What is "devolution"

Devolution \Dev`o*lu"tion\, n. [LL. devolutio: cf. F. d['e]volution.]

1. The act of rolling down. [R.]

   The devolution of earth down upon the valleys.
   --Woodward.

2. Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving upon a successor.

   The devolution of the crown through a . . . channel known and conformable to old constitutional requisitions.
   --De Quincey.

1540s; see de- + evolution. Used in various legal and figurative senses; in biology, as the opposite of evolution, it is attested from 1882.

n. 1 A rolling down. 2 A descent, especially one that passes through a series of revolutions, or by succession 3 The transference of a right to a successor, or of a power from one body to another. 4 (context pejorative English) degeneration (as opposed to evolution). 5 (context British English) The transfer of some powers, and the delegation of some functions, from a central sovereign government to local government; eg. from Westminster to Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly.

1. n. the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality [syn: degeneration] [ant: development]

2. the delegation of authority (especially from a central to a regional government) [syn: devolvement]

Devolution is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a subnational level, such as a regional or local level. It is a strong form of decentralization. Devolved territories have the power to make legislation relevant to the area.

Devolution differs from federalism in that the devolved powers of the subnational authority may be temporary and are reversible, ultimately residing in 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 Legislation creating devolved parliaments or assemblies can be repealed or amended by central government in the same way as any statute.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. The powers of the sub-units cannot be withdrawn unilaterally by the central government (i.e. without the consent of the sub-units being granted through the process of constitutional amendment). The sub-units therefore have a lower degree of protection under devolution than under federalism.

Devolution, de-evolution, or backward evolution is the notion that species can revert into more " primitive" forms over time.

In modern biology the term is redundant: evolutionary science deals with selection or adaptation that results in populations of organisms genetically different from their ancestral forms, where evolution has no intrinsic directionality. The discipline makes no general distinction between changes leading to populations of forms less complex or more complex than their ancestors, and in such terms the concept of a primitive species cannot be defined.

Current non-technical application of the concept of "devolution" is based largely on the fallacies that:

• in biology there is a preferred hierarchy of structure and function, and that
• evolution must mean " progress" to "more advanced" organisms with more complex structure and function.

Those errors in turn are related to two misconceptions: that:

• evolution is supposed to make species more "advanced", as opposed to "primitive"; and that
• modern species that have lost some of the functions or complexity of their ancestors must accordingly be degenerate forms. (Note however that degeneracy in this context has little to do with the current technical use of the term degeneracy in biology).

Devolution is the fourth full-length studio album from American crossover thrash band, M.O.D. It was released in 1994 on Music For Nations and follows 1992's Rhythm of Fear.

Following the tradition of ever-changing line-ups, this album saw Milano swapping bass for guitar as well as vocal duties, with Dave Chavarri on drums being the only other member to appear on two consecutive albums. Tommy Klimchuck and Rob Moschetti took up the guitar and bass roles respectively.

In 2004, Blackout Records re-issued the album with a different cover and enhanced CD content of a concert in France in 1993.

Devolution is the transfer of powers from a central government to a regional or a constituent national government.

Devolution, Devolve, or Devolved may also refer to:

• Devolution (biology), an evolutionary hypothesis
• "Devolution", a song by French electronic musician Electrosexual
• "De-evolution", an artistic concept and satirical "theory" of culture espoused by Devo
• Devolution (album), an album by M.O.D.
• Devolution, an album by De/Vision
• Hindu views on evolution, the Hindu devolution hypothesis
• The War of Devolution between France and Spain (1667–1668)
• Devolution (band), a UK-based Dubstep duo
• Devolved (band), a technical death metal band
• Devolve (EP), a 1990 rock album by Shihad

Devolution is a US based industrial metal band established by Mike Garrett, later recording under the pseudonym of Mykill Mayhem. The first release from Devolution, entitled "Cerebrequiem", was in the genre of death metal and was released in 1996, featuring session musicians assembled from Mykill's previous band, Astaroth. Singer Larry Sapp (also a member of national recording artist Brutality) performed vocals, and Tony Laureano (also a member of Malevolent Creation, Dimmu Borgir, and Angelcorpse, and several other national recording artists in the death metal genre) lent his talents in recording the drums for the CD. Another death metal album was written, but technical difficulties and Laureano's touring schedule with Nile prevented this album from being released.

The next release was written and recorded in 1999, entitled, Self-Made Monster. This release was in the vein of the industrial metal genre, and was more well-received than the previous release. "Death's Shadow" was the first single to be promoted, and charted at number 1 on mp3.com for two months for the industrial genre from January 2000 to March 2000, with the second single, "Crack Rocks In The Engine Block" charting at number 2 in industrial charts, and the third single, "Flesh", charting in the top 10 in industrial charts on mp3.com, simultaneously.

"Death's Shadow" hit number 1 as well on the CMJ loud music charts in 2000, and on mpulse.com in early 2001 (in their gothic/industrial category), both times with "Death's Shadow". Mpulse.com did a dual promotion with Hot Topic at that time, and "Death's Shadow" was also chosen as one of the first tracks to be streaming on Hot Topic radio online. The next release, Grave Matters, in 2001, saw the track "Suck It" hit number 1 on Mpulse.com in the Gothic/Industrial category as well in March 2001.

Mykill joined the band Sister Kill Cycle shortly thereafter, and did not release as Devolution again until 2007 with United Slaves of Amerika, demonstrating Mykill's research into, and growing concern for, the loss of civil liberties in the US following the tragedy of 9/11. The single "DCOG (District of Columbia Original Gangsters)" from the United Slaves of Amerika release hit number 1 on Myspace.com in the Florida Industrial charts in early 2008.

In 2012, Mykill left Sister Kill Cycle, and decided to rename Devolution to United Slaves of Amerika, as it better reflected the pointed lyrical nature of his current musical statement, releasing four new singles since that time. "Killing Is Sexy" and "How To Speak Amerikan" were released simultaneously in July 2012, pushing the 'new' musical project into the top slot for the rock category in Tampa on reverbnation.com. After the songs, and daily articles and graphics were posted on the project's Facebook page, and the release of the singles "Kill The President" and "Just Defy," the fast-growing presence on Facebook catapulted United Slaves of Amerika to the number 12 spot on the overall rock charts on reverbnation.com in September 2013.

The next single,"Supermodel Suicide" is currently being written, and is expected to be recorded and released by the end of 2015.