At the Québec Conference in October 1864, the delegates adopted 72 resolutions, which form the core of the provisions later incorporated into the British North America Act, known as the Constitution Act, 1867 since 1982.

It is in this document that resolutions 3 and 4 express the wish that the Canadian constitution be modelled on the British Constitution and that power be exercised by the British sovereign:

"In framing a Constitution for the General Government, the Conference […] desires to follow the model of the British Constitution, so far as our circumstances will permit."

"The Executive authority or Government shall be vested in the Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and be administered according to the well-understood principles of the British Constitution by the Sovereign personally, or by the Representative of the Sovereign duly authorized."

The essence of these two resolutions is reflected in the preamble of the British North America Act:

"Whereas the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have expressed their Desire to be federally united into One Dominion under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom."

These 72 resolutions set out, among other things, the political and administrative structure of the new Dominion, as well as the division of powers between federal and provincial authorities. Resolution 38 states that "each Province shall have an Executive officer, to be called the Lieutenant-Governor," a provision later enshrined in section 59 of the Constitution Act, 1867.