Subsidiarity

Subsidiarity a principle of social organization stating that no larger unit should perform a function that can be performed by a smaller unit. It is most commonly invoked in regards to the government, although it applies to other social and economic units as well.

Subsidiarity puts a focus on local decision-making. This allows people to hold those in power accountable as well as adopting decisions to local conditions instead of painting everyone with the same brush. It is an important concept in distributism.