supranationality

Supranationality refers to a type of multinational political union where negotiated power is delegated to an authority that lies above the nation-state. This authority is typically a supranational organization composed of member states. These organizations possess independent decision-making powers that can directly affect the laws and policies of their member nations, even overriding national sovereignty in certain areas.

The most prominent example of a supranational entity is the European Union. Within the EU, institutions like the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Court of Justice of the European Union have the authority to create laws that are binding on member states. This means that member states agree to cede some of their sovereign powers to the supranational body in exchange for benefits such as economic integration, political cooperation, and a stronger collective voice on the global stage.

Key characteristics of supranationality include the direct applicability of its laws within member states, the requirement for qualified majority voting in some decision-making processes (meaning a single state cannot unilaterally block a decision), and the potential for a supranational court to interpret and enforce its own laws. This contrasts with intergovernmentalism, where decision-making power remains primarily with the individual member states and cooperation is based on mutual agreement rather than delegated authority. The degree of supranationalism can vary significantly between different organizations and within different policy areas of a single organization.