ABSTRACT
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the two legislative bodies of the European Union (EU), similar to a lower house in parliamentary systems, or the United States House of Representatives. The EP consists of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected to renewable five-year terms, with seats divided among the member states based on population. It is headed by a president elected by its members and has a number of standing and special committees. The president of the EP gives an address at the opening of every meeting of the European Council, expressing the views of Parliament on the Council agenda. The EP has won new powers over the years, and while it lacks some of the defining features of a legislature, changes in the treaties have made it an equal legislative partner to the Council of the EU.
