US Federalism vs UK Devolution

Question 1

What are the three key ways we can contrast federalism and devolution?

Answer 1

1. Federalism is entrenched in US constitution whereas devolution was adopted by parliamentary statute that could be reversed in theory
2. US states have greater law making powers than devolved assemblies in UK
3. The bulk of the UK’s population in England is not represented by a devolved assembly

Question 2

What is different about the direction of the two devolution systems?

Answer 2

The UK appears to be devolving more powers (Scotland Act 2016 devolved power to set income tax bracket), while in the US the federal role is expanding through federal initiatives in healthcare and education

Question 3

What is the UK increasingly devolving that already exists in the US?

Answer 3

Devolving the power to decide what electoral systems devolved assemblies use