The decentralization of power from the national government to subnational units is called what?

The decentralization of power from the national government to subnational units is called what?

• A. Federalism
• B. Centralization
• C. Devolution
• D. Confederation

Answer: (C)

Decentralization means moving authority from the national government to local or regional governments. When the central government transfers power to subnational units, that downward shift is called devolution. It often happens in unitary states, giving regional bodies control over areas like education, health, or transportation while still under national oversight. This differs from federalism, which is a constitutional setup where sovereignty is divided between national and subnational governments and both levels have defined powers. Centralization is the opposite, concentrating power at the national level, and a confederation is a loose alliance of independent states with a weak central authority. So, the term for this downward transfer of power is devolution.

Decentralization means moving authority from the national government to local or regional governments. When the central government transfers power to subnational units, that downward shift is called devolution. It often happens in unitary states, giving regional bodies control over areas like education, health, or transportation while still under national oversight. This differs from federalism, which is a constitutional setup where sovereignty is divided between national and subnational governments and both levels have defined powers. Centralization is the opposite, concentrating power at the national level, and a confederation is a loose alliance of independent states with a weak central authority. So, the term for this downward transfer of power is devolution.