The European Union

Question 1

What are the notable milestones in the development of the EU & its institutions?

Answer 1

• Single European Act (1986)
• Maastricht treaty (1992)
• Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
• Treaty of Nice (2001)
• Enlargement to 25 member states (2004)
• European Constitution (2004)
• Lisbon treaty (2007)

Question 2

What does supranational mean with examples of supranational constitutions.

Answer 2

Ignore national interests

Examples: EU commission, EU parliament, Court of Justice

Question 3

Key functions of the European Commission

Answer 3

• executive of EU
• 28 commissioners and a president
• proposes legislation and attempts to ensure the provisions amid the various treaties are upheld
• initiate legislation and proposals to the Council and European Parliament
• holds power to execute

Question 4

Key functions of the Council (of ministers)

Answer 4

• 28 member states
• actual minister attending depends on the nature of issue being discussed
• main decision-making body
• decisions takes on basis of qualified majority voting

Question 5

Key features of the European Council

Answer 5

• forum for head of state
• no legislative power
• strategic body
• collective presidency of EU
• intergovernmental body

Question 6

Key features of the European Parliament

Answer 6

• 751 MEPs from member states every 5 years
• scrutinise EU budget and European Commission
• democratically elected by citizens in each member state
• seats allocated in broad proportion to population
• legislative powers over certain areas

Question 7

Key features of the ECJ

Answer 7

• 28 judges
• strike down domestic laws where they conflict with EU law (factorame)
• admins and adjudicates on EU law

Question 8

Which EU institutions are appointed, domestically elected/appointed or an elected body?

Answer 8

Appointed = Commission and Court of Justice
Domestically elected/appointed = Council of Ministers and European Council (unopposed party leaders e.g. May and Brown)
Elected = EU parliament

Question 9

Which institutions did the power lie with in the 1950s and why?

Answer 9

Treaty of Rome 1957
Power lay with Commission and Council of Ministers
Although Left argue should lie with parliament as only elected body

Question 10

What was the turnout in the U.K. For the European Parliament election in 2014?

Answer 10

36%