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67-953: The Scottish Churches Parliamentary Office (SCPO) was created in 1999, at the same time as the devolved Scottish Parliament was established. The office is an ecumenical partnership that works to build good relations between Scottish Churches, the Scottish and UK Parliaments and the Scottish and UK Governments. When first established the SCPO was based at St Columba's by the Castle Episcopal Church in Edinburgh and later at The Netherbow (the Scottish Storytelling Centre ) on Edinburgh 's Royal Mile before moving to Scottish Churches Housing Action in Hanover Street, Edinburgh. SCPO
134-620: A Legislative Assembly with wider powers in 1988. The Northern Territory refused statehood in a 1998 referendum . The rejection was a surprise to both the Australian and Northern Territory governments. Territory legislation can be disallowed by the Commonwealth Parliament in Canberra, with one notable example being the NT's short-lived voluntary euthanasia legislation . Although Canada
201-508: A Legislative Assembly. In 1987, an Assembly of Representatives was created, by constitutional decree, whose members were elected by popular vote. The devolution of the executive power was not granted until 1997 when the first head of government was elected by popular vote. Finally, in 2000, power was devolved to the delegaciones , though limited: residents can now elect their own "heads of borough government" ( jefes delegacionales , in Spanish), but
268-586: A devolved Yorkshire Assembly within the UK, with powers over education, environment, transport and housing. In the 2021 West Yorkshire mayoral election , the Yorkshire Party came 3rd. In the United States the federal government and state governments are sovereign. As Native American tribes and the governments they formed pre-date the formation of the United States, their legal position as sovereigns co-exists alongside
335-528: A large part of spending is provided by direct grants to such authorities. There also are groups calling for devolution or full independence for Occitania , the Basque Country , Corsica , Alsace , and Brittany . The Spanish Constitution of 1978 granted autonomy to the nationalities and regions of which the Kingdom of Spain is composed. (See also autonomous communities and cities of Spain ) Under
402-680: A new Eastern Territory. A proposal was presented to all NWT voters in a May 1992 plebiscite. Of those voting, 54 percent supported the proposed boundary. The Government of the Northwest Territories, the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut (the Inuit claims organization) and the federal government formally adopted the boundary for division in the Nunavut Political Accord. The final piece of the equation fit into place on June 10, 1993, when
469-631: A new boundary. Finally, all parties had to agree on the division of powers between territorial, regional and local levels of government. The various governments and native groups worked closely together to realize these goals. The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was ratified by the Inuit in November 1992, signed by the Prime Minister of Canada on May 25, 1993, and passed by the Canadian Parliament in June of
536-538: A new devolution settlement for Scotland in the event of a No vote, promising to deliver "faster, safer and better change", and as a result of this vote and promises made during the referendum campaign, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced plans to devolve additional powers to the Scottish government, the nature of which would be determined by the Smith Commission . These powers were subsequently transferred in
603-576: A pet animal in the same condition I am in, I would be prosecuted. If you disagree with voluntary euthanasia, then don't use it, but don't deny the right to me to use it." He died with the help of Dr Philip Nitschke . The law applied to non-residents of the Northern Territory as well, and one non-resident did take advantage of the law. A resident of South Australia, Janet Mills, 52, came to Darwin in December 1996. She had suffered for some 10 years from
670-511: A rare disease known as mycosis fungoides . She used Nitschke's device to take her life on 2 January 1997. In addition, an anonymous 69-year-old male cancer patient used the law and Nitschke's device to die on 22 January 1997. A further two people had received approval to use the law when the law was nullified; a proposed amendment to the Voluntary Euthanasia Laws Bill allowing them to proceed did not pass. While some people in
737-553: A reaction to the situation in the Northern Territory, the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 made similar amendments with respect to Australia's two other self-governing territories, the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island , also preventing them from passing a law permitting euthanasia. The Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 has no effect on the power of an Australian state to pass any law permitting euthanasia. Over
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#1732851855316804-492: A share of resource royalties, hunting rights and a greater role in managing the land and protecting the environment. The land claims agreement also committed the Government of Canada to recommend to Parliament legislation to create a new territory in the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. While negotiations on a land claims settlement progressed, work was also taking place to determine potential jurisdictional boundaries for
871-920: A slim majority and a broad coalition of constitutionalist parties expressed disappointment and concern for the future. In the United Kingdom , devolved government was created for Northern Ireland in 1921 by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 , for Wales and Scotland in September 1997 following simple majority referendums , and in London in May 1998. Between 1998 and 1999, the Scottish Parliament , Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Northern Ireland Assembly and London Assembly were established by law. The Campaign for an English Parliament , which supports English devolution (i.e.
938-537: A state, such as a county or municipality, are a type of devolved government and are defined by individual state constitutions and laws. In the United States, the District of Columbia offers an illustration of devolved government. The District is separate from any state, and has its own elected government. In many ways, on a day-to-day basis, it operates much like another state, with its own laws, court system, Department of Motor Vehicles, public university, and so on. However,
1005-530: Is "State of the Anahuac"). In a recent amendment to the Constitution of Mexico , the country was defined as a "pluricultural nation" founded upon the " indigenous peoples ". They are granted "free-determination" to choose the social, economic, cultural and political organization for which they are to elect representatives democratically in whatever manner they see fit, traditionally or otherwise, as long as women have
1072-592: Is a federal state, a large portion of its land mass in the north is under the legislative jurisdiction of the federal government (called territories, as opposed to provinces ). This has been the case since 1870. In 1870 the Rupert's Land and North-Western Territory Order effected the admission of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory to Canada, pursuant to section 146 of the Constitution Act, 1867 and
1139-611: Is also a participant to negotiations to ensure that Inuit interests are represented. Devolution over natural resources to the government of Nunavut moved forward with the appointment of a Ministerial Representative for Nunavut Devolution. The Representative has held meetings with interested parties including the Boards established under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NLCA), territorial and federal government departments in order to determine if devolution will occur and if so
1206-693: Is currently based at the Church of Scotland 's main administration office at 121 George Street , Edinburgh. Many of the churches in Scotland were strongly supportive of devolution . Before the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood was completed in 2004 the Scottish Parliament met in the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland . The first Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer (1999–2008)
1273-659: The Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 . The Act continues on the Territory's statute books, however this was repealed in December 2022 with the passing of Restoring Territory Rights Act. Dr Philip Nitschke founded Exit International in response to the overturning of the Act. While voluntary euthanasia had previously been condoned officially in the Netherlands and the US state of Oregon, the act was
1340-692: The Australian Medical Association , and the Bishop of Darwin, Edmund John Patrick Collins . While the law was in effect, four people undertook euthanasia through its provisions. The first was carpenter Bob Dent, 66, who died on 22 September 1996. Dent was a prostate cancer sufferer who became Australia's first person to lawfully end his life by means of physician assisted suicide . Dent, who had been suffering from prostate cancer for five years in what he called "a rollercoaster of pain", left an open letter when he died that stated: "If I were to keep
1407-590: The Northwest Territories . Portions of Rupert's Land were added to the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, extending those provinces northward from their previous narrow band around the St. Lawrence and lower Great Lakes. The District of Ungava was a regional administrative district of Canada's Northwest Territories from 1895 to 1912. The continental areas of said district were transferred by the Parliament of Canada with
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#17328518553161474-455: The Nunavut Act received Royal Assent. It officially established the territory of Nunavut and provided a legal framework for its government. It fixed April 1, 1999, as the day on which the new territory would come into existence. The government of Nunavut is currently negotiating with the government of Canada on a devolution agreement. Nunavut Tunngavik , the organization of Inuit of Nunavut,
1541-441: The Rupert's Land Act, 1868 . The Manitoba Act, 1870 , which created Manitoba out of part of Rupert's Land, also designated the remainder of both the Northwest Territories (NWT), over which Parliament was to exercise full legislative authority under the Constitution Act, 1871 . Yukon was carved from the Northwest Territories in 1898 but remained a territory. In 1905, the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were carved from
1608-670: The Scotland Act 2016 . Following the outcome of the Brexit vote on 23 June 2016, calls for further devolution have been raised, including differential membership of the European single market for the devolved areas of the United Kingdom. The Yorkshire Party is a regionalist political party in Yorkshire , a historic county of England . Founded in 2014, it campaigns for the establishment of
1675-517: The Yukon Act transformed the Council into an elected body. Over time the territorial government exercised expanded functions. Relevant developments include the following: All constituent states of Mexico are fully autonomous and comprise a federation. The Federal District, originally integrated by Mexico City and other municipalities, was created in 1824 to be the capital of the federation. As such, it
1742-460: 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 . Devolution differs from federalism in that the devolved powers of the subnational authority may be temporary and are reversible, ultimately residing with
1809-524: The delegaciones do not have regulatory powers and are not constituted by a board of trustees, like the municipalities of the constituent states . The autonomy, or home rule, of the Federal District, was granted by the federal government, which in principle has the right to remove it. The president of Mexico still holds the final word in some decisions (e.g. he must approve some posts), and the Congress of
1876-408: The "system of autonomies" ( Spanish : Estado de las Autonomías ), Spain has been quoted to be "remarkable for the extent of the powers peacefully devolved over the past 30 years" and "an extraordinarily decentralised country", with the central government accounting for just 18% of public spending; the regional governments 38%, the local councils 13% and the social-security system the rest. In 2010
1943-695: The Act: Those who assist in the ending of a person's life under the Act were immune from prosecution or other legal consequences if acting in good faith. (Sections 16 and 20). Euthanasia was legalised in Australia 's Northern Territory , by the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 . It passed the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly by a vote of 15 to 10. In August 1996 a repeal bill
2010-564: The Constitutional Court ruled that referendums of any kind, defined as measuring the public opinion of all voting citizens ( apellatio ad populum ) can't be held without government approval. On December 12, 2013, the Catalan Government announced that a referendum would be held on self-determination . The central government of Spain considers that a binding referendum is unconstitutional and cannot be held. On October 1, 2017,
2077-576: The District government could be significantly altered or eliminated by a simple majority vote in Congress. Two dependencies: 1 autonomous region: Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 The Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 (NT) was a law legalising euthanasia in the Northern Territory of Australia , which was passed by the territory's Legislative Assembly in 1995. The Act
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2144-411: The Northern Territory were unhappy with the Act and campaigned for its repeal, the Northern Territory legislature was unwavering in its support. Views in the rest of Australia were much less supportive, however, and opponents began demanding that the federal parliament overturn the law, which it had the power to do since the Northern Territory does not have the same standing in Australian jurisprudence as
2211-632: The Northwest Territories will receive for its resources has delayed the conclusion of a devolution agreement for the NWT. In 1966, the federal government established the Carruthers Commission to look at the issue of government in the north. After extensive study and consultation, the Commission concluded that division of the NWT was probably both advisable and inevitable. There was a recognition that Northerners wanted to run their own affairs and must be given
2278-485: The Northwest Territories, the Aboriginal Summit and the Government of Canada have each appointed a Chief Negotiator to work on devolution. A Framework Agreement was concluded in 2004. The target date for the completion of devolution talks for the NWT was March 2007. However, stumbling blocks associated with the transfer of current federal employees to the territorial government, and the unresolved issue of how much money
2345-573: The Union reviews the budget of the Federal District and sets the limit to its debt. Some left-wing groups and political parties have advocated, since the 1980s, for a full devolution of powers by transforming the Federal District into the thirty-second constituent state of the Federation (with the proposed name of "State of the Valley of Mexico", to be distinguished from the state of México ; another proposed name
2412-754: The Yukon Territory in 1898. The North-West Mounted Police were sent in to ensure Canadian jurisdiction and the Yukon Act provided for a commissioner to administer the territory. The 1898 statute granted the Commissioner in Council "the same powers to make ordinances... as are possessed by the Lieutenant Governor of the North-west Territories, acting by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly thereof". In 1908 amendments to
2479-486: The act under which the Commonwealth Parliament has delegated legislative power to the Northern Territory Parliament—effectively the territory's "constitution" or "charter"—removing the Territory's constitutional power to pass any law permitting euthanasia. The Act technically remains in force in the Territory, but has been essentially made null and void and has no legal effect. Although passed as
2546-732: The adoption of the Quebec Boundary Extension Act, 1898 and the Quebec Boundaries Extension Act, 1912 . The status of the interior of Labrador that was believed part of Ungava was settled in 1927 by the British Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which ruled in favour of the Dominion of Newfoundland . The offshore islands to the west and north of Quebec remained part of the Northwest Territories until
2613-416: The central government. Thus, the state remains de jure unitary . Legislation creating devolved parliaments or assemblies can be repealed or amended by central government in the same way as any statute. In federal systems , by contrast, sub-unit government is guaranteed in the constitution , so the powers of the sub-units cannot be withdrawn unilaterally by the central government (i.e. not without
2680-446: The creation of Nunavut in 1999. Since the 1970s, the federal government has been transferring its decision-making powers to territorial governments. This means greater local control and accountability by northerners for decisions central to the future of the territories. In 1999, the federal government created Nunavut pursuant to a land claim agreement reached with Inuit, the indigenous people of Canada's Eastern Arctic. Since that time,
2747-502: The day-to-day running of their own affairs. In 1982 a plebiscite was held in the NWT asking the question, "Do you think the NWT should be divided?" Fifty-three percent of eligible voters participated in the plebiscite, with 56.4 percent of them voting "yes". Voter turnout and support for division was particularly strong in the Eastern Arctic. The Inuit population of the eastern section of the territory had become increasingly receptive of
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2814-406: The establishment of a separate English parliament or assembly) was formed in 1998. A referendum was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014 which asked citizens whether Scotland should be an independent country. By a margin of approximately 55 percent to 45 percent, people living in Scotland rejected the proposal. The leaders of the three largest British political parties pledged on 16 September 2014
2881-442: The federal government has slowly devolved legislative jurisdiction to the territories. Enabling the territories to become more self-sufficient and prosperous and to play a stronger role in the Canadian federation is considered a key component to development in Canada's North. Among the three territories, devolution is most advanced in Yukon. On June 18, 2021, the Labrador Inuit self-government Nunatsiavut stated that it had begun
2948-449: The federal government was recommended and carried out. This included responsibility for education, small business, public works, social services and local government. Since the report, the government of Northwest Territories has taken over responsibilities for several other programs and services including the delivery of health care, social services, education, administration of airports, and forestry management. The legislative jurisdiction of
3015-427: The first time that a legislative assembly passed a law explicitly legalising euthanasia. The Act allowed a terminally ill patient to end their life with medical assistance, either by the direct involvement of a physician or by procurement of drugs. The Act set out a somewhat lengthy application process, designed to ensure that a patient was both mentally competent to make the decision and in fact terminally ill. Under
3082-412: The future mandate of devolution. The government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik have appointed negotiators. In 1896, prospectors discovered gold in Yukon , which prompted a massive gold rush that saw the population of Yukon grow very rapidly. By 1898, Dawson grew into the largest Canadian city west of Winnipeg , with a population of 40,000. In response, the Canadian government officially established
3149-445: The governments of the 50 states are reserved a broad range of powers in the U.S. Constitution , and most of their laws cannot be voided by any act of U.S. federal government. The District of Columbia, by contrast, is constitutionally under the sole control of the United States Congress , which created the current District government by statute. Any law passed by the District legislature can be nullified by congressional action, and indeed
3216-629: The idea of self-government. It was viewed as the best way to promote and protect their culture and traditions and address their unique regional concerns. Both the NWT Legislative Assembly and the federal government accepted the idea of dividing the territory. The idea was viewed as an important step towards enabling the Inuit , and other residents of the Eastern Arctic, to take charge of their own destiny. There were some reservations, however. Before action could be taken, certain practical considerations had to be addressed. First of all, outstanding land claims had to be settled. Second, all parties had to agree on
3283-505: The individual states and the Federal government. The legal relationships with Native American tribes and their government structures are the jurisdiction of Congress . This relationship is unique to each of the more than 500 tribes and also involves International Treaties between various tribes and Spain, Great Britain, and the eventual United States. Territories are under the direct jurisdiction of Congress. Territorial governments are thus devolved by acts of Congress. Political subdivisions of
3350-456: The intervening years, several attempts were made to repeal the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 in the federal Parliament. On 1 December 2022, the Restoring Territory Rights Act 2022 was passed, repealing the 1997 act and returning power to the parliament of the Northern Territory to legislate euthanasia laws. In September 2023, Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles formed a panel to take public inquiries regarding euthanasia laws. The panel
3417-548: The legislation, aided by Dr Philip Nitschke . The first person was a carpenter, Bob Dent, who died on 22 September 1996. The passage of the Bill—one of the first of its kind in the world—provoked a furor in Australia, and indeed in much of the rest of the world. The Act received both widespread support from "death with dignity" and right to die groups who saw it as a model to be followed elsewhere, and widespread condemnation from euthanasia opponents, such as right to life groups, who sought to overturn it. Opponents also included
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#17328518553163484-440: The opportunity to do so. At the same time, however, it noted that governmental reform was required before this could happen. It recommended the establishment of a new system of representative government. As a result, in the late 1960s and 1970s, the federal government gradually created electoral constituencies and transferred many federally run programs to the territorial government. Northerners took on more and more responsibility for
3551-401: The process of constitutional amendment). The sub-units therefore have a lower degree of protection under devolution than under federalism . Australia is a federation. It has six states and two territories with less power than states. The Australian Capital Territory refused self-government in a 1978 referendum, but was given limited self-government by a House of Assembly from 1979, and
3618-435: The process of seeking devolution of child protection services from the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Children, Seniors, and Social Development with the goal for negotiations to conclude within three years. The Northwest Territories (NWT) was governed from Ottawa from 1870 until the 1970s, except for the brief period between 1898 and 1905 when it was governed by an elected assembly. The Carrothers Commission
3685-444: The regional government held a referendum despite having been declared illegal by the Spanish courts. Subsequently, several leaders were arrested and imprisoned on charges of "sedition" and "rebellion". The regional president fled to Brussels, but has so far escaped extradition as those offenses are not part of Belgian law or the European Arrest Warrant. On December 21, 2017, fresh elections were held in which pro-independence parties held
3752-420: The right to territory laws. In practice, it very rarely exercised that right. On 25 March 1997, the federal parliament passed the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 , which, although not technically repealing the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act , for all practical purposes rendered it of no legal effect. Rather than repeal the Act directly, the law instead amended the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 ,
3819-549: The rights and responsibilities set forth by the federal constitution and the constitution of the states in which they are located. In the late 1980s a process of decentralisation was undertaken by the French government . Initially regions were created and elected regional assemblies set up. Together with the departmental councils these bodies have responsibility for infrastructure spending and maintenance (schools and highways) and certain social spending. They collect revenues through property taxes and various other taxes. In addition
3886-425: The same opportunities to participate in their social and political life. There are, however, no prescribed limits to their territories, and they are still under the jurisdiction of the municipalities and states in which they are located; the indigenous peoples can elect representatives before the municipal councils. In practice, they are allowed to have an autonomous form of self-government, but they are still subject to
3953-461: The same year. It was the largest native land claim settlement in Canadian history. It gave the Inuit title over 350,000 square kilometres of land. It also gave the Inuit capital transfers from the federal government of over $ 1.1 billion over the next 14 years. This money will be held in trust with the interest to be used in a variety of different projects, including financing for regional businesses and scholarships for students. The Inuit also gained
4020-400: The states. The federal parliament could not have overturned an identical state law, since the states are sovereign entities possessing legislative power in their own right. However, self-governing territories like the Northern Territory derive their power by way of a grant from the federal parliament. Consequently, the federal parliament retains the right to legislate for the territory, including
4087-462: The territorial legislature is set out in section 16 of the Northwest Territories Act . Now, the government of Canada is negotiating the transfer of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development's remaining provincial-type responsibilities in the NWT. These include the legislative powers, programs and responsibilities for land and resources associated with the department's Northern Affairs Program (NAP) with respect to: The Government of
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#17328518553164154-488: Was brought before the Parliament but was defeated by 14 votes to 11. The law was later voided by the federal Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 , which is a federal law that was in effect until 13 December 2022 and prevented parliaments of territories (Specifically the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory and Norfolk Island ) from legalising euthanasia or assisted dying. Before the federal override occurred, three people died through physician assisted suicide under
4221-406: Was established in April 1963 by the government of Lester B. Pearson to examine the development of government in the NWT. It conducted surveys of opinion in the NWT in 1965 and 1966 and reported in 1966. Major recommendations included that the seat of government should be located in the territory. Yellowknife was selected as the territorial capital as a result. Transfer of many responsibilities from
4288-430: Was governed directly by the central or federal government and the president of Mexico appointed its governor or executive regent. Even though the municipalities within the Federal District were autonomous, their powers were limited. In 1928, these municipalities were abolished and transformed into non-autonomous delegaciones or boroughs and a "Central Department", later renamed as Mexico City. In 1970 this department
4355-423: Was passed by the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly on 25 May 1995 by a vote of 15 to 10, received the Administrator's assent on 16 June 1995, and entered into force on 1 July 1996. A year later, a repeal bill was brought before the Northern Territory Parliament in August 1996, but was defeated by 14 votes to 11. The effect of the law was nullified in 1997 by the federal Parliament of Australia which passed
4422-454: Was split into four new delegaciones , and Mexico City was constitutionally defined to be synonymous and coterminous with the entire Federal District. (As such, the boroughs of the Federal District are boroughs of Mexico City). In the 1980s, the citizens of the Federal District, being the most populated federal entity in Mexico, began to demand home rule: a devolution of autonomy in order to directly elect their head of government and to set up
4489-399: Was the Revd Dr Graham Blount, who was formerly joint minister at Falkirk Old and St Modan's Parish Church . The post has since been held by Chloe Clemmons (2009–2019) and Irene Mackinnon (2019–2020). The current Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer (since 2020) is David Bradwell. Devolved List of forms of government Devolution is the statutory delegation of powers from
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