Law Reform

Question 1

The different ways parliament can be influenced to reform law

Answer 1

Media
Law commission
Pressure groups
Lobbyists
Political influence

Question 2

How does media influence law reform+ example?

Answer 2

Can show public opinion to government do their law reforms don’t anger the public
Media coverage can add more people to supporting the cause or movement
Dangerous dogs act 1991

Question 3

How political influence can influence law reform + example?

Answer 3

The government hold the most seats in parliament so can control the agenda via the vote in the house of commons
Manifestos also give the party a mandate on what to pass
E.g. conservatives 2019- get brexit done

Question 4

How do pressure groups influence law reform+ example

Answer 4

Example- Snow drop campaign firearms act 1997
Groups bring their interests to attention of public and/or government so law will be changed
2 types
Sectional- represent a section of society eg a profession- law society
Causal- promote a cause- greenpeace

Question 5

How do lobbyists influence law reform + example?

Answer 5

People try to persuade individual mps to bring their issue up in parliament and support their cause
E.g Sydney Silverman 1965 murder act

Question 6

How can the law commission influence law reform+ example?

Answer 6

Coroners and justice act 2009
They repeal codify and consolidate law
Led by judges
Lord chancellor refers the law commission to areas of law they want them to research

Question 7

Describe the Law commission (8)

Answer 7

Repeal- identify old acts that aren’t used anymore so parliament can repeal them
Codify-bringing all law on one topic together into one source
Consolidate- bringing together a number of the acts on a topic into one large act
Made of: a chairman(high or COA judge)
4 commissioners (judges barristers solicitors or teachers)
A chief executive and 20 members of the government legal service
How they suggest reforms:
Research- research the area of law- use a consultation paper, outline areas of reform and look at systems in other countries
Refer-Lord chancellor refers topics to the commission
Respond- commission draws up plans for reform if gov accepts report it’ll go through stages to become a act