Different electoral arrangements have for some time been seen by the European Parliament as a whole as no longer suitable, considering the Parliament's increasing influence and relevance. Article 138 of the EC Treaty (or Article 190 of the Consolidated Treaty), the text of which is included in the Annex to this paper, calls on the Parliament to "draw up proposals for elections by direct universal suffrage in accordance with a uniform procedure in all Member States or in accordance with principles common to all Member States". Once the proposal is drawn up, the Treaty states that "The Council shall, acting unanimously after obtaining the assent of the European Parliament which shall act by a majority of its component members, lay down the appropriate provisions, which it shall recommend to Member States for adoption in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.