Law Reform Flashcards
What is meant by law reform
To change the law to hopefully make it better
Why do we need to reform the Law
Law to be outdated
Law may be unclear
People may be calling for a change
What can influence law making and reform
The media
Law commission
Political influence
Pressure groups
Describe political influences
Parties public manifestos setting out ideas in a bid to get votes
Private members bill,alternative of bringing about a new law
Describe public opinion
Tv,radio,magazines,social media
Outlets bring out public opinion to government attention
Describe pressure groups
Groups with a particular interest
Bring important matters to attention of public and government
Represents 1 group in society and their interests
E.g WWF,green space,Oxfam
Describe lobbyists
Lurk in the lobby of Houses of Parliament to try persuade commission
Describe the law commission
Independent group of legal experts who find problems within law and research how to fix problems,they propose changes to parliament
Who created the law commission
Law Commissions act 1965
Who are the law commission
The chair-high court judge or appeal court judge appointed by chancellor + secretary of justice for up to 3 years
Who are the other 4 commissioners
Experienced judges,barristers,solicitors or teachers of law
Appointed by lord chancellor+ Secretary of State justice for up to 5 years
Who are the chief executive + personnel
Commissioners supported by a chief executive and about 20 members of government legal service,two parliamentary counsel and a member of research assistant
Who else is involved in the commission
One or two non executive board members
What does law commission do
S3 of the law commission act says that law commission duty is to
Review all areas of law and reform it by:
Codifying the law
Consolidating the law
Repealing the law
What is meant by codifying the law
Bringing all law on one large area of legal law together into one legal code
