Organization
Decision-making in the EU is divided between supranational European and the governments of the member states. The European and the European Parliament are administered by the EU, and the Council of Ministers is composed of ministers from each of the member governments. The Court of Justice serves as the arbiter in matters or disputes among EU or between EU and member states.

European
The European serves as the executive branch of the EU. It makes proposals and presents them to the Council of Ministers. The European also represents the EU in relations with other countries or international organizations. The of the is to manage EC and programmes and to deliver to other countries.

Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers, the main law-making body of the EU, is composed of cabinet ministers from the member governments. The council is by the Committee of Permanent Representatives, which is of the permanent representatives (or ambassadors) of each member state.

European Council
Summit meetings among the top leaders of the member states are called at least once every six months by the country holding the presidency of the Council of Ministers. This meeting of heads of state and government is called the European Council. The summits were on a regular basis in 1975. The European Council became an official part of the EC in 1987.

European Parliament
The European Parliament is the only body of the EU whose members are directly elected by the citizens of its member states. Formerly only a body, the parliament gained new influence under the Treaty on European Union. The main body meets in Strasbourg, though most of its committee work is done in Brussels and the secretariat is based in Luxembourg. The 567 seats are allotted based on the population of each member state. In 1994 Germany had the largest representation, with 99 seats.

committees of the European Parliament review proposed by the European . These committees often propose to the before it to the Council of Ministers. The parliament may veto a proposal after it reaches the Council of Ministers if it disagrees with the council's position. The European Parliament also works with the Council of Ministers on the EU budget and can a budget plan if agreement cannot be reached within the council.

Committees
While the Treaty on European Union increased the political powers of the European Council, other bodies took on advisory to those once held by the parliament. The and Social Committee is one of the most important of these bodies. Its 189 members are appointed to four-year terms by the Council of Members to represent employer and employee groups, as well as other interest groups. The committee has a strictly advisory , but the Council of Ministers and the European are obligated to the committee on many . Another important group is the Committee of the , by the Treaty on European Union to bring the EU closer to its citizens and to give and local a voice in government. The committee has 189 members that are based on the population of each country. It has no power, but must be on matters relating to certain and social .

Court of Justice
The arbiter in all matters of EU law is the Court of Justice. The court is composed of 13 judges who are appointed to six-year terms, with at least one judge from each member country. The court deals with disputes between member governments and EU and among EU , and with appeals against EC rulings or decisions. Courts of the member states often refer cases an unclear point of EU law to the Court of Justice. The court makes binding rulings on EU law to help guide the rulings of national courts. The rulings of the Court of Justice set precedents and become part of the of each member state.