DevolutionGranting of some competences of central government to local government The Parliament of Åland Devolution is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a subnational level, such as a regional or local level. It is a form of administrative decentralization. Devolved territories have the power to make legislation relevant to the area, thus granting them a higher level of autonomy.
FederationPolitical union of partially self-governing territories under a national government Federal states Unitary statesThe spectrum of regional integration or separation
Autonomous administrative divisionAn autonomous administrative division (also referred to as an autonomous area, autonomous zone, autonomous entity, autonomous unit, autonomous region, autonomous subdivision, autonomous province, or autonomous territory) is a subnational administrative division or internal territory of a sovereign state that has a degree of autonomy—self-governance—under the national government.Federated stateTerritorial and constitutional community forming part of a federal unionFederated states of various types exist within many of the modern federal states (represented in green).A federated state (also known as state, province, region, canton, land, governorate, oblast, emirate, or country) is a territorial and constitutional community forming part of a federation.
ConstitutionA constitution, or supreme law, is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed.
Unitary stateA unitary state is a sovereign state governed as a single entity in which the central government is the supreme authority. The central government may create or abolish administrative divisions (sub-national or sub-state units). Such units exercise only the powers that the central government chooses to delegate.
Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received royal assent on 18 July 1973.
TreatyA treaty is an international agreement between sovereign states or other subjects of international law (including international organizations) that is governed by international law. A treaty may also be known as an international agreement, protocol, covenant, convention, pact, or exchange of letters, among other terms; however, only documents that are legally binding on the parties are considered treaties under international law.
National securityNational security, or national defense (national defence in British English), is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government.
GovernmentSystem or group governing an organized communityWorld's states colored by systems of government:Parliamentary systems: Head of government is elected or nominated by and accountable to the legislature. Constitutional monarchy with a ceremonial monarch Semi-constitutional monarchy: Monarch holds significant executive or legislative power but is still restricted by the constitution.
DiplomacyDiplomacy is the communication by representatives of state, intergovernmental, or non-governmental institutions intended to influence events in the international system. Diplomacy is the main instrument of foreign policy which represents the broader goals and strategies that guide a state's interactions with the rest of the world.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.