Which of the following best describes 'reserved powers'?

Reserved powers are best described as those that are not devolved to local governments and are instead retained by the central government. This means that certain areas of legislation and authority remain under the control of the national government rather than being transferred to local or regional authorities. In the context of Northern Ireland's political framework, reserved powers allow the central government to maintain oversight and control over critical issues that might require uniformity across the entire country, ensuring that there is coherence in governance.

The other options describe different arrangements of power distribution. For example, fully devolved powers are explicitly granted to local governments, which is the opposite of reserved powers. The reference to powers that apply to specific regions could suggest localization rather than central control, and powers assigned to international organizations pertain to a completely different context of governance, involving external entities rather than internal government structures. Understanding the distinction between these types of powers is essential for grasping the overall political framework and distribution of authority within the United Kingdom, particularly in the context of devolution in Northern Ireland.