Flashcards on European Parliament in the EU Political System
European Parliament in the EU Political System: An Overview
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European Parliament politics & power
28 cards
Card 1
Question: How did the European Parliament (EP) expand its powers over time?
Answer: Through a course of formal and informal stages that gradually increased its legislative and non-legislative authority.
Card 2
Question: Why is the process of EP empowerment important beyond changes in formal powers?
Answer: Because it helps explain the EP’s internal organisation, legislative and non-legislative functions, the evolution of its political parties, and its ro
Card 3
Question: What kind of representation is the European Parliament primarily associated with?
Answer: Democratic (popular) representation — it is viewed as the classical channel of citizens' representation in the EU.
Card 4
Question: How does the Council’s representational role differ from the EP’s?
Answer: The Council represents territorial interests (member states), whereas the EP represents popular (citizen) interests.
Card 5
Question: What representational role is the Commission expected to perform?
Answer: The Commission is supposed to represent the ‘general interest’ of the EU.
Card 6
Question: How has claiming popular representation helped the EP politically?
Answer: Playing the popular representation card has helped the EP increase its powers and serve as a strong legitimising tool used by MEPs.
Card 7
Question: What major challenge prevents the EP from relating closely to voters?
Answer: Citizens generally feel detached from their MEPs and view the Parliament as distant, partly because national parties remain the main interface in EP e
Card 8
Question: How do EP elections constrain the Parliament’s relationship with citizens?
Answer: Although MEPs are directly elected, voters choose national parties and cannot vote for transnational European lists or MEPs outside their country, rei
Card 9
Question: Why have Eurosceptic and fringe parties benefited from European Parliament elections?
Answer: European elections have been easier arenas for fringe parties to win representation and gain financial resources to strengthen their national parties.
Card 10
Question: What perception of the EP contributes to citizen alienation and distance?
Answer: Many people still see the EP as a ‘talking shop’ that lacks influence on major EU decisions, despite its increased powers.