The representative body of the EU.
The European Parliament (EP) has its origins in the consultative assmblies of the ECSC and the EEC. Originally, the EP had only a limited role in the CommunityDecision-makingProcess, but its competence has been greatly expanded in recent years. This expansion of competence is linked to the decision in 1979 to make the EP a directly-elected body. The role of the EP is now defined in the ECTreaty, Articles 189-201 (ex 137-144).
In the early days of the EEC, the Parliament was little more than a consultative body. It had a right to be consulted -- even when it was clear that its views would have no impact at all -- but it had little direct authority. In the modern EU, the EP has a significant role in the legislative process, particular in the Co-decisionProcedure, which is applied to many areas of legislative competence, and will probably become almost universal at some point in the future. This procedure gives the EP a power of veto over a legislative proposal, that cannot be overridden by the Council (see CouncilOfTheEU).
Under Art. 192 the EP can request the EuropeanCommission to draw up a legislative proposal on any matter it considers will further the objective of implementing the Treaty. Under Art. 193 it can form a committee of enquiry to investigate alleged breaches of Community law. Art. 195 empowers the EP to appoint an Ombudsman (see OmbudsmanEuropeanParliament) to investigate complaints of maladministration.
Because of its directly-elected nature, the EP is seen as providing a measure of democratic accountability to the EU. In particular, it exercises some control over the Commission (see EuropeanCommission), which is, in practice, the `executive' of the EU and is most definitely not directly elected. The EP can censure the Commission; this means, in practice, that it can dismiss the Commission, as a vote of censure would have the effect of causing all the Commissioners to resign. The EP must also approve the appointment of a new Commission.
These powers over the Commission are rarely used, partly because they are such blunt instruments. The EP has only rarely been prepared to wield these instruments, but sometimes there is no alternative. In 1999, for example, the Commissioners resigned as a group, rather than risk a motion of censure, but in fact the EP's complaints concerned only a small number of Commissioners. In 2004, the EP had to threaten to reject the entire incoming Commission to oppose the appointment of a single Commissioner (on the grounds of his alleged racist views).
The EP's other major power -- which can also be wielded only crudely -- is to approve or reject the EU's budget.
In short, the EP must consist of up to 700 representatives of the people of the member states -- know in the UK as Memebers of the European Parliamet, or MEPs -- elected by direct universal suffrage. However, the Treaties do not impose a specific method of election. In the UK, until 1999 we elected MEPs by a simple majority vote (as we still do for MPs). Since 1999, election has been by a form of proportional representation, based on the `party list' system. Other member states of the EU have other arrangements.Similarly, it is for the member states to determine whom is elligible to stand for election as an MEP.
The number of representatives sent to the EP by each member state is determined on the basis of the population of the member state, with Germany having the largest number and Luxembourg the smallest. Representatives are elected for a five-year term.
The EP elects one of its members as president (Art. 197).
The EP meets formally as a body only once a year, unless a majority of MEPs vote in favour of additional meetings.
Except in a few cases, a decision of the EP requires an absolute majority of the votes cast, and a particular quorum. One exception is a vote to censure the the Commission, which would result in the resignation of the Commission as a body. This requires a two-thirds majority of votes cast, and an absolute majority of members in support.
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