Rubber Stamp

Someone commented on the ACM page that The Queen was also a "rubber stamp" after a post accusing Presidents in Republics of being just rubber stamps.   They missed the subtle but important difference.  The Queen is happy to "rubber stamp" as long as everything is running correctly, but has the power to step in if things go totally off the rails.   A factotum President under parliamentary control, as envisaged for Australia, could never do more than be a rubber stamp a disaster, as in Greece.  There is always the risk of an unforeseen totalitarian President who assumes ultimate power, whether formally assigned it or not.

It was said long ago that it is the powers the Queen does not exercise that are important, not anything actually done.  

It is like having a safety valve, safety net, a fuse or an insurance policy.  You hope you never have to use it, but take great peace of mind from knowing it is there.  The same powers are passed on, like the laying on of hands, to our Governors and Governors-General, who can rightly be called our "Heads of State"