Law Reform

Question 1

What are the influences on parliament

Answer 1

-Political
-Media
-Pressure groups

Question 2

Political influences on parliament

Answer 2

-When there is a General election all political parties publish policies and suggested reforms
-This is party manifesto

Question 3

Media influence on parliament

Answer 3

-Public issues may be shown through public media to sway public opinion
-Media can criticise gov or demand gov action
-Gov may use media to judge public opinion
-Social media used to bring in snowdrop campaign to remove handguns

Question 4

Pressure groups

Answer 4

-Those who bring attention to issues
-can be done by lobbying a gov minister or department responisble
-A type is sectional pressure groups - such as trade unions to represent interests of a group of people
-Another type is cause pressure groups to promote a particular cause E.G, Greenpeace

Question 5

Lobbying

Answer 5

-A way to persuade a gov minister or independent MP to support a cause
-Can take form of individual meetings, writing messages, producing surveys or petitions
-If successful may cause MP or Gov minister to bring attention to that cause
-E.G, Snowdrop Campaign

Question 6

Reform by the Law commission

Answer 6

-Full time body set up by the Law Commission Act 1956
-Consists of a Chairperson, a high court judge and four other Law Commissioners

Question 7

How does the law commission work

Answer 7

-Set out in S3 of Law commissioners:

1. Commission researches the area of law needing reform
2. Publish a consultation paper, seeking views on possible reform From lawyers
3. Then draw up proposals for reform presented in a researched report