The Political System of the European Union

Description
Students who enrolled on the first semester of Political System in Spain and the European Union course and who wish to widen their knowledge in this field are recommended to take this course. The aims of this course are to cover the fundamental aspects of the political system of the European Union. From certain theoretical fundaments which allow us to classify the different forms of democracy, an historical evolution will be presented of the European construction process. We will also study the group of institutions which make up the European Union’s political system as well as detailing the basic principals of functioning and the principal agents who intervene in the process.

Content
1. CLASSIFICATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL REGIMES OF THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD:
MAJORITY DEMOCRACY VERSUS CONSENSUS DEMOCRACY

2. HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION.

3. OPENING PROCESS IN EUROPE
- TREATY OF PARIS
- TREATY OF ROME-SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT
- TREATY OFMAASTRICHT
- TREATY OF AMSTERDAM
- TREATY OF NICE
- THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION
- THE EUROPEAN CONSTITION PROJECT.

4. INSTITUTIONAL SCHEME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
a. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
b. THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
c. THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
d. THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
e. THE JUSTICE TRIBUNAL OF THE UNION
f. OTHER COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES: THE REGIONS COMMITTEE, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE, ETC.

5. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE EUROPEAN SUPRANATIONAL CONSTITUTIONALISM
a. TRANSFER OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
b. CONSTITUTIONALCHARACTER OF THE TREATIES
c. EUROPEAN COMPETENCE SCOPE AND THE PRICIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY
d. THE PRINCIPLES OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY LAW

6. ASPECTAND POLITICAL AGENTS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
a. CITIZENSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
b. EUROPEAN PUBLIC OPINION
c. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES
d. LOBBY GROUPS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
e. ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR
f. PUBLIC POLITICS IN THE UNION

Activities
An essential part of the course is the class lectures with the active participation of the students in the debates. The teacher will provide the basic materials for the classes. Also, some documentaries will be shown on different aspects of the European Union. Finally, besides class attendance and the exams, students will write a weekly commentary on news about European current affairs which will be provided by the teacher.

Assessment
The final mark on this course will be based on four factors, all except the first, which is compulsory, will have equal percentages:
1) attendance will be taken into account as students have to attend 80% of the classes;
2) class participation, in talks on the course topics;
3) a voluntary written piece of work to be supervised by the teacher/s. This will be assessed on the bibliographical sources used, the innovative character of the work and the presentation in class;
4) the marks of the tests carried out throughout the course.