Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Devolution or Home rule is the
granting of powers from central government to government at
regional or local level. It differs from federalism in that the
powers devolved are temporary and ultimately reside in central
government, thus the state remains unitary. Any devolved
assemblies can be repealed by central government in the same way
as an ordinary law can be. Federal systems differ in that
subnational government is guaranteed in the constitution. The
devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving regions a budget
which was formerly administered by central government. However,
the power to make legislation relevant to the area may also be
granted. See devolved government for more information; for a
special case in the United States, see District of Columbia home
rule. In the United Kingdom, devolved government was created in
1998 in the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern
Ireland Assembly and Greater London Assembly. There is also a
system of home rule in Denma