how different grand theories conceptualize compliance with EU legal acts and address concerns about the democratic deficit (Liberal Intergovernmentalism)
Supranational Delegation: Legal acts are implemented and complied with through delegation to supranational institutions.
Legitimacy: Legitimacy for institutional power stems from the elections of member state governments, ensuring democratic input.
how different grand theories conceptualize compliance with EU legal acts and address concerns about the democratic deficit (Differentiated Integration)
Opt-Outs and Exemptions: Compliance with legal acts is ensured through opt-outs and exemptions.
Legitimacy: Legitimacy for institutional power is derived from elections of member state governments and the European Parliament, offering democratic legitimacy.
how different grand theories conceptualize compliance with EU legal acts and address concerns about the democratic deficit ((Neo)Functionalism)
Supranational Institutions: Implementation and compliance with legal acts are assured by supranational institutions.
Legitimacy: Legitimacy for institutional power is provided by a constitutional framework, establishing democratic legitimacy.
how different grand theories conceptualize compliance with EU legal acts and address concerns about the democratic deficit (Postfunctionalism)
Institutional Mismatch: Implementation and compliance with legal acts are complicated by an institutional mismatch, leading to politicization.
National Identities: National identities are mobilized, questioning the legitimacy of institutional power, creating challenges for compliance.
According to Max Weber three sources of legitimacy of power:
- Charismatic authority, which provides legitimacy by the charisma of the office-holder (i.e. religious leadership).
- Traditional authority, which results from the tradition of a society (i.e., monarchy)
- Rational/legal authority, where the power of the government is defined by procedures, principles and law, often defined in complex constitutional treaties (i.e., representative democracy).
how systems are legitimised
Input legitimacy → elections
Output legitimacy → economic performance
Throughput → policy making
*EU increased throughput legitimacy through introduction and expansion of application of co-decision procedure
→ parliament has only shared (bicameral) and partial (veto) power
Democratic Deficit Criticism
EU lacks sufficient democratic legitimacy
–> EU’s legitimacy is based mainly on its economic output (like creating a common market), and this is seen as less legitimate compared to the democratic systems of its member states.
Legitimacy in Member States
stems from:
- Input : This includes things like elections and citizen participation.
- Output : How well the government delivers on its promises and governs effectively.
- Throughput : The process of governance itself, which involves the functioning of political parties and other institutions.
Power Distribution in Party Government
- Presidential vs. Parliamentary Systems
- Majoritarian vs. Consensus Systems
- Single vs. Multi-party Governments
Control of Executive Power
In parliamentary systems;
- executive power checked horizontally by the legislature and judiciary
- checked vertically by different levels of government in federal systems
- voters hold gov accountable through elections
Technocracism and Compliance
- larger legislative core –> when group is bigger, less chance they’re overruled, more technocracism
- non-compliance risk –> in a larger and more integrated EU, higher risk for non compliance. –> parliament give informal approval to rules to avoid conflict over enforcement
- ECJ –> power depends on member state’s preferences. if MS are clear about what rules they prioritis, ECJ influence is limited
