Law Reform Flashcards
What is the purpose of the law reform?
The law needs to be reformed so it adapts to the changing needs of society
Name 6 influences upon parliament that pressure a change in the law
Political changes - manifesto Social changes - paternity leave Economic changes - taxation Scientific changes - Data Protection Act 1998 Pressure from the EU Pressure groups & public opinion
What are the 4 law reform bodies?
Law commission
Royal commission
Criminal law revision committee
Law reform committee
What is the law commission?
The main body with changes and proposes changes for the law
How was the law commission established?
in 1965 by the law commission act
Is it a part time or a full time body?
Full time
What is the role of the law commission? (6)
Reviews all areas of law which are believed to need reforming Keeps all matters of law under review Codifies the law Consolidates the law Repeals unnecessary acts Elimination of anomilie
Who may ask to review an area of law?
The lord chancellor
What is the first step from the law commission when reforming law?
Prepares a working paper and sends it to interested parties and then the press comments on it
What is the second step from the law commission when reforming law?
Comments are considered and a report is prepared, then debated by the whole commission
What is the third step from the law commission when reforming law?
Bill is presented to the lord chancellor together with a statement of existing law
What is the final step from the law commission when reforming law?
The government makes a decision over whether it is prepared to promote the Bill through parliament
What was the overall success of the law commission?
Mixed success
When was its success rate high?
Initially, its 1st 20 law reform programmes were enacted within an average of 2 years (Criminal Attempts Act 1981)
What was the success rate in the first 10 years of the law commission?
85% of proposals enacted by parliament
In the following 10 years why did its success rate decrease and what to?
50% of proposals enacted by parliament due to lack of parliamentary time and interest
In what year were none of the law commissions proposals enacted?
1990
What was the Jellicoe Procedure 1994?
Introduced to speed up the introduction of new reforms
What does the Jellicoe procedure allow?
Uncontroversial legislation to be introduced directly into the House of Lords
How many reports became law through the Jellicoe procedure in the 1st 13 months?
13
How has the Jellicoe Procedure done since?
The procedure has not been used recently
Give an example of a recent proposal by the law commission enacted by parliament
The Fraud Act 2006 (reformed law on fraud and deception offences)
What is the biggest unresolved problem by the law commission?
Reforming the criminal law