Question 1

A _____  i s bindin g an d directl y applicabl e i n al l membe r states ; an d a _____  set s fort h th e resul t t o b e achieve d but leave s t o th e individua l state s th e responsibilit y t o emplo y th e appropriat e steps.

Accepted Answer

A regulation is binding and directly applicable in all member states, while a directive sets forth the result to be achieved but leaves to the individual states the responsibility to employ the appropriate steps. Therefore, option A (regulation; directive) is the best choice.

Question 2

In the European Court of Justice:

Accepted Answer

A) Decisions in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) are issued without dissenting opinions, meaning that the ruling is unanimous.

B) Justices in the ECJ are not appointed for life, but rather for a renewable term of six years, meaning that they can be reappointed but are not guaranteed a lifetime position.

C) The ECJ follows civil law traditions, which prioritize written legislation and codes over common law practices, such as relying on prior court decisions to establish precedents.

Therefore, the best choice is E, as it correctly identifies the civil law tradition followed by the ECJ and the lack of dissenting opinions in its decisions, while also being accurate in its statement about lifetime appointments.

Question 3

The European Union is committed to a common foreign policy and individual state sovereignty over economic issues.

Accepted Answer

The European Union has both a common foreign and security policy to which member states commit, and it also has policies that affect economic issues across member states, such as trade, agriculture, and competition laws, indicating a shared sovereignty in these areas as well.

Question 4

The EU Commission coordinates the following areas:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The EU Commission coordinates the following areas:
...

Question 5

The agreement that officially formed the European Community was:

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957, established the European Economic Community (EEC), which later evolved into the European Union. This agreement was the foundation for cooperation among the founding member states in the areas of economic and trade policy, and paved the way for further integration and cooperation in other areas such as agriculture, environmental policy, and foreign policy.

Question 6

The Treaty of Lisbon provides a mechanism for EU states to leave the EU.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Treaty of Lisbon provides a mechanism...

Question 7

The Four Freedoms preempt any action by the member states in the areas of goods, services, capital and people.

Accepted Answer

The Four Freedoms (free movement of goods, services, capital and people) are a fundamental principle of the European Union, but member states still have some control and regulation over these areas within their own borders.

Question 8

The representatives who serve on the European Commission are appointed by:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The representatives who serve on the European...

Question 9

After the passage of the Single European Act, the EU went from qualified voting to the requirement of unanimous consent.

Accepted Answer

The opposite is true. After the passage of the Single European Act, the EU went from unanimous consent to qualified voting.

Question 10

The Council of Europe is an EU institution.

Accepted Answer

The Council of Europe is not part of the European Union. It is a separate intergovernmental organisation which was established in 1949 to promote cooperation and democracy in Europe. However, many EU member states are also members of the Council of Europe and there is often cooperation between the two institutions on issues such as human rights and the rule of law.

Question 11

The Court of First Instance is the equivalent to the U.S. International Trade Court and has original jurisdiction over trade disputes between EU members and non-members.

Accepted Answer

The Court of First Instance, now known as the General Court within the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), primarily deals with cases brought by individuals, companies, and some cases by EU member states, rather than trade disputes between EU members and non-members. The U.S. International Trade Court, on the other hand, specializes in adjudicating trade disputes involving the United States.

Question 12

The Maastricht Treaty abolished the Communities and  established the European Union as a successor to the European Community.

Accepted Answer

The Maastricht Treaty did not abolish the European Communities; it established the European Union (EU) and added new areas of policy to the existing European Community structure, thereby expanding cooperation among member states.

Question 13

The Four Freedoms include:

Accepted Answer

The Four Freedoms are: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Question 14

The Treaty of Lisbon included all of the following except :

Accepted Answer

The Treaty of Lisbon did not include the renaming of the EEC to the EU, as this had already occurred in the Maastricht Treaty of 1993. The other options were all included in the Treaty of Lisbon.

Question 15

The Four Freedoms include free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Four Freedoms include free movement of...

Question 16

How many representatives is each member country allowed to appoint to the European Union's Council of Ministers?

Accepted Answer

Each member country is allowed to appoint one representative to the European Union's Council of Ministers.

Question 17

The Council of Ministers and the European Council are the same body.

Accepted Answer

The Council of Ministers and the European Council are two separate bodies in the European Union. The Council of Ministers is the main decision-making body, consisting of ministers from each EU member state who meet to discuss and adopt EU policies and laws, while the European Council is made up of the heads of state or government of the EU member states and sets the overall direction and priorities of the EU.

Question 18

All of the following are EU institutions except :

Accepted Answer

The Council of Europe is not an EU institution, but rather an intergovernmental organization that aims to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law among its 47 member countries. The other options listed – the Council of Ministers, the European Council, and the European Commission – are all EU institutions.

Question 19

Which of the following is not one of the Parliament's powers?

Accepted Answer

The Parliament does not have the power to elect representatives to the commission. This power belongs solely to the European Council.

Question 20

The EU's structure consists of:

Accepted Answer

The EU's structure consists of the Council of Ministers, Court of Justice, and Parliament, meaning that the best choice is E - A, B, & C. Each of these institutions has a set of unique functions and powers that are critical to the functioning of the EU as a whole. These include setting policy priorities, interpreting EU law, and representing the interests of EU citizens. Without any one of these institutions, the EU would be unable to fulfill its mandate of promoting peace, prosperity, and cooperation among its member states.

Quiz 15: The European Union

A _ i s bindin g an d directl y applicabl e i n al l membe r states ; an d a _ set s fort h th e resul t t o b e achieve d but leave s t o th e individua l state s th e responsibilit y t o emplo y th e appropriat e steps.