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devolution

dee-vuh-LOO-shun /ˌdiː.vəˈluː.ʃən/

nounC1GREUPSC

formalacademic

The transfer or delegation of political power and authority from a central government to local or regional administrations.

Power flows top-down from the central authority, which technically retains ultimate constitutional sovereignty.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'devolvere', meaning to roll down. In early English law, property or duties were said to 'devolve' upon an heir when rolling down from the predecessor.

Word relationships

decentralization: Decentralization is a general administrative transfer of duties, while devolution specifically transfers legislative or policy decision-making.
delegation: Delegation usually implies transferring tasks to subordinates, whereas devolution establishes enduring regional governance bodies.

centralization: Centralization concentrates executive and legislative authority within a single central government body.

Commonly confused with

evolution: Evolution refers to gradual biological or conceptual growth; devolution is the legal transfer of central power downward to local bodies.

Word family

devolve (verb): To transfer power downward to a lower level.

Collocations

devolution of power
devolution settlement
fiscal devolution
devolution process

Example sentences

"The establishment of the Scottish Parliament represented a significant step in the devolution of authority within the United Kingdom." Constitutional Law

Memory hook

DE-VOLUTION is rolling power DOWN (de-) from the central government to local regions. Power rolling downward to local regions.

When not to use

Do not confuse with federalism, where state/provincial powers are constitutionally guaranteed rather than delegated.

Fun facts

In the UK, devolution created distinct legislative bodies for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999.