Devolution facts for kids

Devolution is when a main, central government gives some of its powers to local governments. Think of it like a big boss sharing tasks with smaller team leaders. This idea is sometimes called Home Rule or decentralisation. It means that decisions about local matters can be made closer to the people they affect.

In the United Kingdom, devolution has happened in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each of these three countries now has its own elected group of people who can make some laws. They also have a government to put those laws into action and suggest new ones.

These local law-making bodies are:

• The National Assembly for Wales, and the Welsh Government;
• The Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Northern Ireland Executive; and
• The Scottish Parliament, and the Scottish Government.

England does not currently have its own parliament. However, many people are now asking for one.

What is Devolution?

Devolution is about sharing power. A central government decides to give certain responsibilities to regional or local governments. This can include things like education, health, or local transport. The idea is to make government more responsive to local needs. It also allows different parts of a country to have laws that suit them best.

Why Devolution Happens

Governments choose devolution for several reasons. It can help manage a country with different cultures or histories. It can also make government feel closer to the people. When decisions are made locally, people might feel more involved. It can also make services more efficient.

Devolution in the United Kingdom

The UK is a good example of devolution. Before devolution, almost all laws for the whole UK were made in London. Now, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have their own parliaments or assemblies. These bodies can make laws on many topics.

Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

• The Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh makes laws for Scotland.
• The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff makes laws for Wales.
• The Northern Ireland Assembly in Belfast makes laws for Northern Ireland.

Each of these bodies has a government. These governments put the local laws into practice. They also suggest new laws. However, the main UK Parliament in London still keeps control over some big areas. These include defense, foreign policy, and the overall economy.

Devolution vs. Federal Systems

It is important to know that devolved assemblies depend on the main government. The British government could change its mind. It could even decide to take back the powers it gave away. This means the central government still has the final say.

An example of this happened in 1972. The government and parliament of Northern Ireland had been set up in 1920. But the UK government decided to temporarily take back control. This shows that devolved powers can be changed or even removed by the central government.

This is different from a federal country. In a federal country, like Germany or the United States, the different states or regions have powers that are protected by the country's constitution. The national parliament cannot easily take these powers away. Their powers exist because of the country's basic rules, not just because the national parliament decided to give them.

Images for kids

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  The Parliament of Åland

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  Fort Hall Indian Casino, Idaho. Gambling is allowed within Native American reservation lands while illegal on non-reservation land geographically in the same state.

See also

In Spanish: Devolución de poder para niños