{"product_id":"2026600000431-secondhand-head-of-state-the-governor-general-the-monarchy-the-republic-and-the-dismissal","title":"Head Of State: The Governor-General, The Monarchy, The Republic And The Dismissal","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition remarks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBook: Very good                          \u003cbr\u003eJacket: Very good\u003cbr\u003ePages: Good                  \u003cbr\u003eMarkings: No markings\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA landmark work of Australian constitutional history and political analysis, Head of State: The Governor-General, The Monarchy, The Republic and The Dismissal presents a rigorous and authoritative examination of Australia's system of government and the pivotal figures who have shaped it. Written by David Smith — himself a former Official Secretary to the Governor-General who was present at the 1975 constitutional crisis — the work argues compellingly that the role of the Governor-General is far more significant and nuanced than most Australians appreciate. Smith chronicles the evolution of the vice-regal office from its colonial origins to its modern form, scrutinising the events of the Dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam with the precision of an eyewitness and the rigour of a constitutional scholar. The text also confronts the republican debate head-on, challenging widely held assumptions about the monarchy and presenting a carefully reasoned case for why Australia's current constitutional arrangements deserve serious reconsideration before any move toward a republic. Authoritative in tone and rich in historical detail, this is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the true nature of power and governance in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secondhand Stock","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48763134509275,"sku":"2026600000431-SECONDHAND","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0523\/7646\/9701\/files\/5571687d-193b-4cc2-b1c3-6010ebe5dc3b.png?v=1778499081","url":"https:\/\/bookgrocer.com\/products\/2026600000431-secondhand-head-of-state-the-governor-general-the-monarchy-the-republic-and-the-dismissal","provider":"Book Grocer","version":"1.0","type":"link"}