Understanding Devolved Administrations
Since 1997, the United Kingdom has given more power to the regions of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. This process is called “devolution.” It means that local governments can make decisions on certain issues that affect their areas.
What is Devolution?
- Devolution means transferring powers from the central government to local governments.
- The central government in London still controls important areas like:
- Defence
- Foreign affairs
- Immigration
- Taxation
- Social security
However, many local services are managed by the devolved governments.
The Welsh Government
- Location: Cardiff (capital of Wales)
- Assembly Members: 60 Assembly Members (AMs)
- Elections: Every four years, using a proportional representation system.
- Languages: Members can speak Welsh or English, and all documents are available in both languages.
Areas of Power: The Welsh Assembly can make laws in 20 areas, including:
- Education and training
- Health and social services
- Economic development
- Housing
Since 2011, the Welsh Assembly can pass laws in these areas without needing approval from the UK Parliament.
The Scottish Parliament
- Location: Edinburgh (capital of Scotland)
- Members: 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
- Elections: Every four years, using a proportional representation system.
Areas of Power: The Scottish Parliament can legislate on all matters not reserved to the UK Parliament, such as:
- Civil and criminal law
- Health
- Education
- Planning
- Additional tax-raising powers
The Northern Ireland Assembly
- History: A parliament was first established in 1922 but was abolished in 1972.
- Re-Establishment: The current Northern Ireland Assembly was created after the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
- Members: 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
- Elections: Every four years, using a proportional representation system.
Areas of Power: The Northern Ireland Assembly can make decisions on:
- Education
- Agriculture
- The environment
- Health
- Social services
Important Notes
- The UK government can suspend devolved assemblies if political leaders cannot cooperate, especially in Northern Ireland. However, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been functioning successfully since 2007.
Questions
Easy Level Questions
- What is devolution?
- A) Giving more power to the central government
- B) Transferring powers to local governments
- C) Reducing the number of politicians
- D) Creating new laws
- Where is the Welsh Assembly located?
- A) London
- B) Cardiff
- C) Edinburgh
- D) Belfast
- How many Assembly Members are there in Wales?
- A) 50
- B) 60
- C) 70
- D) 80
- What can the Welsh Assembly make laws about?
- A) Defence
- B) Health
- C) Foreign affairs
- D) Immigration
- Which language can be used in the Welsh Assembly?
- A) Only English
- B) Only Welsh
- C) Both Welsh and English
- D) Only French
- What is the capital of Scotland?
- A) Cardiff
- B) London
- C) Belfast
- D) Edinburgh
- How many Members of the Scottish Parliament are there?
- A) 120
- B) 100
- C) 129
- D) 150
- What is the main role of the Scottish Parliament?
- A) Control foreign affairs
- B) Manage education and health
- C) Enforce immigration laws
- D) Handle taxation
- How many Members are in the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) 108
- B) 120
- C) 100
- D) 90
- What agreement restored the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) The Treaty of Versailles
- B) The Good Friday Agreement
- C) The Paris Agreement
- D) The Treaty of London
- Which power remains with the central UK government?
- A) Education
- B) Health
- C) Foreign affairs
- D) Agriculture
- When were the Welsh and Scottish assemblies formed?
- A) 1990
- B) 1997
- C) 1999
- D) 2000
- What is the term for the elected members in the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) Senators
- B) Assembly Members
- C) Ministers
- D) MLAs
- How often are elections held for the Welsh Assembly?
- A) Every two years
- B) Every four years
- C) Every five years
- D) Every year
- What is one area the Northern Ireland Assembly can make laws about?
- A) Immigration
- B) Agriculture
- C) Defence
- D) Foreign Affairs
- What is the role of the civil service in devolved administrations?
- A) To create laws
- B) To help manage public services
- C) To enforce laws
- D) To control the military
- What do the devolved administrations focus on?
- A) National security
- B) Local issues
- C) International relations
- D) Economic policies
- What is the power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland?
- A) All parties have equal power
- B) Only one party holds power
- C) No parties can work together
- D) The UK government controls everything
- What can Assembly Members in Wales speak in?
- A) Only English
- B) Only Welsh
- C) Both Welsh and English
- D) Only French
- What is the significance of the year 1998 for Northern Ireland?
- A) Formation of the Good Friday Agreement
- B) Establishment of the Welsh Assembly
- C) First elections in Scotland
- D) Abolition of the Northern Ireland Parliament
Medium Level Questions
- What year was the Scottish Parliament formed?
- A) 1995
- B) 1996
- C) 1999
- D) 2000
- What powers does the Welsh Assembly have since 2011?
- A) All powers
- B) Powers on health without UK Parliament approval
- C) Powers over defence
- D) Powers on taxation
- How many areas can the Welsh Assembly legislate in?
- A) 10
- B) 15
- C) 20
- D) 25
- What does the term “proportional representation” mean?
- A) Equal votes for everyone
- B) Votes based on population
- C) Votes that reflect the percentage of support for each party
- D) Only one vote per person
- Which of the following is NOT a power of the Scottish Parliament?
- A) Education
- B) Criminal law
- C) Defence
- D) Health
- When was the Northern Ireland Assembly established?
- A) 1996
- B) 1998
- C) 2000
- D) 2002
- How does the UK Parliament influence the devolved administrations?
- A) It can decide all local matters
- B) It has the power to suspend devolved assemblies
- C) It takes over local elections
- D) It controls local taxes
- Which of the following is a language used in the Welsh Assembly?
- A) Spanish
- B) German
- C) Welsh
- D) Italian
- How are Assembly Members in Wales elected?
- A) By popular vote
- B) By the UK Parliament
- C) By proportional representation
- D) By appointment
- What is a significant challenge faced by the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) Too many powers
- B) Political disagreements
- C) Lack of funds
- D) Too many members
- Which political agreement helped restore the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) The Treaty of Rome
- B) The Belfast Agreement
- C) The Good Friday Agreement
- D) The Paris Agreement
- What is the role of the civil service in a devolved administration?
- A) To create new political parties
- B) To assist in running daily operations
- C) To represent the public in parliament
- D) To enforce military law
- What are MLAs responsible for in Northern Ireland?
- A) Managing the military
- B) Representing the public and creating laws
- C) Controlling foreign affairs
- D) Administering taxes
- Which of the following is a reserved power in Scotland?
- A) Education
- B) Civil law
- C) Defence
- D) Health
- In what year did the Welsh Assembly gain more law-making powers?
- A) 1999
- B) 2005
- C) 2011
- D) 2015
- What is the main focus of devolved administrations?
- A) International trade
- B) Local issues
- C) Military operations
- D) National security
- How often do elections occur for the Scottish Parliament?
- A) Every two years
- B) Every three years
- C) Every four years
- D) Every five years
- What document outlines the powers of the devolved administrations?
- A) The Constitution
- B) The Parliament Act
- C) The Acts of Union
- D) The Devolution Acts
- Which body can suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) The Scottish Parliament
- B) The UK government
- C) The Welsh Assembly
- D) The European Union
- What role do Assembly Members play in their regions?
- A) They create laws and represent their constituents
- B) They control the military
- C) They manage UK wide policies
- D) They enforce immigration laws
Hard Level Questions
- What significant change occurred to the Welsh Assembly in 2011?
- A) It was abolished
- B) It gained more law-making powers
- C) It changed its location
- D) It reduced the number of AMs
- Which of the following areas is a responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) Taxation
- B) Defence
- C) Agriculture
- D) Foreign policy
- What type of representation is used to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament?
- A) First-past-the-post
- B) Proportional representation
- C) Single transferable vote
- D) Block voting
- How does the Good Friday Agreement influence the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) It abolished the Assembly
- B) It established a power-sharing government
- C) It gave all powers to the UK Parliament
- D) It limited the number of MLAs
- What was the main reason for the establishment of devolved administrations?
- A) To reduce the power of the UK Parliament
- B) To give local areas more control over their affairs
- C) To create more political parties
- D) To increase central government control
- Who can suspend the power of devolved assemblies?
- A) The local government
- B) The European Union
- C) The UK government
- D) The Prime Minister only
- Which power is NOT devolved to the Welsh Assembly?
- A) Health
- B) Immigration
- C) Education
- D) Housing
- What legislation re-established the Scottish Parliament?
- A) The Scotland Act 1998
- B) The Parliament Act 1911
- C) The Human Rights Act 1998
- D) The Scotland Act 1707
- Which of the following is a reserved matter for the UK Parliament?
- A) Crime
- B) Education
- C) Health
- D) Foreign affairs
- When did the Northern Ireland Assembly first meet under the Good Friday Agreement?
- A) 1996
- B) 1998
- C) 2000
- D) 2002
- What is the role of civil servants in devolved administrations?
- A) To enforce laws
- B) To help politicians run the government
- C) To create laws
- D) To manage military operations
- How does the proportional representation system work?
- A) Only the candidate with the most votes wins
- B) It allocates seats based on the number of votes each party receives
- C) It gives equal votes to all parties
- D) It eliminates minor parties
- What is one of the key features of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s political structure?
- A) Majority rule
- B) Power-sharing agreement
- C) Presidential system
- D) Direct democracy
- In what year was the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended?
- A) 1972
- B) 1985
- C) 1998
- D) 2002
- Which of the following is a challenge faced by the devolved governments?
- A) Too much power
- B) Political instability
- C) Lack of public interest
- D) Overpopulation
- What does the term “reserved powers” mean?
- A) Powers given to local governments
- B) Powers that only the UK Parliament can control
- C) Powers shared between different governments
- D) Powers that are not used
- How many areas can the Scottish Parliament legislate on?
- A) Hundreds
- B) All areas not reserved to Westminster
- C) Only health and education
- D) Only economic development
- What event led to the suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly?
- A) Local elections
- B) Political disagreements
- C) A military coup
- D) Economic crisis
- What is a significant aspect of Welsh culture reflected in the Assembly?
- A) Monolingualism
- B) Bilingualism (Welsh and English)
- C) Only English publications
- D) No cultural identity
- In which areas does the Scottish Parliament have additional tax-raising powers?
- A) Rent and housing
- B) Sales tax and income tax
- C) Business tax
- D) None of the above
Answers
Easy Level Answers
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C
- D
- C
- B
- A
- B
- C
- C
- D
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C
- B
Medium Level Answers
- C
- B
- C
- C
- C
- B
- C
- C
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- C
- C
- C
- C
- A
- B
- B
Hard Level Answers
- B
- C
- B
- B
- B
- C
- B
- A
- D
- B
- B
- B
- B
- A
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
- B
