Decentralization and Intragovernmental Structure

Decentralization Decentralization refers to the allocation of power in organizations or social structures from the higher to the lower-level. In administrative science, decentralization usually refers to multilevel structures of government or administration.

Reasons for decentralization principle of subsidiarity - social and political issues should be dealt with at the most immediate (or local) level. plurality and regional differentiation of social interests - decentralization fosters efficiency of policy making. a device to avoid a concentration of power in a government - powers should be divided not only between executive, legislative, and judicial but also between central and regional or local levels.

“Self-rule” The power of regional or local governments to conduct their affairs autonomously. On the other hand, central governments can intervene in lower-level policy making by different means such as regulation, supervision, incentives, or capacity building.

Decentralization and democratization Local self-government is based on the idea and imperative that local citizens govern themselves in all matters relevant to their local community.

Functions of local government In all countries, local government bodies have been responsible for the provision of social services, urban planning, and for the provision of utilities. Moreover, the concern for cultural and recreational matters has ranked high on the agendas of local governments. The status and standing of a local government essentially depends on the degree of its financial and budgetary autonomy. A valid indicator of this could be the degree to which local authorities, in order to cover their expenditures, may draw on the local taxes of their own as opposed to relying on grants assigned to them at the state level.

Recent developments Since World War II, authority has shifted away from the central state to supranational and international organizations, such as the European Union or the World Trade Organization, and to regions and municipal governments.

Regionalization Regionalization represents a transformation of regional authority, where a nation state creates or reinforces a middle government level between the central state and the local level. In Europe, regionalization has gone hand in hand with European integration.

Multilevel governance Decisions taken at one level of government affect decisions at other levels. Most policies thus require some form of coordination among international, European, national, regional, and local governments.

Read the text carefully and answer the following questions: 1. What does decentralization refer to? 2. What was the dominant process in the development of modern states? 3. What are the levels of government in unitary states? 4. What are the levels of government in federal states? 5. What tiers usually exist at the level of local government? 6. What are the reasons for decentralization? 7. What is the meaning of the principle of subsidiarity? 8. How can central governments intervene in lower-level policy making? 9. What is the difference between direct and representative democracy? Provide examples. 10. What are the main functions of local government? 11. What is multilevel governance?

Match the terms with their definitions: 1.subsidiarity a. Delegation by the central government to a regional authority of legislative or executive functions (or both) relating to domestic issues within the region 2.devolution b. Planned development of knowledge, management, skills, and other capabilities of an organization through acquisition, incentives, technology and/or training 3.self-rule c. Dividing an area into smaller segments called regions. 4.capacity building d. Idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which cannot be performed effectively at a more immediate or local level 5.regionalization e. Self government

Devolution of Powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Answer the following questions: 1. Is the United Kingdom a federal or a unitary state? What is a unitary state? 2. Do Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own parliaments? 3. Do they have different legal systems?

Devolution Devolution is the transfer of power from a central government to subnational (e.g., state, regional, or local) authorities. Devolution puts power closer to the citizen so that local factors are better recognised in decision-making. https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/devolution/what-devolution Read the article What is devolution and watch the video!

Referendums In September 1997, referendums were held in Scotland and Wales, and a majority of voters chose to establish a Scottish Parliament and a National Assembly for Wales. In Northern Ireland, devolution was a key part of the Agreement, sometimes referred to as the Good Friday Agreement or the Belfast Agreement, supported by voters in a referendum in May 1998. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPqVI4UKLt4

Devolution Acts Following this public endorsement, Parliament passed 3 devolution Acts: 1. the Scotland Act 1998; 2. the Northern Ireland Act 1998; 3. the Government of Wales Act 1998 (which was later effectively superseded by the Government of Wales Act 2006). These acts established the three devolved legislatures, which were given some of the powers previously held at Westminster. endorsement – podrška supersede- zamijeniti

Parliament Parliament remains sovereign, and retains the power to amend the devolution Acts or to legislate on anything that has been devolved.

Major devolved powers SCOTLAND WALES N. IRELAND Agriculture, forestry & fishing Agriculture Education Environment Health Health & social welfare Housing Enterprise, trade & investment Justice, policing & courts* Local government Social services Fire & rescue services Justice & policing Fire service Highways & transport Economic development Some transport

Translate into English: U engleskoj odnosno britanskoj upravnoj doktrini devolucija je istoznačnica za političku decentralizaciju; sinonim je za decentralizaciju općenito pa se terminu devolucija dodaju odgovarajuće oznake: zakonodavna, izvršna, upravna. U suvremenoj pravnoj literaturi, posebno britanskoj, termin devolucija pojavljuje se u kontekstu stjecanja veće zakonodavne autonomije pojedinih dijelova Ujedinjenoga Kraljevstva.

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