Question 1

Which one of the following EU institutions does NOT participate in the legislative process?&#10;A) The Council&#10;B) The European Parliament&#10;C) The European Court of Justice

Accepted Answer

The European Court of Justice is not involved in the legislative process. Its main function is to ensure that EU law is interpreted and applied in the same way in all EU countries, and to rule on disputes between EU institutions and member states. The Council and the European Parliament, on the other hand, both participate in the legislative process, by proposing, amending, and adopting laws.

Question 2

Which one of the following institutions has the right of initiative in EU legislative procedures?&#10;A) The European Parliament&#10;B) The Council&#10;C) The Commission

Accepted Answer

The Commission has the right of initiative in EU legislative procedures. This means that it is responsible for proposing legislation and submitting it to the European Parliament and the Council for adoption. The European Parliament has the power to amend and approve or reject proposed legislation, while the Council acts as the main decision-making body alongside the Parliament. However, it is the Commission that plays the leading role in shaping EU policies and proposing new laws.

Question 3

Under the ordinary legislative procedure defined in Article 294 TFEU the involvement of the EP in the adoption of legislative acts is that:&#10;A) The EP must be consulted.&#10;B) The EP must give its consent for an act to be adopted.&#10;C) The EP adopts, jointly with the Council, EU legislation.

Accepted Answer

Under the ordinary legislative procedure, the EP adopts EU legislation jointly with the Council. The procedure involves three stages: proposal by the Commission, examination and amendment by the Council and the EP, and adoption by the Council and the EP. Both institutions have equal power in this process, and the EP can reject or amend a proposal if it does not agree with the Council's position. After the adoption of an act, it must be signed by the Presidents of the EP, the Council and the Commission before it is published in the Official Journal of the EU.

Question 4

What is the name of the committee established under the ordinary legislative procedure if the Council and the EP cannot agree?&#10;A) The Brokerage Committee.&#10;B) The Conciliation Committee.&#10;C) The Joint Legislative Committee.

Accepted Answer

The committee established under the ordinary legislative procedure if the Council and the EP cannot agree is known as the Conciliation Committee. Its purpose is to find a compromise between the positions of the Council and the EP on a particular piece of legislation before it is sent back for a final vote in both institutions.

Question 5

The ToL enhances the principle of representative democracy with regard to the EU legislative process by:&#10;A) Involving national parliaments in the EU legislative process;&#10;B) Requiring Member States to organise national referenda on proposals vital to the development of the EU&#10;C) Giving EU citizens the right to initiate legislative proposals

Accepted Answer

The ToL enhances the principle of representative democracy by involving national parliaments in the EU legislative process. This allows for national representatives to have a say in EU legislation and ensures that the EU is not seen as an entirely separate entity from the member states. The other two options (B and C) are not correct as the ToL does not require national referenda on proposals or give EU citizens the right to initiate legislative proposals.

Deck 5: Legislative Procedures in the EU