BPP Study Manual Chapter 2

Question 1

What are the institutions of the European Union?

Answer 1

1) EU Parliament
2) EU Council
3) the Council
4) EU Commission
5) Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)
6) European Central Bank (ECB)
7) Court of Auditors

Question 2

Where is the European Parliament?

Answer 2

Committees in Brussels, sits in Strasbourg, secretariat is in Brussels and Luxembourg

Question 3

How many MEPs sit in the EU Parl?

Answer 3

750 plus the president.

Question 4

How long is the term for an MEP?

Answer 4

5 years

Question 5

What renamed the European Assembly as the European Parliament?

Answer 5

Single European Act 1987

Question 6

What powers does the EU Parl have over legislation?

Answer 6

It can request that the Commission submit a proposal to take action in an area
It can veto passing legislation
it can reject the budget
It exercises a supervisory function

Question 7

How is the presidency of the European Council determined?

Answer 7

it is allotted by rotation

Question 8

Who makes up the membership of the Council?

Answer 8

The ministers of the MS. Which particular members attends varies with the topic.

Question 9

What does Qualified Majority Voting attempt to ensure?

Answer 9

That proposals with a strong support cannot be blocked by a small group of MS, and especially can’t be blocked by a small group of countries with a big population

Question 10

What is COREPER?

Answer 10

Committee of Permanent Representatives. Prepares the meetings of the Council and continues its work between meetings

Question 11

How does voting work in the Council?

Answer 11

Each country is allocated a certain number of votes according to its population

Question 12

How many people sit in the EU Commission?

Answer 12

One Commissioner per member state, so currently 27

Question 13

Who is the figurehead of the EU?

Answer 13

the President of the EU Commission

Question 14

What is the Commissions primary role?

Answer 14

it is effectively the executive of the EU

Question 15

What powers does the Commission have?

Answer 15

• propose draft legislation
• shape legislative programme of the Union
• supervisory powers eg to force MS to obey EU treaty obligations

Question 16

What is the makeup of the EUCJ?

Answer 16

One judge from each MS appointed reneqably for 6 years.
The court elects its own president every 3 years
8 Advocates-General who deliver in open court a reasoned and impartial opinion in most cases. highly influential but not binding.

Question 17

How many judges will hear a case?

Answer 17

One of:
Chambers - three to five judges
Grand Chamber - 13 judges
Full Court - 15 judges (exceptionally)

Question 18

Who can bring a dispute to the CJEU?

Answer 18

• a Member State
• an individual, where the issue is of direct, individual concern to that individual
• one of the EU institutions

Question 19

What are the three main jobs of the CJEU?

Answer 19

• ensuring MS fulfil their obligations under EU law
• ensuring EU institutions act lawfully
• providing preliminary rulings; ie interpretating the law when requested by national courts

Question 20

What is the General Court?

Answer 20

an independent court attached to the CJEU that decides at first instance a number of actions eg actions brought by individuals against EU institutions. It aims to reduce the caseload of the CJEU

Question 21

What is the role of the Court of Auditors?

Answer 21

to independently audit the revenue and spending of the Union and to certify that its accounts are legal and reliable

Question 22

What is the European Council?

Answer 22

Effectively, a regular summit meeting between heads of MS. It serves to produce long- term strategic decisions.

Question 23

What interests do each of the EU Parliament, Commission and Council represent?

Answer 23

Parliament - the people of the Union
Council - the member states
Commission - the Union itself

Question 24

Why have the powers and legitimacy of the EU Parliament grown?

Answer 24

direct election of its members and increasing use of the “ordinary legislative” (co-decision) procedure