In this essay I will ague that given the common understanding of the term "democratic deficit", as a lack in ability of European citizens to affect decisions made at a European level, it is fair to say that there is currently a democratic deficit within the EU.
Once I have established the meanings of democracy, democratic government and finally our understanding of the EU democratic deficit, I will show how such a deficit exists within the EU. The democratic deficit will be demonstrated by analysing the institutional set-up and consequential delegation of executive, legislative and regulatory powers within the EU. The essay will go on to question the meaning of the term "democratic deficit", with particular reference to the negative implications of the word "deficit", and how our understanding of this term effects whether a deficit exists at all.
Democracy, as a dictionary definition, "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." An alternative definition is offered by Abraham Lincoln who describes a democratic government as a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." From a comparative politics perspective, with the EU regarded as a political system, these definitions would suggests that to be a democratic political system, decisions made at an European level should directly represent the wishes of the European citizens. However, it is this "thread of democracy, which should run right from the individual citizen through elected national legislatures and on up to the European institutions" which has been broken. The resulting lack in the ability of the public to influence decisions made at a European level is regarded as a democratic deficit. .
Institutionally, the EU comprises four main bodies - the Council and associated Council of Ministers, The European Commission, The European Parliament (EP) and the European Court of Justice.
