“If there would not be a parliament, every waiter could govern” (Otto von Bismarck). With this statement, the Prussian-German statesman Otto von Bismarck emphasised the importance of a parliament within a democracy. The Parliament is the legislative and the heart of a democracy. Its importance is based on some key functions which it carries out to control the executive and to represent the interests of the citizens.
When the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1st December 2009, the supporters of the European Parliament (EP) celebrated its empowerment. The Treaty gave the EP more power, so that some people are now of the opinion that the EP has the same rights and functions of a proper parliament and put it on the same level as a proper parliament. But is this really true? Indeed, the European Parliament is a powerful institution and within the European Union it should play the role of the legislative. But is it really equal with a proper parliament? Does it really perform the same key functions as a proper parliament? In this essay, I will discuss the statement: “the European parliament is not a proper parliament because it does not carry out the key functions a proper parliament would perform.”
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Key Functions of a Proper Parliament
- Representative Function
- Legislative Function
- Appointment and Scrutiny of the Executive
- Budgetary Function
- The European Parliament
- The Election of the European Parliament
- Legislative Function
- Appointment and Scrutiny of the Executive
- Budgetary Function
- The Lisbon Treaty and its Impact on the Powers of the European Parliament
- Changes in the Electoral System
- Changes in the Legislative Function
- Changes in the Appointment and Scrutiny of the Executive
- Changes in the Budgetary Function
- The European Parliament = a Proper Parliament
- Representative Function
- Legislative Function
- Appointment and Scrutiny of the Executive
- Budgetary Function
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay explores the question of whether the European Parliament functions as a "proper parliament" by examining its key roles and powers in comparison to those of a traditional national parliament. The author analyzes the European Parliament's development over time, focusing on the impact of the Lisbon Treaty and the extent to which it has empowered the institution.
- The key functions of a traditional parliament
- The powers and roles of the European Parliament before and after the Lisbon Treaty
- A comparative analysis of the European Parliament's capabilities in relation to those of a "proper" parliament
- The impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the European Parliament's legislative, representative, and budgetary functions
- The democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of the European Parliament
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The essay begins by outlining the key functions of a "proper" parliament, including its representative, legislative, executive scrutiny, and budgetary roles. The author then explores the historical development of the European Parliament, focusing on its evolution from a largely consultative body to a more powerful legislative institution. Key aspects of the European Parliament's development are examined, such as the election process, its role in lawmaking, and its ability to hold the executive accountable.
The author then investigates the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the European Parliament's powers and functions, highlighting the changes it introduced in the electoral system, legislative process, executive scrutiny, and budgetary control. These changes are analyzed to assess their impact on the European Parliament's ability to function as a "proper" parliament.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The core concepts explored in this essay include the European Parliament, proper parliament, legislative function, representative function, appointment and scrutiny of the executive, budgetary function, Lisbon Treaty, democratic legitimacy, and comparative analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the European Parliament a "proper" parliament?
The essay discusses whether the EP performs the same key functions as national parliaments, such as full legislative power, budgetary control, and executive scrutiny.
How did the Lisbon Treaty change the European Parliament?
The Lisbon Treaty empowered the EP by expanding the co-decision procedure (making it the ordinary legislative procedure) and giving it more authority over the EU budget and appointment of the Commission.
What are the key functions of a proper parliament according to the text?
The text identifies four key functions: the representative function, the legislative function, the appointment and scrutiny of the executive, and the budgetary function.
What is the "democratic legitimacy" of the European Parliament?
It refers to the EP's status as the only directly elected institution in the EU, representing the interests of EU citizens directly, which is a core part of its parliamentary identity.
Does the European Parliament have full budgetary power?
Post-Lisbon, the EP has equal footing with the Council in approving the entire EU budget, significantly increasing its power compared to earlier decades.
- Citar trabajo
- Anonym (Autor), 2012, Is the European Parliament a proper Parliament?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/424425
