Devolved government

Devolved government is government which is devolved, either wholly or partially, from the national level to a regional or local level. However unlike in a federal system, such devolved administrations exist in statute not constitutional law and can have their powers broadened or narrowed, or can even be abolished, by Act of Parliament. In contrast, regional administrations in federal systems have a constitutionally guaranteed right to exist with constitutionally defined powers.

Such a process of devolution has been happening in the United Kingdom where certain powers have been devolved from central government in London to other parts of the United Kingdom: Scotland was formerly governed by the Scottish Office in London, but now has the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament. Wales used to be governed by the Welsh Office in London, but now has the Assembly of Wales. Northern Ireland has undergone a similar process. In England itself, a process has started to devolve further powers to regional layers of government. An example of this process is the establishment of regional development agencies, e.g the East Midlands Development Agency which has been given a regional development budget which beforehand would have been spent by central government. The process in England is not complete, as regional parliaments have not yet become a reality.

Devolution in the United Kingdom context is sometimes called Home Rule.

A devolved government moves from a centralized, unitary structure of government towards a decentralized, confederal structure.