Notes regarding credits...

This course consists of 40 hours of instruction. However, students may earn 45 hours by attending supplemental sessions and completing additional coursework. Please check with your home university to find out whether you need 40 or 45 hours to earn course equivalents.

Note: A placement exam will be required when you arrive on site.

High Advanced

This course is designed for students who have completed or tested out of a minimum of five semesters (or seven quarters) of college-level Spanish. However, students must take a placement exam to determine the course level into which they will be able to enroll.

Introduction
The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with the fundamental aspects of the political processes of the European Union regarding its historic, economic, and social dimensions.
Program
1. Conceptualization and theories about regional integration.-Economic integration.- Political integration.
2. Antecedents and historical evolution of the political integration process in Europe. -From the European communities to the Acta Única Europea. -From the Acta Única Europea to the Treaty of Maastricht. -From the Treaty of Maastricht to the Treaty of Amsterdam.
3. Creation and development of the institutional Supranationalism of the European Union.- The European Commission.- The Counsel of Ministers.- The European Counsel.-The European Parliament.- The Justice Tribunal of the European Union. Other community institutions and agencies: Regional Committee, Economic and Social Committee etc…
4. Basic principles of the European Supranational Constitutionalism.- Cession of national sovereignty.-Constitutional nature of the treaties.-Characteristics of community law: direct effect and supremacy of community law. -The scope of European competency.-Subsidiary principles.
5. Analysis of the political aspects of the decision making processes and political participants in the European Union.-The citizenship of the European Union.- Public opinion and the European Union.-Parliamentary groups and political parties in Europe.- Interest groups in the European Union.-Electoral conduct.- Public politics of the Union.
6. Current dilemmas that commonly occur in the process of European integration.- National integrationist divergences: intergovernmentalism versus European Federalism.- Amplification versus integration.-Supranational regionalism versus globalization.

Evaluation
Class participation and homework completion will be considered. There will also be a midterm and final exam.

Bibliography
CLOSA, C., Sistema Político de la Unión Europea, Estudios Complutenses, Madrid, 1997.
MORATA, F., La Unión Europea: procesos, actores y políticas, Ariel Ciencia Política, Barcelona, 1998.
NUGENT, N., The Government and Politics of the European Union, Macmillan, London, 1996.