United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, devolved government was created following simple majority referenda in Wales and Scotland in September 1997. In between 1998 and 1999, the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly were established by law. England was left un-devolved. In addition to the newly established legislatures of Wales and Scotland much spending is devolved to the councils and shires of the United Kingdom. In addition to taxes collected locally the government provides grants for services such as the police, fire service and ambulance service which are under the authority of local elected government.
Read more about this topic: Devolution
Famous quotes containing the words united and/or kingdom:
“The United States is the only great nation whose government is operated without a budget. The fact is to be the more striking when it is considered that budgets and budget procedures are the outgrowth of democratic doctrines and have an important part in developing the modern constitutional rights.... The constitutional purpose of a budget is to make government responsive to public opinion and responsible for its acts.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“It is easier to govern a kingdom than to rule a family.”
—Chinese proverb.