Acts of Republic 1988

The Acts of Republic were a series of legislative acts passed by the Parliament of Canada on 1 July 1988, formally transforming the country from a constitutional monarchy to a parliamentary republic. Formally three separate constitutional amendments, the first officially severed the link between the office of governor-general and the British monarchy, making the office the unilateral head of state of Canada; the second officially named Canada the Canadian Republic and renamed the governor-general President of Canada, and set out the procedure for the president's popular election (as the governor-general was an appointed office); while the third and final act made clear the intention of preserving the Canadian political system in all is other aspects, as such retaining the Westminster system in which the majority in the House of Commons forms an executive government and appoints the Prime Minister of Canada, who continues to serve as the state's executive with the President relegated mostly to a ceremonial role as was the preceding office of governor-general. The National Defence Act was amended on 10 September 1988 to name the President of Canada as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

The Acts of Republic ultimately made good on the promise to retain the country's Westminster political system; notable examples beyond the parliamentary system include legal terminology, one example of which is the use of the term Crown to refer to the state in all its aspects (with the prosecution in court cases still referred to as "the Crown" or as "Crown prosecutor(s)"). Similarly, the pre-1967 Canadian flag featuring the Union Jack in the canton and the royal coat of arms remains officially approved as an alternate national flag, and the Canadian Republic is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The "Royal" prefix was dropped from the Canadian Navy and Canadian Air Force, as well as the Canadian Mint, the latter of which, however, will continue to manufacture the particular bills and coins featuring the likeness of Elizabeth II until her death and state funeral (all other bills and coins feature important personages in Canadian history, such as former prime ministers, which will be the case with all denominations following the accession to the British throne of Elizabeth II's heir).