political influence

• main influence over law - making or changes to the law - government

  party with the greatest amount of votes after the general election becomes the government.

  
  

  when government is formed - programme of reforms that it wishes to carry out - party manifesto

  used to persuade people to vote for them

  
  

  include issues on finance, education, transport and law and order

  they can start bringing in the reforms as promised - manifesto

  
  

  will gradually be put before parliament to pass as an act of parliament
• 2024 general election - main party manifesto of the labour party was 'change'

  a plan to change what the conservatives government had done.

  
  

  focus on economic stability, the NHS and education among others

  first bill introduced was the employment right bill - employment reforms

  
  

  ending exploitive zero hour contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity - parental and bereavement leave
• private member bills

  
  

  David steel - the abortion act 1967

  wera Hobhouse - the voyeurism act 2019

  
  

  unsuccessful as a private members bill was passed when backed by government
• emergency situations

  
  

  potential threat on the twin towers in 2001 led to the:

  Anti- Terrorism, Crime and Security act 2001

  
  

  the corona virus act 2020 was also fast tracked and passed within four days
• advantage

  
  

  1.political parties - have proposals ready

  if elected as the government - they know what they wish to do

  
  

  2. government has majority in the house of commons - virtually every law it proposes will be passed

  
  

  3. publishing manifestos - the public knows before the election - broad proposals are of each political party + have the choice - which set of proposals and law reforms they wish to enact

  
  

  4. thorough law making process + proposed changes to law ill be debated in parliament and improvements to initial proposals can be suggested and included
• disadvantages

  
  

  1.new governments may repeal or alter laws made by previous governments - their policies are likely to be quite different from the previous government - changes in the law can be costly and open to criticism

  
  

  2. government has a large majority in the house of commons - force through their policy proposals - ignoring criticism from opposition
• disadvantages

  
  

  3. government has a small majority - may be restricted in the law they propose - coalition there will be a compromise on what policies are followed

  
  

  4. emergencies - covid - 19 pandemic - government's focus will be on taking measure to deal with that crisis and move away from their manifesto