Devolution is the transfer of power from a central government to subnational authorities, such as regional or local governments. It is a form of administrative decentralization that grants devolved territories the power to make legislation relevant to their 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 the central government. Devolution can occur through conventional statutes rather than through a change in a countrys constitution, and unitary systems of government that have devolved powers in this manner are still considered unitary rather than federal systems. Devolution became a major political issue in the United Kingdom beginning in the early 1970s, with many people in Scotland and Wales demanding greater control over their own affairs. In England, devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from national to local government, which ensures that decisions are made closer to the local people, communities, and businesses they affect. Devolution is viewed in many countries as a way to dampen regional, racial, ethnic, or religious tensions.