ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. Why has it been argued that national parliaments have responded to the exigencies of EU membership in an ‘incremental’ and ‘path-dependent manner’ (Dimitrakopoulos 2001)? Answer with reference to one EU member state of your choosing.

2. What does the ‘Europeanisation’ of national parties entail? Answer with reference to at least one country’s parties of your choice.

3. Discuss with reference to the country of your choice, the idea that membership of the EU entails the end of its exceptionalism.

4. Compare the impact of EU membership on the executive institutions of two countries of your choice.

5. Is it true that as much as 80 per cent of national legislation originates ‘from the EU’ in its member states?

The final mark for the module is the weighted average of the essay (which constitutes 25% of the final mark), the exam (which constitutes 65% of the final mark) and the seminar mark (which constitutes 10% of the final mark).

The required word length for the essay is 2,500 words (+/- 10%), including bibliography. Please do not go beyond the maximum word limit; essays that breach this limit by more than 10% might have marks deducted or might not be marked at all.

Please note that the essay accounts for 25% of the final module mark, so you have a strong incentive to work as hard as you can on this coursework and to submit it on time.