Devolution Flashcards
A political system that is legally unitary but is politically increasingly federal due to the devolution of significant powers to regional powers
Quasi-federalism
Question raised during devolution debates of whether MPs from NI, Scotland and Wales should be able to vote on matters only affecting England
West Lothian Question
The power to issue delegates legislation - regulations kade using powers delegates by an Act of Parliament which are necessary to implement the law
Secondary legislative powers
A state in which different parts retain significant political and cultural differences even after being united under a strong central government
Union state
In 2011, this approved the Welsh Assembly gaining primary legislative powers in 20 devolved policy areas without needing to consult the UK Parliament
Welsh Devolution Referendum
Pre-1999 form of devolution in which power was centralised but Scottish and Welsh Offices manages many domestic policy areas in Scotland and Wales
Administrative devolution
Local authorities that do not provide local services themselves but instead oversee the contracting out of most public services to private providers
Enabling Authorities
An ideology that stresses the need for people who share territory, history and culture to be able to govern themselves as an independent state
Nationalism
2012 Act devolving: power to alter income tax by 10p in the £, stamp duty and landfill tax, powers over drugs, driving and drugs and power to borrow money
Scotland Act
Where central government takes over some of the functions of local authorities limiting the financial and political decision they can make
Centralisation
Where the constitution shares power between central/national and regional tiers of government which are both sovereign in their particular sphere
Federalism
Top-tier administrative body for Greater London consisting of a directly elected Mayor of London and an elected 25 member London Assembly
Greater London Authority
A reform first introduced in London in 2000 and since adopted by other local authorities to create a directly elected executive to lead the council
Directly elected mayors
This formula, based largely on population sizes, adjusts spending grants for Scotland, Wales and NI to reflect spending changes in England
Barnett formula
Lower level in a two-tier authority responsible for rubbish collection, recycling, council tax collection, housing and planning applications
District councils
A local tax funding local authorities introduced in 1993 which is based upon property value with higher taxes paid on more valuable properties
Council tax
Post-1999 devolution in which legislative powers are transferred to new regional Parliaments and assemblies but central government retains sovereignty
Legislative devolution
Policy areas that are dealt with solely by the UK Parliament and not devolved to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly or the NI Assembly
Reserved matters
Commonly used name for the 1990 Community Charge, a new local tax that charges everyone the same rate regardless of the size or value of their home
Poll tax
Top level in a two-tier authority, responsible for education, transport, planning, fire and public safety, social services, libraries and waste management
County Councils
Where devolved parliaments and assemblies are given the power to raises their own taxes rather than relying upon grandma transferred from Parliament
Financial devolution
A political system where elected local authorities provide local services and are held accountable for their performance at local elections
Local government
2006 Act that gave the Welsh Assembly limited primary legislative powers in 20 policy areas and created an executive accountable to the Assembly
Government of Wales Act
A type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions, usually used in large cities
Unitary authority
Where the devolution of powers from central to sub national governments is not uniform and the powers devolved cary from region to region
A symmetrical devolution
2012 Act that gave local authorities a general pier of competence meaning the power to do anything that individuals generally may do
Localism Act
2014 Act that devolved stamp duty, business rates and landfill tax to Wales and allowed for a referendum to be held on whether to devolve income tax
Wales Act
Structure of local government established in 1974 which divides the provision of local services between two different authorities
Two-tier authority
A state where the central government is supreme with the ultimate authority over any sub national institutions it chooses to devolve powers to
Unitary state
The transfer of certain political powers from central government to sub national governments which remain subordinate and do not share sovereignty
Devolution
2016 Act that devolved income tax rates and bands, air passenger duty, abortion law, welfare and asserts the permanence of the Scottish Gov and Parliament
Scotland Act
The relationship between different governments, for example, between the UK government and the devolved administrations
Intergovernmental relations
A procedure launched in 2025 giving Grand Committees of English, or English and Welsh MPs the chance to veto bills relating to just England and Wales
English votes for English Laws
The power to make new laws in the policy areas that have been devolved from the UK Parliament
Primary legislative powers
