[File:Edifice_Ernest-Cormier_14.JPG|thumb|The [[Édifice Ernest-Cormier]] is the courthouse for the [[Quebec Court of Appeal]] in Montreal]]
Quebec law is the shared responsibility of the [[Government of Canada|federal]] and [[Government of Quebec|provincial government]]. The federal government is responsible for [[criminal law]], foreign affairs and laws relating to the regulation of Canadian commerce, interprovincial transportation, and telecommunications.<ref>[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-3.html#docCont ''Constitution Act, 1867'', s. 91.]</ref> The provincial government is responsible for [[private law]], the administration of justice, and several social domains, such as social assistance, healthcare, education, and natural resources.<ref>[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/page-3.html#docCont ''Constitution Act, 1867'', ss. 92, 92A, 93.]</ref>

Quebec law is influenced by two judicial traditions ([[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] and [[common law]]) and four classic [[sources of law]] ([[legislation]], [[case law]], doctrine and [[customary law]]).{{sfn|Kélada|1970|p=21}} Private law in Quebec affects all relationships between individuals ([[Natural person|natural]] or [[Juridical person|juridical]] persons) and is largely under the jurisdiction of the [[Parliament of Quebec]]. The [[Parliament of Canada]] also influences Quebec private law, in particular through its power over banks, bankruptcy, marriage, divorce and [[maritime law]].{{sfn|Brun|Tremblay|Brouillet|2008|pp=474–491}} The ''{{ill|Droit civil du Québec|fr|Droit civil du Québec}}'' is the primary component of Quebec's private law and is [[Codification (law)|codified]] in the [[Civil Code of Quebec]].{{sfn|Émond|Lauzière|2003|p=38}} Public law in Quebec is largely derived from the common law tradition.{{sfn|Brun|Tremblay|Brouillet|2008|pp=9, 28}} Quebec [[constitutional law]] governs the rules surrounding the Quebec government, the Parliament of Quebec and Quebec's courts. Quebec [[administrative law]] governs relations between individuals and the Quebec public administration. Quebec also has some limited jurisdiction over criminal law. Finally, Quebec, like the federal government, has [[tax law]] power.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lord|first1=Guy|title=Les principes de l'imposition au Canada|last2=Sasseville|first2=Jacques|last3=Bruneau|first3=Diane|last4=Lachance|first4=Renaud|year=1998|editor=Wilson & Lafleur|edition=12|pages=11–13, 20–23|oclc=47248281}}</ref> Certain portions of Quebec law are considered mixed. This is the case, for example, with [[human rights and freedoms]] which are governed by the [[Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms]], a Charter which applies to both government and citizens.{{sfn|Émond|Lauzière|2003|pp=39–40}}{{sfn|Brun|Tremblay|Brouillet|2008|pp=943–945}}

English is not an official language in [[Quebec law]].<ref name="charteroffrench2">{{cite web|publisher=Office Québecois de la langue francaise|date=June 1, 2011|title=Charter of the French language|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/C_11/C11_A.html|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030502200923/http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=%2FC_11%2FC11_A.html|archivedate=May 2, 2003}}</ref> However, both English and French are required by the [[Constitution Act, 1867]] for the enactment of laws and regulations, and any person may use English or French in the National Assembly and the courts. The books and records of the National Assembly must also be kept in both languages.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Canadian Legal Information Institute|title=Att. Gen. of Quebec v. Blaikie et al., 1979 CanLII 21 (S.C.C.)|url=http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1979/1979canlii21/1979canlii21.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409085237/http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1979/1979canlii21/1979canlii21.html|archivedate=April 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Canadian Legal Information Institute|title=A.G. (Quebec) v. Blaikie et al., [1981] 1 S.C.R. 312|url=http://www.canlii.org/eliisa/highlight.do?language=en&searchTitle=Federal&path=/en/ca/scc/doc/1981/1981canlii14/1981canlii14.html|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409085238/http://www.canlii.org/eliisa/highlight.do?language=en&searchTitle=Federal&path=%2Fen%2Fca%2Fscc%2Fdoc%2F1981%2F1981canlii14%2F1981canlii14.html|archivedate=April 9, 2013}}</ref>

===Courts===
Although Quebec is a civil law jurisdiction, it does not follow the pattern of other civil law systems which have court systems divided by subject matter. Instead, the court system follows the English model of unitary courts of general jurisdiction. The provincial courts have jurisdiction to decide matters under [[provincial law]] as well as [[federal law]], including [[Civil law (legal system)|civil]], [[Criminal law|criminal]] and [[constitutional law|constitutional matters]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Duplé|first=Nicole|title=Droit constitutionnel : principes fondamentaux|year=2009|editor=Wilson & Lafleur|edition=4|page=729|oclc=373349446}}</ref> The major exception to the principle of general jurisdiction is that the [[Federal Court (Canada)|Federal Court]] and [[Federal Court of Appeal]] have exclusive jurisdiction over some areas of federal law, such as review of federal administrative bodies, federal taxes, and matters relating to national security.<ref>{{Cite canlaw|short title =Federal Courts Act|abbr =RSC|year =1985|chapter =F-7|link =https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-7/index.html}}</ref>

The Quebec courts are organized in a pyramid. At the bottom, there are the [[municipal court]]s, the Professions Tribunal, the Human Rights Tribunal, and administrative tribunals. Decisions of those bodies can be reviewed by the two trial courts, the [[Court of Quebec]] the [[Superior Court of Quebec]]. The Court of Quebec is the main criminal trial court, and also a court for small civil claims. The Superior Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction, in both criminal and civil matters. The decisions of those courts can be appealed to the [[Quebec Court of Appeal]]. Finally, if the case is of great importance, it may be appealed to the [[Supreme Court of Canada]].

The Court of Appeal serves two purposes. First, it is the general court of appeal for all legal issues from the lower courts. It hears appeals from the trial decisions of the Superior Court and the Quebec Court. It also can hear appeals from decisions rendered by those two courts on appeals or judicial review matters relating to the municipal courts and administrative tribunals.<ref>{{Cite canlaw|short title =Code of Civil Procedure|abbr =CQLR|year =|chapter =C-25.01|section =29|link =http://legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/c-25.01}}</ref> Second, but much more rarely, the Court of Appeal possesses the power to respond to [[reference question]]s posed to it by the [[Executive Council of Quebec|Quebec Cabinet]]. The Court of Appeal renders more than 1,500 judgments per year.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vadnais|first=Louise|year=2000|title=Les caméras en Cour d'appel|url=http://www.barreau.qc.ca/publications/journal/vol32/no8/cameras.html|journal=Le Journal du Barreau|volume=32|number=8|access-date=April 29, 2021|archive-date=February 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212235906/http://www.barreau.qc.ca/publications/journal/vol32/no8/cameras.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Law enforcement===
The [[Sûreté du Québec]] is the main police force of Quebec. The Sûreté du Québec can also serve a support and coordination role with other police forces, such as with municipal police forces or with the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] (RCMP).<ref>{{cite web|title=Loi sur la police, L.R.Q. P-13.1|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=2&file=/P_13_1/P13_1.html|accessdate=September 27, 2011|publisher=Government of Quebec}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|year=2008|editor=Gouvernement du Québec|title=Mission, vision, valeurs|url=http://www.suretequebec.gouv.qc.ca/mission-et-services/organisation/mission-vision-valeurs-sq.jsp|accessdate=September 27, 2011|publisher=Sûreté du Québec}}</ref> The RCMP has the power to enforce certain federal laws in Quebec. However, given the existence of the Sûreté du Québec, its role is more limited than in the other provinces.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Béliveau|first1=Pierre|title=Traité général de preuve et de procédure pénales|last2=Vauclair|first2=Martin|year=2010|editor-first=Yvon|editor-last=Blais|edition=17|page=1436|oclc=660143951}}</ref>

Municipal police, such as the [[Service de police de la Ville de Montréal]] and the [[Service de police de la Ville de Québec]], are responsible for law enforcement in their municipalities. The Sûreté du Québec fulfils the role of municipal police in the 1038 municipalities that do not have a municipal police force.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ministère de la Sécurité publique|year=2011|editor=Gouvernement du Québec|title=Sûreté du Québec|url=http://www.securitepublique.gouv.qc.ca/police/police-quebec/services-police/sq.html|accessdate=September 27, 2011|archive-date=March 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314044846/http://www.securitepublique.gouv.qc.ca/police/police-quebec/services-police/sq.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Indigenous communities of Quebec have their own police forces.<ref>{{cite web|date=2011|title=L'État Québécois En Perspective|url=https://cerberus.enap.ca/Observatoire/docs/Etat_quebecois/a-securitepublique.pdf|publisher=Les organismes de la sécurité publique|format=pdf|accessdate=September 12, 2021}}</ref>

For offences against provincial or federal laws in Quebec (including the [[Criminal Code (Canada)|Criminal Code]]), the [[Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions]] is responsible for prosecuting offenders in court through [[Crown attorney]]s. The [[Department of Justice (Canada)|Department of Justice of Canada]] also has the power to prosecute offenders, but only for offences against specific federal laws (ex. selling [[narcotic]]s). Quebec is responsible for operating the [[Ministry of Public Security (Quebec)|prison system]] for sentences of less than two years, and the federal government operates [[Incarceration in Canada|penitentiaries]] for sentences of two years or more.<ref>{{cite web|date=2009|title=Sorties sous surveillance|url=http://www.educaloi.qc.ca/placepublique/dossier75/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807160601/http://www.educaloi.qc.ca/placepublique/dossier75/|archivedate=August 7, 2011|publisher=Éducaloi}}</ref>