Granada, Spain - Course Descriptions - Political System of the European Union (HS)

Course Information

Contact Hours and Credits

Availability

Summary

This course aims to cover the fundamental aspects of the political process of the European Union, in its historical, economic, social, etc. dimensions.

Syllabus
1. Conceptualisation and Theories about Regional Integration.- Economic integration.- Political integration.
2. Antecedents and historical evolution of the process of Political Integration in Europe.- From the European Communities to the Single European Act - From the Single European Act to the Treaty of Maastricht.- From the Treaty of Maastrich to the Treaty of Amsterdam.
3. Creation and Development of the Institutional Supra-nationalism of the European Union.- The European Commission.- The Council of Ministers.- The European Council.- The European Parliament.- The Justice Tribunal of the European Union.- Other Community Institutions and Agencies: Committee of Regions. Economic and Social Committee, etc.
4. Basic principles of the European Supra-national Constitutionalism.-Transfer of national sovereignty.- Constitutional character of the Treaties.- Characteristics of Community Law: direct effect and supremacy of community law.- European competence scope.- Principle of Subsidiarity.
5. Analysis of political aspects of the system of decision-making in the European Union and political agents.- Citizenship of the European Union.-Public Opinion and the European Union.- Parliamentary groups and political parties in Europe.- Lobby groups in the European Union.-Electoral behaviour.- Public politics in the Union
6. Principle present-day Dilemmas in the process of European integration.-National integration disagreements: inter- governmentalism versus European federalism.- Extension versus integration.- Supra-national regionalism versus Globalisation.

Assessment
Class participation and tasks set by the teacher will be taken into account. A mid-term exam will be set , as well as a final exam at the end of term.

Bibliography
CLOSA, C., Sistema Político de la Unión Europea, Madrid, Estudios Complutenses, 1997.
MORATA, F., La Unión Europea: procesos, actores y políticas, Barcelona, Ariel Ciencia Política, 1998.
NUGENT, N., The Government and Politics of the European Union, London, MacMillan, 1996.

Full Description

I. Introduction

This class will have the students know the fundamental aspects of the political process of the European Union and its historical, economic and social dimensions.

II. Program

1. Conceptualism and Theories about Regional Integration. -Economic integration. –Political integration.
2. Precedent processes of political integration and historical evolution in Europe. –From the European communities to the European Act. –From the European Act to the Treaty of Maastricht. –From the Treaty of Maastricht to the Treaty of Amsterdam.
3. Creation and Development of the multi-national institution European Union. –The European Commission. –The Board of. –The European Board. –The Court of Justice of the European Union. –Other institutions and agencies: Regional committees, economic and social committees, etc.
4. Basic Principals of Multi-National Constitutionalism in Europe. –National sovereignty sessions. –Constitutional characteristics of treaties. –Characteristics of communitarian rights: direct effect and supremacy of communitarian. –European potential with its surroundings. –Subsidizing concepts.
5. The analysis of the political systems aspects that take place in the European Union and political actors. –Citizenship of the European Union. –Public Opinion and the European Union. –Parliamentary groups and political parties in Europe. –Interest groups in the European Union. Electoral behavior. –Public politics of the Union
6. Principles in the European integration process. –National integration divergence: European federalism versus self-governing states. –Expansion versus integration. –Regionalism versus globalization.

III. Evaluation

Class participation is significant as well as the homework given by the professor. There will be a mid-term and a final exam at the end of the semester.

IV. Bibliography

CLOSA, C., Sistema Político de la Unión Europea, Madrid, Estudios Complutenses, 1997.

MORATA, F., La Unión Europea: procesos, actores y políticas, Barcelona, Ariel ciencia Política, 1998.

NUGENT, N., The Government and Politics of the European Union, Londres, Macmillan, 1996.

Original Language Description

1. Introducción

Esta asignatura tiene como objetivo que los alumnos conozcan los aspectos fundamentales del proceso político de la Unión Europea, en sus dimensiones históricas, económicas, sociales, etc.

2. Programa

1. Conceptualización y Teorías sobre la Integración Regional.- Integración económica.- Integración política.
2. Antecedentes y evolución histórica del proceso de integración política en Europa.-De las Comunidades Europeas al Acta Única Europea.- Del Acta Única Europea al Tratado de Mastricht.- Del Tratado de Mastricht al tratado de Ámsterdam.
3. Creación y Desarrollo del Supranacionalismo Institucional de la Unión Europea.- La Comisión Europea.- El Consejo de Ministros.- El Consejo Europeo.- El Tribunal de Justicia de la Unión Europea.- Otras Instituciones y Agencias Comunitarias: Comité de Regiones, Comité Económico y Social, etc.
4. Principios Básicos del Constitucionalismo Supranacional Europeo.- Cesión de soberanía nacional.- Carácter Constitucional de los Tratados.- Características del Derecho Comunitario: efecto directo y supremacía del derecho comunitario.- Ámbito con potencial europeo.- Principio de Subsidiareidad.
5. Análisis de aspectos políticos del sistema de toma de decisiones en la Unión Europea y actores políticos.- Ciudadanía de la Unión Europea.- Opinión Pública y la Unión Europea.- Grupos Parlamentarios y Partidos Políticos en Europa.- Grupos de Interés en la Unión Europea. Comportamiento Electoral.- Políticas Públicas de la Unión.
6. Principales Dialemas actuales en el proceso de integración europea.- Divergencias integracionistas nacionales: intergubernamentalismo versus federalismo europeo.- Ampliación versus Integración.- Regionalismo Supranacional versus Mundialización.

3. Evaluación

Se tendrá en cuanta la participación del alumno en clase y la realización de las tareas encomendadas por el profesor. Se hará un examen parcial orientativo a la mitad del cuatrimestre y, al concluir el cuatrimestre, un examen final.

4. Bibliografía

CLOSA, C., Sistema Político de la Unión Europea, Madrid, Estudios Complutenses, 1997.

MORATA, F., La Unión Europea: procesos, actores y políticas, Barcelona, Ariel ciencia Política, 1998.

NUGENT, N., The Government and Politics of the European Union, Londres, Macmillan, 1996.

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