Further Evidence on EU Voting Power

In: Journal of theoretical politics, Band 8, Heft 3, S. 415-419

Abstract

The propriety & findings of various indices of European Union (EU) voting power are discussed with respect to previous research by Jan-Erik Lane & Reinert Maeland (1995), & Lane, Maeland, & Sven Berg (1995), drawing on applications of various normalized & unnormalized indices. Following a brief explication of the misapplications of the normalized Banzhaf index by Lane & Maeland, it is argued that these mistakes led to inaccurate perceptions of the size of the European Parliament (EP) following German reunification & the considerable difference between the double qualified majority rule & the unanimity rule. Further, the previous research wrongly assumes that all independent members of the EP act as one group. It is suggested that the choice of power index influences the conclusions regarding national voting power. 2 Tables, 1 Figure. T. Sevier