Dear Kagelelo,

a good example is the British local government.

However, it should be remembered that the United Kingdom does not have a classic constitution, and there is also a debate whether some regulations of local government are not constitutional (but, it seems to dominate the view that they aren't).

Here is a link to materials of Political and Constitutional Reform Committee of the House of Commons (about this issue): https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/political-and-constitutional-reform-committee/news/codifying-central-local-govt/discussion-paper-local-govt

Regards.

Thanks very much Adrian. This is quite enlightening.

But as a god practice and in accordance with the "Aberdeen Agenda", I guess you would agree with me that the better option is to have them entrenched.

Regards.

And Andria...

What should i understand by "Codification" here? Is this ti imply that these relational issues are "unwritten?". Is there anything at "country level" that talks to local government?

Thanks very much Greg.

What you have shared corroborate my readings of the US federal system. Wouldn't you expect a unitary state to have its local government entrenched in the constitution?

Regards.

Thanks Greg.

Therefore it only makes logical sense that for a unitary state, local government must be entrenched in the constitution rather than say, have it as a creature of statute.

Thanks.

The Italian Constitution recognizes local autonomies and gives them considerable power to govern in many areas of activity (social, education, construction, roads ... There are reform projects to centralize many of these activities again.

Thanks Remo

What has been found wanting? Why would they try to centralise when decentralisation has been found to be a better, empowering approach? Is Italy a unitary or federal state?

Honestly, too many differences are emerging between the various local governments: some work well, others do not provide the citizens with the services expected. For these reasons, strengthening the role of the central state is necessary. Italy is not federal state but the regions and local governments have autonomy

Yes, the Spanish Constitution refers to the entrenchment of local government - do Google it , it's available in English, but it only get 9 mentions. As for "oversight institutions" , you mean regulatory agencies ? that is quite another matter. I don't think they would be or should be entrenched - apart from the Courts of Justice , of course - because there is quite a lot of debate on how to best do oversight. So its more an issue of policy evaluation and implementation, even management, for which new ways of doing it better are always being found ie they are unstable.

Thanks very much Monica. i am learning a lot.

I mean such bodies as Ombudsman( Public Protector, anti- corruption agencies, electoral commissions etc. I do not think it would be accurate to refer to them as "regulatory". Regulatory bodies would in my view be the quality/standards/enforcement bodies bodies etc.