English

Noun

pith and substance ‎(uncountable)

1. (Canada, law) The content or subject matter, the leading feature or true nature and character of a law.
   • Peter Hogg, Constitutional Law of Canada, 2nd edition, page 313:

     In determining the “pith and substance” of the legislation, ‘it is necessary to identify the dominant or most important characteristic of the challenged law’.

See also

• pith and substance on Wikipedia.Wikipedia