Lecture 9: Devolution and Local government
Involves a dispersal of power
Is a process of taking power away from central authorities and dispersing it amongst
local authorities
Either legislative or executive functions
Ensures that more regional institutions are permitted to exercise power specific to
their geographic areas: e.g. Scotland has its own parliament and government in 1998
(inferior to sovereign parliament)
Unitary constitution since power rests at centre: parliament (devolution does not
change this; devolution seen as a good thing since it distributes legislative and
executive power closer amongst people)
Rationale for devolution:
1) Relevance- more relevant to the people of particular regions:
e.g. members of Scottish parliament will experience more the issues amongst the
Scottish people since they are closer to them than the MPs in the parliament
2) Responsiveness
devolution provides more responsive leadership to people’s needs
more representative of Scottish people than institution by the government
3) Local identity
devolved parliaments inspire a great sense of community and local identity
4) More representative
beneficial in democratic terms to devolve power in specific regions since it represents
the people better
Devolution to Scotland
Specific/different to each country: it is asymmetrical
History:
Ongoing conflict between English and Scottish triggered by English wanting to gain
sovereignty over Scotland
Another 100 years that a formal union was created between these countries
Acts of Union 1707- abolished two parliaments by replacing a single parliament of
Great Britain, just renamed as Great British parliament
Areas of separation between the two countries- Scottish have own legal system with
courts; but Supreme Court is shared with England
Early 70s rise of Scottish national party inspired a national movement demanding
more power for Scotland- desired devolution
Scotland Act 1998- referendum was held in 1997 where people (75%) voted to leave
Great Britain
Doesn’t abolish Union but gives Scotland legislative and executive power
Scotland Act 2012 and 2016
Scottish Parliament created- can enact primary legislation
Unicameral parliament- one chamber parliament containing 129 seats
MSPs elected every 4 years
Scottish Government-
Originally executive; have a first minister
Involves a dispersal of power
Is a process of taking power away from central authorities and dispersing it amongst
local authorities
Either legislative or executive functions
Ensures that more regional institutions are permitted to exercise power specific to
their geographic areas: e.g. Scotland has its own parliament and government in 1998
(inferior to sovereign parliament)
Unitary constitution since power rests at centre: parliament (devolution does not
change this; devolution seen as a good thing since it distributes legislative and
executive power closer amongst people)
Rationale for devolution:
1) Relevance- more relevant to the people of particular regions:
e.g. members of Scottish parliament will experience more the issues amongst the
Scottish people since they are closer to them than the MPs in the parliament
2) Responsiveness
devolution provides more responsive leadership to people’s needs
more representative of Scottish people than institution by the government
3) Local identity
devolved parliaments inspire a great sense of community and local identity
4) More representative
beneficial in democratic terms to devolve power in specific regions since it represents
the people better
Devolution to Scotland
Specific/different to each country: it is asymmetrical
History:
Ongoing conflict between English and Scottish triggered by English wanting to gain
sovereignty over Scotland
Another 100 years that a formal union was created between these countries
Acts of Union 1707- abolished two parliaments by replacing a single parliament of
Great Britain, just renamed as Great British parliament
Areas of separation between the two countries- Scottish have own legal system with
courts; but Supreme Court is shared with England
Early 70s rise of Scottish national party inspired a national movement demanding
more power for Scotland- desired devolution
Scotland Act 1998- referendum was held in 1997 where people (75%) voted to leave
Great Britain
Doesn’t abolish Union but gives Scotland legislative and executive power
Scotland Act 2012 and 2016
Scottish Parliament created- can enact primary legislation
Unicameral parliament- one chamber parliament containing 129 seats
MSPs elected every 4 years
Scottish Government-
Originally executive; have a first minister
