... known as Directorates-general. The commissioners, while chosen by the member states, must remain independent and may not take instruction from any member government and must take a solemn vow as to this. The Treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam have altered the appointment procedure by giving greater democratic legitimacy to the Commission by subjecting the process to Parliamentary scrutiny and approval. Under the Treaty, the commission has two functions; to initiate proposals for legislation to be considered by the Council and the European Parliament, and to ensure that the provisions of the Treaty and EC law in general are implemented and applied. The wider roles of the Commission include representing the community on an international scale and the administration of funds in an executive role. It should be noted also that the decisions of the Commission are made mainly by a simple majority vote. The power of the commission comes from its ...

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