Canada's Deep Crown: Beyond Elizabeth II, The Crown's Continuing Canadian Complexion

Review
"On the eve of the Queen’s unprecedented platinum jubilee, the publication of a book by three knowledgeable authors underscores the exceptional character of her long reign. In exploring three core themes - myth, law, and personality - the authors explain how the Crown retains its enduring importance in our constitutional order. Readers will learn the ways by which the Crown continues to serve and remains relevant in contemporary Canada." -- The Honourable Serge Joyal, former member of the Senate of Canada
"In this insightful book, Smith, McCreery, and Shanks go beyond the reign of Queen Elizabeth II to consider the deeper essence of the Crown and its role in Canada’s future. Deftly weaving together discussions of law, politics, practice, convention, and symbolism, the authors build a three-dimensional picture of the Crown as a fundamental institution of Canadian governance. Canada’s Deep Crown focuses on how the Crown is simultaneously a unifying force as well as the means for dispersing power and promoting diversity." -- Anne Twomey, Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney Law School
"Canada’s Deep Crown is an excellent book that should be read by anyone interested in the monarchy in Canada. It is the most comprehensive and authoritative source available on the subject, offering a wide-ranging and in-depth analysis of the crucial role played by the Crown in Canada." -- Andrew Heard, Professor of Political Science, Simon Fraser University
The Crown in Canada has had a profound influence in shaping a country and a constitution that embraces the promotion of political moderation, societal accommodation, adaptable constitutional structures, and pluralistic governing practices. While none of these features themselves originated through legislative or constitutional action, David E. Smith, Christopher McCreery, and Jonathan Shanks propose that all reflect the presence and actions of the Crown.
Examining how a constitutional monarchy functions, Canada’s Deep Crown discusses how the legal and institutional abstractions of the Crown vary depending on the circumstances and the context in which it is found.The Crown presents differently depending on who is observing it, who is representing it, and what role it is performing. With a focus on the changes that have taken place over the last fifty years, this book addresses the role of the Crown in dispersing power throughout Canada’s system of government, the function the sovereign, governor general, and lieutenant governors play, and how the demise of the Crown and transition to a new sovereign is likely to unfold.