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Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: EU institutions & decision-making

How often EU institutions & decision-making comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.

OL Asked on 5 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

EU institutions & decision-making, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on EU institutions & decision-making.

(a)Which EU institution proposes new EU laws?
  1. The European Council
  2. The European Commission
  3. The Court of Justice of the EU
(b)How is the President of the European Commission chosen?
  1. Appointed by the largest member state in turn
  2. Directly elected by all EU citizens at the same time
  3. Proposed by the European Council, elected by MEPs
(c)Who sits in the Council of the European Union?
  1. A government minister from each member state
  2. One commissioner nominated by each member state
  3. Directly elected MEPs from each member state
Show the answers

(a) The European Commission

(b) Proposed by the European Council, elected by MEPs

(c) A government minister from each member state

Your turn: Higher Level questions on EU institutions & decision-making.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2023.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Q1m
2022Q1j
2021Not asked
2019Q1b, Q1l
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More EU institutions & decision-making questions

EU institutions & decision-making, 2 marks

Which EU institution checks that the EU budget is collected and spent properly?

  1. The Court of Justice of the EU
  2. The European Central Bank
  3. The European Court of Auditors
Show the answer

The European Court of Auditors

The Court of Auditors, based in Luxembourg, audits EU finances. The Court of Justice rules on EU law; the ECB runs euro monetary policy.

EU institutions & decision-making, 3 marks

What is the principle of subsidiarity in the EU?

  1. Richer states subsidise poorer ones
  2. Decide as close to citizens as possible
  3. EU law always overrides national law
Show the answer

Decide as close to citizens as possible

The EU should act only where a goal is better achieved at EU level than by states, regions or local bodies. It is meant to limit central power.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q1b
2023Q6
2022Q1t
2021Q1n
2019Not asked
2018Q1f

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More EU institutions & decision-making questions

EU institutions & decision-making, 2 marks

How are Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) chosen?

  1. Appointed by national governments after elections
  2. Chosen by the European Commission each five years
  3. Directly elected by citizens every five years
Show the answer

Directly elected by citizens every five years

The Parliament is the only directly elected EU institution. In Ireland MEPs are elected by PR-STV. It shares law-making with the Council of the EU.

EU institutions & decision-making, 2 marks

What is the Council of the European Union made up of?

  1. One commissioner nominated by each member state
  2. Government ministers from each member state
  3. One MEP elected from each member state
Show the answer

Government ministers from each member state

Ministers meet by policy area, such as agriculture. With the European Parliament it adopts EU laws. It is intergovernmental: each minister speaks for their own state.

EU institutions & decision-making, 3 marks

What is the European Council?

  1. The meeting of EU heads of state or government
  2. The EU's court in Luxembourg that rules on law
  3. The body that runs the European Convention on Human Rights
Show the answer

The meeting of EU heads of state or government

It sets the EU's overall direction and priorities but does not pass laws. Don't confuse it with the Council of the EU (ministers) or the Council of Europe.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society