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'Supranationalism' is a method of decision-making in international organisations, wherein power is held by independent appointed officials or by representatives elected by the legislatures or people of the member states. Member-state governments still have power, but they must share this power with others. Because decisions are taken by majority votes, it is possible for a member-state to be forced by the other member-states to implement a decision. Unlike a federal state, member states fully retain their sovereignty and participate voluntarily, being subject to the supranational government only while remaining members.
An alternative method of decision-making in international organisations is intergovernmentalism.

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Supranationalism in the European Union

Categorising European supranationalism

See also

Supranationalism in the European Union

Much of the academic community (including Weiler, below) do not see the European Union as a supranational entity. It is more akin to an intergovernmental organization, as it does not regulate many aspects of the member states, the states themselves vote for bills by Qualified Majority Voting and The European Council (EC) controls the legislative agenda. It is more a matter of negotiation between the states than that of blanket policy.
Some however, see the EC as being a supranational body, adopting paradoxical arguments about the existence of a European Parliament (for democracy), and the democratic deficit in policy making (The Commission setting the agenda). While it is true that the Court of Justice often dictates to Member States how to apply their law, both the court and the community institutions cannot exceed the powers conferred upon them by the treaty. In that sense, they are limited in their actions and therefore the EC is not a supranational body.

Categorising European supranationalism

Joseph H. H. Weiler, in his seminal work "The Dual Character of Supranationalism" states that there are two main facets to European supranationalism, although these seem to be true of many supranational systems. These are:

★ Normative supranationalism: The Relationships and hierarchy which exist between Community policies and legal measures on one hand and the competing policies and legal measures of the Member states on the other. (The Executive Dimension)

★ Decisional supranationalism: The institutional framework and decision making by which such measures are initiated, debated, formulated, promulgated and finally executed. (The Legislative-Judicial Dimension)
In many ways the split sees the separation of powers confined to merely two branches.

See also

★ Federation

★ Devolution

★ Multi-level governance