This course will examine the role of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General within Canada's constitutional framework. Focus may be placed in the following areas of study and discussion: (1) The duty to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law: the oath of office for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and the Department of Justice Act. (2) The role of the Attorney General of Canada in litigation: its evolution over time, civil vs criminal litigation, Supreme Court interventions, litigation directives, prosecutorial independence, and the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (3) Constitutional litigation and statutory interpretation: discerning Parliamentary intent from legislative history including Ministerial statements/interventions. (4) Institutions, the courts, and the profession under attack: the role of the Minister in bolstering confidence in the administration of justice. (5) Recent observations on the state of the dialogue: case studies examining where the courts have prompted responsive action by legislators, contrasted with instances where novel Parliamentary policy has been upheld by the judiciary. (6) Section 33: trends in the recent use of the notwithstanding clause across Canada.