The European Parliament and Supranational Party System: A Study in Institutional Development (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

This book, first published in 2001, examines the impact of increased legislative power and political authority on the internal development of the European Parliament and the supranational party group system. This is done through an analysis of changes in the hierarchical structures that regulate the internal organization of both the EP as a whole and the individual party groups. In addition, the changing pattern of coalition formation between party groups across time and legislative procedure is analyzed. The trends of internal development examined suggest that the increases in EP power that have occurred since the creation of the cooperation procedure by the Single European Act in 1987 have caused a fundamental shift in the character of the European Parliament as a legislative institution. Prior to 1987 the European Parliament, despite direct election and several small attempts to increase its powers, served primarily as a chamber of debate where much more was discussed than accomplished. Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Contents......Page 9 Figures......Page 13 Tables......Page 15 Acknowledgments......Page 17 1 Introduction: The European Parliament and the Institutional Evolution of Legislatures......Page 19 Why the European Parliament?......Page 21 The Approach......Page 23 The Evidence......Page 24 The Theoretical Models......Page 31 The Macro Model......Page 32 The Micro Model......Page 33 The Macro Model Applied......Page 36 The Micro Model Applied......Page 38 Testing the Models......Page 43 Testing the Macro Model......Page 44 Testing the Micro Model......Page 45 Conclusions......Page 46 The Development of the Party Group System......Page 48 Traditional Analysis of Party Systems......Page 49 The Macro Model Applied......Page 51 The Micro Model Applied......Page 53 Testing the Models......Page 55 Testing the Macro Model......Page 56 The Internal Development of the Party Groups......Page 57 Traditional Studies of Political Parties......Page 58 The Macro Model Applied......Page 61 The Micro Model Applied......Page 63 The Macro Model Tested......Page 66 The Micro Model Tested......Page 67 Conclusions......Page 68 4 The History of the European Parliament......Page 70 The Predecessor: The Common Assembly of the ECSC (1950–1957)......Page 71 The Creation of the European Economic Community (1955–1958)......Page 74 The Early Years (1958–1968)......Page 78 The First Period of Development (1969–1978)......Page 83 The Second Period (1979–1986)......Page 89 The Third Period of Development (1987–1996)......Page 95 5 The Internal Development of the European Parliament: From Collegiality to Conflict......Page 109 The Internal Development of the European Parliament......Page 110 Testing the Macro and Micro Explanations of Internal Reform......Page 111 The Macro Model Applied......Page 113 The Micro Model Applied......Page 120 Conclusions......Page 138 6 The Development of the Supranational Party Group System: Conflict and Cooperation in the Coalition Formation Process......Page 141 Applying the Macro and Micro Models......Page 142 Methodology......Page 145 I Legislature: 1979–1983......Page 151 II Legislature: 1984–1988......Page 156 III Legislature: 1989–1993......Page 160 IV Legislature: 1994–1996......Page 165 Conclusions......Page 169 7 Cooperation and Co-Decision: The Role of Ideology and Rules......Page 171 Coalition Formation Under the New Procedures......Page 172 The Role of Ideology in the European Parliament......Page 180 Where Is the Ideology Hiding? Areas of Contention in the EP......Page 186 Conclusions......Page 190 8 The Internal Development of the Supranational Party Groups: An Elusive Goal......Page 195 The Historical Development of the Party Groups......Page 197 Cultural and Historical Explanations of Political Group Formation......Page 203 The Distribution of Positions of Authority Within the European Parliament......Page 205 The Distribution of Positions of Authority Within the Party Groups......Page 208 The Development of the Internal Rules of the EPP and the PES......Page 210 The Allocation of Benefits......Page 216 The Informal Role of the National Delegations......Page 220 The Impact of National Delegation Power......Page 224 Conclusions......Page 227 9 Conclusions: Understanding the Developmental Process......Page 230 The Macro and Micro Models: Beyond the American Legislative Context......Page 231 The Internal Development of the EP and Supranational Party Groups......Page 233 The Development of New and Emerging Legislatures and Party Systems......Page 237 Conclusions......Page 239 Appendices......Page 241 Bibliography......Page 259 Index......Page 273 ISBN-13: 9780521806251 Half-title 3 Series-title 5 Dedication 6 Title 7 Copyright 8 Contents 9 Figures 13 Tables 15 Acknowledgments 17 1 Introduction: The European Parliament and the Institutional Evolution of Legislatures 19 Why the European Parliament? 21 The Approach 23 The Evidence 24 2 Theories of Legislative Development and the European Parliament 31 The Theoretical Models 31 The Macro Model 32 The Micro Model 33 The Macro Model Applied 36 The Micro Model Applied 38 Testing the Models 43 Testing the Macro Model 44 Testing the Micro Model 45 Conclusions 46 3 The Development of the Party Group System and the Party Groups 48 The Development of the Party Group System 48 Traditional Analysis of Party Systems 49 The Macro Model Applied 51 The Micro Model Applied 53 Testing the Models 55 Testing the Macro Model 56 Testing the Micro Model 57 The Internal Development of the Party Groups 57 Traditional Studies of Political Parties 58 The Macro Model Applied 61 The Micro Model Applied 63 Testing the Models 66 The Macro Model Tested 66 The Micro Model Tested 67 Conclusions 68 4 The History of the European Parliament 70 The Predecessor: The Common Assembly of the ECSC (1950–1957) 71 The Creation of the European Economic Community (1955–1958) 74 The Early Years (1958–1968) 78 The First Period of Development (1969–1978) 83 The Second Period (1979–1986) 89 The Third Period of Development (1987–1996) 95 5 The Internal Development of the European Parliament: From Collegiality to Conflict 109 The Internal Development of the European Parliament 110 Testing the Macro and Micro Explanations of Internal Reform 111 The Macro Model Applied 113 The Micro Model Applied 120 Conclusions 138 6 The Development of the Supranational Party Group System: Conflict and Cooperation in the Coalition Formation Process 141 Applying the Macro and Micro Models 142 Methodology 145 Patterns of Coalition Formation: Resolutions (1980–1996) 151 I Legislature: 1979–1983 151 II Legislature: 1984–1988 156 III Legislature: 1989–1993 160 IV Legislature: 1994–1996 165 Conclusions 169 7 Cooperation and Co-Decision: The Role of Ideology and Rules 171 Coalition Formation Under the New Procedures 172 The Role of Ideology in the European Parliament 180 Where Is the Ideology Hiding? Areas of Contention in the EP 186 Conclusions 190 8 The Internal Development of the Supranational Party Groups: An Elusive Goal 195 The Historical Development of the Party Groups 197 Cultural and Historical Explanations of Political Group Formation 203 The Distribution of Positions of Authority Within the European Parliament 205 The Distribution of Positions of Authority Within the Party Groups 208 The Development of the Internal Rules of the EPP and the PES 210 The Allocation of Benefits 216 The Informal Role of the National Delegations 220 The Impact of National Delegation Power 224 Conclusions 227 9 Conclusions: Understanding the Developmental Process 230 The Macro and Micro Models: Beyond the American Legislative Context 231 The Internal Development of the EP and Supranational Party Groups 233 The Development of New and Emerging Legislatures and Party Systems 237 Conclusions 239 Appendices 241 Bibliography 259 Index 273 This Book Examines The Impact Of Increased Legislative Power And Political Authority On The Internal Development Of The European Parliament And The Supranational Party Group System. This Is Done Through An Analysis Of Changes In The Hierarchical Structures That Regulate The Internal Organization Of Both The Ep As A Whole And The Individual Party Groups. In Addition, The Changing Pattern Of Coalition Formation Between Party Groups Across Time And Legislative Procedure Is Analyzed. The Trends Of Internal Development Examined Suggest That The Increases In Ep Power That Have Occurred Since The Creation Of The Cooperation Procedure By The Single European Act In 1987 Have Caused A Fundamental Shift In The Character Of The European Parliament As A Legislative Institution. Prior To 1987 The European Parliament, Despite Direct Elections And Several Small Attempts To Increase Its Powers, Served Primarily As A Chamber Of Debate Where Much More Was Discussed Than Accomplished. Since 1987 The Ep Has Evolved Into An Effective And Influential Legislative Body With The Power To Delay, Amend, And Veto Eu Legislation.--jacket. Introduction: The European Parliament And The Institutional Evolution Of Legislatures -- Theories Of Legislative Development And The European Parliament -- The Development Of The Party Group System And The Party Groups -- The History Of The European Parliament -- The Internal Development Of The European Parliament: From Collegiality To Conflict -- The Development Of The Supranational Party Group System: Conflict And Cooperation In The Coalition Formation Process -- Cooperation And Co-decision: The Role Of Ideology And Rules -- The Internal Development Of The Supranational Party Groups: An Elusive Goal -- Conclusions: Understanding The Developmental Process. Amie Kreppel. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 241-254) And Index. Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics breaks apart the narrow disciplinary and subfield boundaries that have fragmented the study of both traditional social movements as well as their non-routine politics. By exploring non-institutionalized political actions, including revolutions, democratization, cycles of protest, and ethnic conflicts, the connections between a wide array of political and social phenomena are examined in national, comparative, and global perspectives.This book examines the impact of increased legislative power and political authority on the internal development of the European Parliament and the supranational party group system. This is done through an analysis of changes in the hierarchical structures that regulate the internal organization of both the European Parliament as a whole and the individual party groups. In addition, the changing pattern of coalition formation between party groups across time and legislative procedure is analyzed. When the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Economic Community (EEC) was created in 1957 it was perceived as little more than a multinational chamber of Babel.