About the Book
Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 105. Chapters: Andrew Duff, Asymmetric federalism, Austroslavism, Balance of power (federalism), Belgian nationalism, Cantonalism, Cantonal Revolution, Co-operative federalism, Composite monarchy, Concurrent powers, Constitutional Law of Federation, Cooperative federalism, Copernican federalism, Corporative federalism, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Democratic World Federalists, Doctrine of colourability, Eire Nua, Enumerated powers, Eurasian Economic Community, European Federalist Party, European Union, Europe United Party, Executive federalism, Federal Charter of 1291, Federal district, Federal intervention, Federal monarchy, Federal parliamentary republic, Federal republic, Federal republicanism, Federal union, Federal Zionism, Fiscal imbalance, Foederati, Forum of Federations, Greek-Yugoslav confederation, Johannes Althusius, Layer cake federalism, List of confederations, Majimbo, Market-preserving federalism, Mi dzymorze, Opting out, Polish-Czechoslovak confederation, Royal Commission on the Constitution (United Kingdom), Spinelli Group, Subsidiarity, Subsidiarity (Catholicism), Supranational union, Tertiary government, Unfunded mandate, Union of European Federalists, Union State, World government. Excerpt: The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. The EU operates through a system of supranational independent institutions and intergovernmental negotiated decisions by the member states. Institutions of the EU include the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Central Bank, the Court of Auditors, and the European Parliament. The European Parliament is elected every five years by EU citizens. The EU's de facto capital is Brussels. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC), formed by the Inner Six countries in 1951 and 1958 respectively. In the intervening years the community and its successors have grown in size by the accession of new member states and in power by the addition of policy areas to its remit. The Maastricht Treaty established the European Union under its current name in 1993. The latest major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009. The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states. Within the Schengen Area (which includes 22 EU and 4 non-EU states) passport controls have been abolished. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, enact legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. A monetary union, the eurozone, was established in 1999 and is composed of 17 member states. Through the Common Foreign and Security Policy the EU has developed a role in external relations and defence. Permanent diplomatic missions have been established around the world. The EU is represented at the United Nations, the WTO, the G8 and the G-20. With a combined population of over 500 million inhabitants, o
