Page "Politics of the European Union" Paragraph 11

The European Parliament shares the legislative and budgetary authority of the Union with the Council.

Its 736 members are elected every five years by universal suffrage and sit according to political allegiance.

It represents all European Citizens in the EU's legislative process, in contrast to the Council, which represents the Member States.

Despite forming one of the two legislative chambers of the Union, it has weaker powers than the Council in some limited areas, and does not have legislative initiative.

It does, however, have powers over the Commission which the Council does not.

The powers of the Parliament have increase substantially over the years, and in nearly all areas it now has equal power to the Council.