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

Ming-Sung Kuo

• One institution that once dominated the world constitutional landscape has received little attention in the recent renaissance of comparative constitutional law1: the “reserve powers” held by the head of state in a constitutional monarchy.2 Professor Twomey’s book, The Veiled Sceptre, presents itself as a welcome exception. Focusing on “the [head of state’s] discretionary powers . . . that may be used to uphold and maintain the fundamental principles of the [Westminster-style] system of [responsible] government that the [head of state] represents” (p. 1), Professor Twomey’s magnum corpus helps resurrect the seemingly antiquated institution of reserve power as a legitimate...