Devolution

Devolution is the <a href="/facts/Statutory/10qGu7zM">statutory</a> delegation of powers from the <a href="/facts/Central_government/toUqRMws">central government</a> of a <a href="/facts/Sovereign_state/TrUb8sns">sovereign state</a> to govern at a <a href="/facts/Administrative_division/s8dnhhYm">subnational</a> level, such as a regional or <a href="/facts/Local_government/I9QYqnWI">local</a> level. It is a form of administrative <a href="/facts/Decentralization/5koMXAUs">decentralization</a>. Devolved territories have the power to make <a href="/facts/Legislation/yUjkPsgX">legislation</a> relevant to the area, thus granting them a higher level of <a href="/facts/Autonomous_administrative_division/JnUkBUJc">autonomy</a>.
Devolution differs from <a href="/facts/Federalism/dNaFu2rM">federalism</a> in that the devolved powers of the subnational authority may be temporary and are reversible, ultimately residing with the central government. Thus, the state remains <a href="/facts/De_jure/XLvtHTL3">de jure</a> <a href="/facts/Unitary_state/HAxK1eMM">unitary</a>. <a href="/facts/Legislation/yUjkPsgX">Legislation</a> creating devolved <a href="/facts/Parliament/n2zfmmBC">parliaments</a> or <a href="/facts/Deliberative_assembly/IkCkqD1C">assemblies</a> can be <a href="/facts/Repeal/5GeozxIM">repealed</a> or amended by central government in the same way as any statute. In <a href="/facts/Federal_system/dNaFu2rM">federal systems</a>, by contrast, sub-unit government is guaranteed in the <a href="/facts/Constitution/GppU7erf">constitution</a>, so the powers of the sub-units cannot be withdrawn unilaterally by the central government (i.e. not without the process of constitutional amendment). The sub-units therefore have a lower degree of protection under devolution than under <a href="/facts/Federalism/dNaFu2rM">federalism</a>.

Devolution open-in-new

Devolution