devolution
n. uncountablen. the moving of power or responsibility from a central government to a local or regional one. It allows local people to make more of their own decisions.
n. the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration. Refers to the decentralisation of authority within a political system.
The country voted for the devolution of power to regional parliaments.
Political analysts argue that devolution has allowed the regional government to tailor its healthcare policies to the specific needs of its citizens.
The debate over constitutional devolution often centers on whether the central authority retains enough power to maintain national unity while granting sufficient autonomy to local assemblies.
Often used in political and legal contexts; frequently followed by the preposition 'of' and 'to'.