Suchergebnisse

Institutions of the European Union have been reforming since the very first moment of the EU's existence. They have been adapting to the needs of time and under the challenge of new political circumstances. Systematic reform has been further encouraged by recent criticism of democratic deficit, the concept that is often linked with the EU. This paper argues that by using the experience and institutional structure of the upper houses of some national parliaments this deficit could be lowered. The case-study in focus is the Council (of the European Union). The author argues that the nearest possible sources for reforms of the Council may be found in the practice of the US Senate and German Bundesrat. In both American and German cases we are faced with the parliaments with strong tradition of bicameralism. In both of them, the upper house represents strong territorial units. In addition, the Senate and Bundesrat are important actors in policy-making. Thus, they can serve as a good source of ideas and institutional solutions that may be applicable to the Council too. Keywords'. Strong Bicameralism, Upper House of Parliament, US Senate, Bundesrat, Council of the European Union. Adapted from the source document.