Influences on Law Reform A01

Question 1

List the six influences on law reform

Answer 1

Government and manifestos
Private members bills
Pressure groups
Media
Judicial reports and enquiries
Law Commission

Question 2

How do government and manifestos influence law reform

Answer 2

-govt controls the legislative agenda

-govt holds a majority in the HoC

-each political party will write a manifesto outlining the laws they will pass and why they should win

Question 3

Case example of where government and manifestos influenced law reform

Answer 3

Human Rights Act 1998 was a manifesto pledge

Question 4

How do private members bills influence law reform

Answer 4

-pressure groups may lobby a back-bench MP to try and get them to support a cause

-rarely successful as they have to win support from the govt

Question 5

example of legislation where private members bills influenced law reform

Answer 5

Murder(Abolition of the Death Penalty) Act - PMB proposed by backbench MP Sydney Silverman

Question 6

What are the different types of pressure groups with examples

Answer 6

CAUSE GROUPS → open membership to the public

e.g: Greenpeace

INTEREST GROUPS → open to certain individuals like members of a trade union

e.g: Law Society

INSIDER GROUPS → close links with the government

e.g: British Medical Association

OUTSIDER GROUPS → often take action that the government disapproves

e.g: Extinction Rebellion

Question 7

How does the media influence law reform

Answer 7

-wide audience

-media shapes public opinion & perception

-influences which laws receive the most coverage

Question 8

example of legislation of where the media influenced law reform

Answer 8

Media led to the enactment of the Dangerous Dogs Act

Question 9

How do judicial reports and enquiries influence law reform

Answer 9

-judges may be asked by the govt to investigate an area of the law which needs reform

-judges are selected due to their independence

Question 10

example of legislation of where judicial reports and enquiries influenced law reform

Answer 10

Taylor Enquiry led to all football statements being seated after the Hillsborough Disaster

Question 11

How does the law commission influence law reform

Answer 11

-consists of 5 legal experts (Law Commission Act)

-appointed for 5 years

-identify reform, codify the law, repeal etc

Question 12

example of legislation of where the law commission influenced law reform

Answer 12

Coroners and Justice Act - reformed defences to murder: loss of control and diminished responsibility