lectures 8

Question 1

Bicameral

Answer 1

a government structure involving two houses, or two legislative bodies, that are separate in deliberation from one another

Question 2

separation of powers: EP gaining power

Answer 2

Rome (Consultation): The EP had an advisory role, with limited influence on legislation.

SEA (Cooperation): Introduced a procedure where the EP could propose amendments, increasing its legislative influence.

Maastricht (Co-Decision I): Established the EP as a co-legislator, requiring joint agreement with the Council.

Amsterdam (Co-Decision II): Streamlined and expanded the co-decision procedure, enhancing the EP’s role.

Lisbon (Bicameralism): Formalized the ordinary legislative procedure, creating a bicameral system with the EP and the Council as equal partners in most legislative areas.

Question 3

deepening of powers

Answer 3

Customs union
Common market
EuroZone
Schengen

Question 4

widening of powers

Answer 4

Six founders
Western enlargement
Southern enlargement
Northern enlargement
Easteren enlargement - ending at 27

Question 5

bargaining power in the EU

Answer 5

larger countries have more power? (Germany, France, previously UK)
not in the case of eastern enlargement (Denmark, Ireland)

Question 6

bargaining in the eastern enlargement

Answer 6

denmark & ireland:
- formed alliances & used veto power
- effectively advocated for agricultural policy, environmental standards, and regional development funds
- previous experience with treaties provided them with valuable insights and negotiating skills

Question 7

fundamentals of preferences

Answer 7

political leaders from larger countries prefer a more proportional allocation of power and offices according to population size

smaller countries favor the one-state, one vote/office-principle

Member states are more likely to approve a treaty in interstate bargains, the more distant they are from the status quo.

A noncooperative member state is more powerful in interstate bargains, the more it favors failure over approval

Question 8

interstate bargaining

Answer 8

the presence or absence of a referendum can significantly affect the dynamics of decision-making

Question 9

effects of referendum on interstate bargaining

Answer 9

referendum is announced –> indicates a notable shift away from the current status quo

the distance to the status quo increases significantly when there’s a referendum involved. This is because referendums usually signal substantial departures from the norm

when changes occur without the announcement of a referendum, they tend to happen more gradually and may not represent as significant a departure from the status quo

noticable in nice and lisbon (ireland had one) treaties

Question 10

explaining interstate bargaining in big 3 - france, germany, UK

Answer 10

actors of historical relationships, economic interdependencies, political alignments, cultural affinities, institutional frameworks, and individual leadership dynamics among the countries involved.