Law Reform

Question 1

List the ‘Main Inflences’ of law reform? Define each one.

Answer 1

• Goverment manifestos: a document produced by each political party that outlines what they plan to do if they come into power - mainly a loophole of accountability. e.g Human Rights Act 1988 was a manifesto promise.
• Private Member’s Bills: 20 names, 10 mins. E.g Abortion Act 1967, David Steele MP.

Question 2

What is a ‘cause group’, and give an example.

Answer 2

A cause group has open membership from the public, they promote a cause. E.g justice for 96.

Question 3

What is an ‘interest group’, and give an example.

Answer 3

An interest group has membership only open to certain individuals e.g trade union members. Example of which; The Law Society.

Question 4

What is the difference between an outsider group and an insider group?

Answer 4

Outsider- disapproved by Gov. e.g Greenpeace

Insider- Approved by Gov. e.g British Medical Association.

Question 5

Give an example of when the media has influenced a change in the law.

Answer 5

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 arose from enhancement in public opinion by the media.

Question 6

What is a Judicial review?

Answer 6

When a judge is aquired to look into an area of law, in need of reform.

Question 7

Give 2 examples of successful judicial inquiries.

Answer 7

Permissable answers:

• Cullen Inquiry - Dunblane disaster - led to Firearms Act 1997
• Taylor Inquiry - Hillsborough disaster - led to Football Spectator’s Act 1989
• Lord Woolf’s inquiry into litigation system led tot he Civil Procedure Rules 1999
• Sir David Clementi - reported in 2004 on the organisation of the legal proffession which led to the Legal Services Act 2007 - which outlined that an organisation can offer legal services even though the manager may not be a legal professional.
• Inquiry into Manchester Arena Bombing - Sir John Saunders, retired High Court Justice.

Question 8

Give three advantages of law reform.

Answer 8

Permissable answers:

• Government is democratically elected
• Private Member’s Bills enable controversial policy through.
• Influencial pressure groups.
• EU law has had a postitive effect on UK law, e.g ECHR is enshrined in UK constitution throught HRA 1988.
• Media is highly influential nowadays.
• Independancy of judicial reports means sep. of powers is maintained.

Question 9

Give three disadvantages of law reform.

Answer 9

Permissable answers:

• Governments do not always follow their manifestos.
• PMBs rarely gain support of the house
• Small pressure groups are less successful due to lack of consistency, incohesiveness and a lack of resources.
• No longer in EU - EU law is less beneficial.
• Media can lead to inherantly flawed legislation e.g Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
• Judicial reports can be time consuming.