The Veiled Sceptre: Reserve Powers of Heads of State in Westminster Systems

Cambridge Studies in Constitutional Law

by Anne Twomey

This book is a comprehensive review and analysis of the reserve powers and their exercise by heads of state in countries that have Westminster systems. It addresses the powers of the Queen in the United Kingdom, those of her vice-regal representatives, and those of heads of state in the less studied realms and former colonies that are now republics. Drawing on a vast range of previously unpublished archival and primary material, The Veiled Sceptre contains fresh perspectives on old controversies. It also reveals constitutional crises in small countries, which have escaped the notice of most scholars. This book places the exercises of reserve powers within the context of constitutional principle and analyses how heads of state should act when constitutional principles conflict. Providing an unrivalled contemporary analysis of reserve powers, it will appeal to constitutional scholars worldwide and others involved in the administration of systems of responsible government.

808 pages, Hardcover

Published April 12, 2018

Reviews

[Forrest Scott Lewis]

This is THE book if you're interested in crown-government relations in Westminster-style systems. While the accounts of some of the most famous/infamous incidents (i.e. the Whitlam dismissal, the King-Byng Affair) are excellent, some of the most interesting examples are from extreme edge cases such as the Fijian and Grenadian coups and the Rhodesian UDI.

[Gary]

This is the gold standard text on a very niche area of constitutional law. The author uses case studies from throughout the Commonwealth to examine a broad range of situations and dilemmas a head of state might face in which reserve powers might come into play. If you're looking for an authoritative guide to the topic, this is the place to go.

[Brad]

Extremely well researched work examining the murky depths of the reserve powers in the Commonwealth Realms.

From the forgotten shenanigans of the colonial Victorian Parliament to The Dissmissal to the Lang Affair to more far-off lands, Prof Twomey examines all of them and educates us on the intricacies of this poorly understood but essential part of our shared constitutional system

[Henry Schlechta]

Very comprehensive and extremely well researched. A must-read for anyone interested in the topic of reserve powers and constitutional conventions.

[Edward Bush]

Super interesting for anyone interested in learning about this unique feature of Westminster-style democracies.