Describe and outline the functions of the Council of Ministers, European Commission and European Parliament as law making bodies.

The Council of Ministers consists of ministers from each member state, usually the minister responsible for the topic under consideration will attend the meetings of the Council, such as the minister of transport. The Council is the principal decision making body of the union, it is the overall law-making body, therefor it is the most powerful of the institutions.

The Council tries to make policy by a unanimous agreement, however if this is not possible decision can be made by majority or a qualified majority. The qualified majority system gives larger states more votes than smaller states; the treaty of Amsterdam increased the use of this kind of voting. The treaties govern weather a particular decision needs to be unanimous or a majority. In certain circumstances a member state has a power of veto when an issue is of very important interest to their country.

The European Commission consists of 20 Commissioners who are supposed to act independently of their national origin. They are appointed for a five-year contract and can only be removed by a vote of censure by European Parliament. Each Commissioner heads a department with special responsibility, such as economic affairs, agriculture and the environment.

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The Commission has several functions; it is the emotive power behind Union policy as it proposes policies and presents drafts of legislation to the Council for the Councils consideration. Quoting from their own leaflet “the Commission proposed and the Council disposes.” The European Parliament may request the Commission to make a proposal to the council. The Commission is also “the guardian of the treaties”. Therefor it ensures that treaty provisions and other measures adopted by the Union are properly implemented. If a member state fails to implement the Union law within its own country, or has infringed a Provision in some way, the Commission has a duty to intervene and, if necessary refer the matter to the European Count of Justice. The Commission has performed this duty very effectively, Re: Tachometer in Britain. The Commission is also responsible for the administration of the Union and has executive powers to implement the Union’s budget.

The European Parliament discusses and debates proposals formulated by the Commission but it has no direct law-making authority. The 626 members of the European Parliament are elected directly by the people of the member states in elections, which take place every five years. Within Parliament the members do not operate in national groups but in-groups of the same political allegiance. Parliament meets on average once a month for sessions that may last up to a week. It has standing committees, which discuss proposals made by the Commission and then report to the full Parliament for debate. Decisions made by Parliament are not binding; tough they will influence the Council.

The European Parliament has no real power unlike British Parliament.