The EU's Institutions and Policies (1) Flashcards
(27 cards)
What is the EU?
A collection of institutions and its system is complex; the informal can be as important as the formal in how the institutions work, influence etc.
What right does the European Commission have?
The right to initiate legislation, although in practice it has been undermined
Which body has to agree proposals for them to become law?
The Council of Ministers
Which body ensures that the terms of treaties are respected?
The European Court of Justice
Which 2 arms is the European Commission divided into?
Political Arm - College of Commissioners (including the President of the Commission)
Administrative Arm - Directorate of Generals
Give 2 functions of the European Commission
- Is the Executive of the EU because it has the power of legislative proposal
- Is the promoter of the interests of the Union (Protector of the European Treaties); represent European citizens and their interests
Give 3 aspects of the College of Commissioners
- Each commissioner is responsible for a different area of policy
- Often from the same party as the national government
- Commissioners must abandon all national allegiances during their run; they’re expected to prioritise European interests over their home state
What are the 3 key functions of the Council System in the EU?
- Legislature - council votes on proposed legislative acts
- Executive - council takes non-legislative decisions (e.g. On common foreign and security policy)
- Setter of guidelines - council sometimes steers the course of policy (e.g. Oversees the detail of enlargement negotiations)
When was the European Council set up and why?
1974 - to bring together heads of state and government, allowing national leaders to set the direction of European Integration
When was the Lisbon Treaty created and why?
2007 - to establish the EC as a formal EU institution and redefined membership
Give 3 functions of the European Council
- Oversight of treaty reform and enlargement
- Foreign policy making
- Decision maker of a last resort
What happened in 1957 regarding the European Parliament?
The European Parliamentary Assembly wasn’t directly elected and had limited powers
When were direct elections introduced in the European Parliament and why did this backfire?
1979 - was expected as a means of increasing the legitimacy of the EU and its institutions yet turn out had gradually fallen
Give 2 reasons for a falling turnout of EP elections
- EP elections seen as second order national elections
* Campaigns organised around national parties and campaigns run on national platforms
Give 3 points regarding the legislative powers of the EP
• Under the Ordinary Legislative Procedure (OLP), the EP shares final decision on most proposals with the Council
When was the EP given the right to reject budget as a whole?
1975
Give 3 functions of the European Court of Justice
- To ensure EU law is interpreted and applied the same in every EU country
- To ensure countries and EU institutions abide by EU law
- Be the final arbiter of legal disputes
Give 4 summaries of the EU
The European Commission has the role right to initiate legislation (although in practice this power has been undermined to some extent)
The Council of Ministers, acting increasingly by QMV, has to agree to proposals for them to become law
Increasingly the EC has become active, setting the EU’s broad policy agenda and the general direction of integration
The EP plays an important oversight role over the European Commission and can dismiss the whole college on mass if need be
What did Kenealy state the Parliament is viewed as by its admirers?
The voice of the people
Is voting turnout higher or lower in the EP than most national elections?
Lower
How does the EP relate to the Council and Commission?
Council - equal to the EP in terms of legislation
Commission - EP elects the president and can confirm/dismiss the Commission
Can the EP dismiss the President?
Yes
How do MEPs not represent citizens equally?
The ratio of member to population is lower in smaller member states
What has participation been like for Parliamentary elections?
It has been declining
