Legal Definitions - devolution

Devolution is when a central government gives some of its power to a smaller, local government. This means that the smaller government can make decisions and laws for their area without having to ask the central government for permission.

For example, in the United Kingdom, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly of Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly have been given more power to make decisions for their countries. This means that they can make laws about things like education, healthcare, and transportation without having to ask the UK government for permission.

Another example of devolution is in Spain, where some regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country have been given more power to make decisions for their areas.

Devolution is important because it allows local governments to make decisions that are best for their area, instead of having to follow the rules set by the central government. This can help to make sure that the needs of different regions are met, and that everyone has a say in how their area is run.