The United States of America and the European Union: A Comparison of the Development of Federal Government and the Creation of an Ever Closer Union

Sažetak i ključne riječi Rad se bavi usporedbom federalnih sustava Sjedinjenih Američkih Država i Europske unije. Kroz pregled ustavnih uređenja oba sustava, međusobnog odnosa institucija središnje vlasti kao i odnosa iste s državama članicama, daje se uvid u proces donošenja odluka, diobu vlasti, podjelu nadležnosti i odnose unutar dva različita federalna sustava. Na osnovu iznesenog raspravlja se o dosezima federalizma Europske unije, odnosno njenom pozicioniranju unutar koncepata vezanih za federalizam, te se stavlja u odnos sa Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama uspoređujući njihove sličnosti i razlike. Naposlijetku se raspravlja o budućnosti Europske unije u smislu nedavnog razvoja događaja i smjera u kojem se projekt Europske unije može razvijati.This thesis deals with the comparison of federal political systems of the United States of America and the European Union. Through the examination of constitutional arrangements of both systems, the relationship of the institutions at the federal level, as well as the relationship of the federal and state governments, and insight about the decision-making process, separation of powers, division of competences at each level, and relationships within two different federal systems is given. Based on the previously presented, the reach of European Union federalism and its positioning within the concept of federalism is being discussed, as well as put next to the federalism of the United States, comparing the two system’s similarities and differences. In the end, the future of the European Union is being discussed in terms of the recent developments and the direction in which the project of the European Union can be developed