Anyone who wants to understand the political realities of Europe must devote a significant portion of their attention to the system of the European Union (EU) and its institutional architecture. It is particularly important to understand the very different ways in which EU institutions prepare, adopt, and control binding decisions for member states and Union citizens. Unfortunately, with increasing political relevance, the EU system is also becoming increasingly incomprehensible. Therefore, this book serves as a comprehensive and thorough introduction, placing special emphasis on conveying the necessary basic knowledge about the history, individual institutions, and central procedures of the EU. To deepen the understanding, essential aspects are placed in the broader context of various approaches to European or integration studies.