DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT

Question 1

A10 Treaty of the European Union (TEU)

Answer 1

EU is based on a representative democracy

Question 2

Define direct democracy

Answer 2

Every person gets an actual say

-> referendums an example

Question 3

Define representative democracy

Answer 3

The people elect representatives to make legislative decisions on their behalf

Question 4

Three aspects of democracy

Answer 4

ACCOUNTABILITY
- Can institutions/representatives be held to account
LEGITIMACY
- What authority/mandate do those in power have to make their decisions
TRANSPARENCY
- Is it easy to see the decisions that are made
- Is it is easy to see HOW the decisions are made

Question 5

3 Articles of TEU relative to democracy in EU

Answer 5

A10
A11
A12

Question 6

A10 TEU

Answer 6

• EU formed from representative democracy

- Introduces idea of political parties forming this democracy

Question 7

A11 TEU

Answer 7

EU must be accountable to its citizens

CITIZENS INITIATIVES = allow direct engagement with the legislative process

Question 8

A12 TEU

Answer 8

• National P’s relationship with EU
• Concept of a SUBSIDIARY relationship = EU should only legislate in areas of law which would be advantageous if the EU acted as a whole -> agriculture

Question 9

Role of the COMMISSION (COM)

Answer 9

Executive branch of EU -> initiates policy and legislation

Under A258 TFEU they are responsible for enforcement of EU law

In charge of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) -> where most of the EUs budget is spent

Question 10

APPOINTMENT to the COM

Answer 10

Nominated by MSs
Oversight of nomination by elected EP, but doesn’t extend further than questioning etc.
EP can’t dismiss a can date without dismissing entire COM under A234 TFEU
Then appointed by European Council (C)

NO REAL ENGAGEMENT WITH CITIZENS

Question 11

President of COM

Answer 11

C votes for a nominee
This must be approved by the EP, but C is clearly more in control
Criticised as the COM President is pretty much President of EU, citizens should be able to vote for them

Question 12

POWERS of the COM

Answer 12

A258 TFEU = enforcing EU law
A17(2) TEU = monopoly on legislation proposals
A17(1) TEU = manages programmes
A314 TFEU = manages draft budget

Question 13

The COUNCIL (C)

Answer 13

A16(2) TEU = shall consist of ministers representative of national govts at ministerial level

Question 14

Role of C

Answer 14

Executive -> initiates legislation with COM and can request they undertake any studies etc to attain common goals
Legislative -> co-decision on legislation with EP (breach of SoP?!)

Represents national interests

Question 15

What voting system does C use?

Answer 15

Qualified majority voting

Question 16

Why is qualified majority voting in C important?

Answer 16

• Ministers are from national govts voted for by citizens of each MS
• The number of votes given to each country is dependent on population size
• This ensures the majority of EU citizens approve legislation
• Indirect democracy?
• Can allow for discrimination against smaller countries

Question 17

How is EP elected?

Answer 17

Directly by citizens every 5 years (only directly democratic body)

Question 18

How did SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT 1986 make EP more powerful?

Answer 18

Previously only had to be consulted on legislation -> was given power of veto on legislation

Question 19

What is voter turnout like for EP?

Answer 19

POOR

• Use of party system different from national parties is confusing
• Lack of publication
• 2014 only 42.6% turn out
• 1999 saw 23m vote in BigBrother results, compared to 11m in EP elections

Question 20

Powers of EP

Answer 20

Jointly decides with C (via co-decision) on legislative/budgetary matters 
Since MAASTRICHT (TEU) 1992 has power to appoint COM president
Is supervisory of other institutions

Question 21

How did the LISBON TREATY 2007 make the EU more democratic?

Answer 21

Gave EP greater powers of scrutiny over other bodies

Question 22

WEILER’S 4 definitions of democratic deficit

Answer 22

1. Increased role of executive COM in matters of legislation
2. Weakness of EP
3. Lack of ‘European’ elections
4. Decrease in national parliamentary control

Question 23

How does the COM add to democratic deficit?

Answer 23

• Excessive control over law making even though unelected
• Primary control over secondary legislation = director of policy with exclusive power to initiate legislation
• Has power to take MSs to ECJ for not apply treaties correctly

Question 24

How does EP contribute to democratic deficit?

Answer 24

• Limited power on legislation
• Smaller MSs overly represented
• No power of selection process of COM
• Citizens have no real connection or interest with it = low turnout =not really representative

Question 25

How does the C contribute to democratic deficit?

Answer 25

- Only very indirectly elected | - Stresses supranational institutional framework -> already too distant from national parliaments and voters

Question 26

Domestic impact of democratic deficit?

Answer 26

- Expanding scope of EU governance = encroaching on rights of national citizens -> decrease in power of domestic parliaments in favour of domestic executives - Institutions are disproportionately controlled by national executives via C or indirectly through COM

Question 27

Positives of the current system?

Answer 27

- Holds domestic executives to account as they are scrutinised on an EU level as well as domestic - Recent studies show only 10-20% of national laws are decided in Brussels - EU plays little role in national issues of govt spending and direct administration

Question 28

Which 2 treaties developed legitimacy of EU power?

Answer 28

MAASTRICHT 1992 | LISBON 2007

Question 29

What did MAASTRICHT 1992 introduce?

Answer 29

- Status of EU citizenship -> can vote/stand in EP elections in country of residence not birth - Legislative process of 'co-decision', making C and EP equal

Question 30

What did LISBON TREATY 2007 introduce?

Answer 30

- Significant increase of EP powers | - Any EU citizen has right to petition the EP

Question 31

Solutions to deficit?

Answer 31

- BOGNADOR believes results of EP elections should be tied to nominations for COM - MEPs should be allowed to suggest legislation themselves -> making EP more like national parliaments = greater public understanding BUT - Expanding EP powers is only pseudo-solution as the democratic deficit is structural problem