Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for University

The European Parliament: A Key Institution in the European Union

With 751 members, the European Parliament constitutes one of the largest democratic institutions in the world. Its members (MEPs) are elected every five years through direct election – although there have been some issues concerning poor voter turnout – and are distributed among eight different parliamentary groups which are supposed to represent the whole political spectrum. It is considered one of the main institutions in the European Union alongside the European Council and the European Commission. In order to understand the relevance of the EP in the decision-making of the Union, it will be necessary to analyze what a parliamentary system is and then move into the application... Continue reading "The European Parliament: From Consultative Assembly to Co-legislator" »

Essential Economic Terms and Definitions

• GDP: GDP is the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period.
• Industrial Revolution: The transition to new manufacturing processes in Europe and the US, in the period from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840.
• Labor Force: The number of people who are employed plus the unemployed who are looking for work.
• Labor Force Participation Rate: The labor force participation rate refers to the number of people available for work as a percentage of the total population.
• Cyclical Unemployment: Cyclical unemployment is a factor of overall unemployment that relates to the regular ups and downs, or cyclical trends in growth and production, that

Juran's Contributions to Quality

1. Who Defined Quality as an Adequacy for Use?

R= Juran

2. According to Juran's Definition of Quality, Who Determines Product Quality?

R= The customer

3. What Was Juran's Constant Focus?

R= The pursuit of optimal quality

4. What Are the Five Quality Characteristics According to Juran?

R=

• Technology
• Psychology
• Time-oriented
• Contractual
• Ethical

5. What Are the Six Steps to Troubleshooting?

R=

1. Identify the project
2. Establish the project
3. Diagnose the cause
4. Remedy the cause
5. Hold the gains
6. Replicate results and nominate future projects

Deming's Philosophy

6. Who Revised His Philosophy on Quality Management?

R= Deming

7. Who Is Remembered for His Fourteen Points?

R= Deming

8. What Are the First Two Deadly Diseases of Western Management According

Brand Awareness and Advertising Strategies

Brand Awareness: How present is your brand in the market? Is it recognized by the public?

Brand Image: What image do you project to your customers?

Brand Loyalty: Dedication to purchasing the same product or service repeatedly, now and in the future, from the same brand, regardless of a competitor's actions or changes in the environment.

Brand Stretching: When a company tries to launch products outside its core group. Example: Zara / Zara Home.

Announcement vs. Advertisement: An announcement is an act of announcing or giving notice, while an advertisement is a commercial solicitation designed to sell a commodity, service, or similar (marketing).

What Makes a Good Advertisement?

A good advertisement is:

• Clever
• Powerful
• Catchy
• Inspiring
• Uses

The United Nations: Founding and Structure

The United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945 in San Francisco. Initially, 50 countries signed the Charter, with Poland becoming the 51st original member state shortly thereafter. Today, the UN comprises 193 member states.

Core Purposes of the UN

• Maintain international peace and security.
• Develop friendly relations among nations.
• Cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights.
• Harmonizing the actions of nations.

The UN Charter

The UN Charter is structured into 111 articles and 19 chapters.

Membership Criteria

Membership is open to peace-loving States that accept the obligations contained in the UN Charter. New members are admitted by the General Assembly upon recommendation... Continue reading "United Nations Structure, Functions, and Membership" »

The Origins and Expansion of the European Union

Founding Treaties

• 1951 Paris Treaty: The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was formed by six founding countries: Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, West Germany, Italy, and Belgium.
• 1957 Treaty of Rome: Established the European Economic Community (EEC) and a common market, alongside EUROATOM for the development of nuclear energy.

EU Enlargement Timeline

• 1973: Ireland, the UK, and Denmark joined.
• 1980: Greece joined.
• 1986: Spain and Portugal joined.
• 1995: Sweden, Austria, and Finland joined.
• 2004: Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus joined.
• 2007: Romania and Bulgaria joined.
• 2013: Croatia joined.

The Schengen Agreement

Established in... Continue reading "History and Institutional Structure of the European Union" »

Council of Europe: A Champion of Democracy and Human Rights

The Council of Europe is a regional, multilateral organization established in 1949 by the Treaty of London. It is headquartered in Strasbourg, France, and has 47 member countries. It is important to note that the Council of Europe is not an integration process.

Objectives

The Council of Europe's primary objectives are to promote freedom and create a democratic and legal area based on the principles outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Convention, established in 1950, is the Council's main achievement. Any country wishing to become a member must ratify it, organize free elections, abolish the death penalty, and guarantee the rule of law. It is the first instrument to... Continue reading "Council of Europe: History, Structure, and Human Rights" »

NATO: Origins and Evolution

Established in 1949 via the Washington Treaty, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance comprising 29 member states from Europe and North America. During its first period (1949–1989), the alliance primarily countered the Warsaw Pact, which was formed by the Soviet Union in 1955. Notably, in 1966, Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO's integrated military command.

Post-Cold War Expansion

Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, NATO underwent significant expansion. While the alliance began with 12 founding countries, 17 additional nations have joined through subsequent enlargements:

• 1982: Spain
• 1999: Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic
• 2004: Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania,

Embarrassment:

When something is sudden and unexpected, onlookers are amused. It is a social mistake and makes the person the center of attention. Feeling empathetic for someone else's embarrassment is a display of care. People are often forgiven for their mistakes because they blush, which makes them feel smaller. Embarrassment peaks during teenage years (pregenual ant. cingulate cortex).

Shame:

Shame occurs when a person has failed to live up to expectations or has done something morally wrong. Onlookers are angry, and it often involves poor performance or hurting someone's feelings by failing to meet their expectations.

Guilt:

Guilt is the result of failing to perform one's duty, such as lying, cheating, or stealing (Medial prefrontal, visual... Continue reading "Understanding Emotions and Hormones in Relationships" »

Leases and licences: proprietary and personal rights

Leases give an individual a proprietary right in land which is binding on any third parties, while a licence gives a personal right that can be revoked at any time, as stated in Thomas v Sorrell. Licences are also not binding on third parties.

Furthermore, if one obtains a lease, they will have statutory protection under the Rent Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1996, which do not allow the leaseholder to be evicted simply and which provide rent control. As opposed to this, a licence does not provide any statutory protection to the occupier.

Court difficulties in distinguishing leases and licences

As such, most occupiers of properties would like to establish a lease instead of a licence, as a lease... Continue reading "Lease vs Licence: Rights, Statutory Protection and Case Law" »