Influences on law making Flashcards
What are the influences on law making?
Political influences
Public opinion
Pressure groups
Media
Lobbying
Law commission
How do political influences influence law making?
Political parties create manifestos and people consider these when deciding who to vote for.
What is an advantage of political influences?
It can lead to positive social change.
What is a disadvantage of political influences?
New governments may change laws which is expensive and time-consuming.
How does public opinion influence law making?
Politicians pass laws that are popular with voters to stay in power.
What is an advantage of public opinion?
Democratic as it reflects the will of the people.
What is a disadvantage of public opinion?
Popular public opinions may ignore the needs of minority groups.
What are pressure groups?
Organisations trying to influence the government to pass laws they support.
How do pressure groups influence law making?
They talk to politicians, organise campaigns, and provide advice to influence laws.
What are the 2 types of pressure groups?
Cause groups and interest groups.
What do cause groups do?
Work to promote a particular cause.
What do interest groups do?
Work to represent the interests of their members.
What is an advantage of pressure groups?
They play an important role in raising the profile of important issues.
What is a disadvantage of pressure groups?
Wealthier pressure groups have more influence than other groups.
How does the media influence law making?
It can raise awareness of certain issues and pressure the government to pass laws.
What is an advantage of media?
It helps bring important issues to light.
What is a disadvantage of media?
The quality of law may be reduced if it is rushed due to media pressure.
What is lobbying?
When organisations try to influence government officials to make decisions that benefit their interests.
What is an advantage of lobbying?
It ensures the views and needs of different groups are represented.
What is a disadvantage of lobbying?
Risk of corruption via financial incentives.
