LAW REFORM

Question 1

JUDICIAL CHANGE

Answer 1

Judges make law via judicial precedent. Requires a case going to court for precedent to be altered. E.g. R v R - Marital rape

Question 2

MEDIA CAMPAIGNS

Answer 2

People can go to the media to get attention on major issues. E.g. Sarah’s law, disclosure of registered sex offenders

Question 3

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS

Answer 3

Members of parliament can put forward their own bills for discussion - though they are rarely successful. Sexual Offences Act 2003, new upskirting offence.

Question 4

E-PETITIONS

Answer 4

UK parliament website allows petitions. 10,000 signatures = response from parliament, 100,000 = debated in parliament. E.g. Parliament lowered age for smear tests from 25 to 18.

Question 5

LAW COMMISSION

Answer 5

Set up under s3 Law Commission Act 1965 to “keep under review all the law”.
Repeal = Remove outdated laws, e.g. Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013
Create = Suggest new necessary laws, e.g. Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
Consolidate = Bring together existing statute, e.g. Care Act 2014
Codify = Bring together existing statute and case law, e.g. Legislation (Wales) Bill 2020

Question 6

PRESSURE GROUPS

Answer 6

Interest Groups: Represent the interests of their members
Examples: Law Society, NUT
Cause Groups: Represent a common cause, based off the interest of their members
Examples: Greenpeace, Age UK
Influence Parliament by writing petitions and lobbying MPs, act as consultative bodies for Green + White paper process due to specialist knowledge