Decentralization in theory and practice

Abstract

The forms of the state order depend on legal independence / dependence of the organisational parts that make up a state, and on the legal relationships established among them. These relationships are either centralised or decentralised. It is characteristic of the state that it has central authority extending over the entire national territory. The decisions made by this authority are obligatory and binding for all population. It is particularly characteristic of the state that through its branched organisation, also non-centralised authorities are established. They extend over organisationally restricted area and their decisions are not obligatory and binding for all their residents, but only for the inhabitants of a narrower community. Of course, here is the issue of the content and scope of the non-centralised units, which is the research subject in this paper. KEY WORDS: • decentralisation • political decentralisation • territorial decentralisation • administrative decentralisation • fiscal decentralisation • Slovenia • European Union