law reform

• what are influence on parliament?

  political

  media

  pressure groups

  lobbying
• what is a party manifesto?

  when there is a general election all political parties publish a list of their policies and suggest reforms and new laws that they would introduce if they were elected.
• what can the manifesto contain policies about?

  finance, education, transport and law and order.
• what may happen during parliamentry sessions

  MP's may be able to introduce legislation by private members Bills?
• what are 2 examples of private members bills?

  the abortion act 1967

  the computer misuse act 1991
• what does the term media mean

  the way in which information is supplied to the public
• what are example of media?

  television, radio, newspapers, magazines and social media
• how does media work as a influence on parliament?

  where high profile issues are put into the media it will be brought to the attention of the public and politicians and may add to the weight of public opinion.
• how is media useful for governemnt?

  they can use it to gauge public opinion on how popular their party is. they also use to to make their views on certain issues know
• what are some examples of media campaigns?

  1. the snowdrop campaign
  2. the reform of the double jeopardy rule
  3. the dangerous dogs act 1991
• what are pressure groups?

  these are groups of people who sahre the same cause or interest.
• what do pressure groups try to do?

  they try to influence changes in the law by things such as protests, petitions and publicity stunts
• what are the two types of pressure groups?

  1. cause groups
  2. sectional groups
• what are cause groups?

  these campaign for a certain issue or cause (eg. sheleter campaigns for the homeless and stonewall riots for gay rights)
• what are sectional groups?

  these support a paticular section in society. for example, the law society represents the interest of Solicitors
• what can pressure groups campaign against?

  1. against proposed changes to the law
  2. sometimes they campaign for new changes in law
• what is another type of pressure group?

  special interest groups such a trades union congress. these can also contribute to changes in law such as the equal pay act 1970
• what is lobbying?

  trying to persuade governmnent ministers or individual MP's to support a cause
• how is lobbying usually carried out?

  often carried out by members of pressure groups on behalf of a campaign
• why is it called lobbying?

  because members of the public can meet MP's in the lobbies through which MPs go to the HOC
• who is lobbying done by?

  by professional lobyists on behalf of businesses, trade associations and big charities
• how long does lobbying ususally taken?

  many months or years to bing about change.
• when was the law commission set up

  in 1965 by the law commission act 1965
• what does the law commission consist of?

  1. a chairperson
  2. a high court judge
  3. 4 law commissioners who are experts in certain areas of law
  4. researchers and draftsmen
• what is the role of the law commission?

  to consider areas of law the need reform - section 3 of the law commission act 1965
• what work does the law commission do?

  1. review areas of law
  2. where possible codify or consolidate areas of law
  3. repeal old unecessary law
  4. simplify and modernise the law
• what type of law does the law comission focus on?

  substantive law such as criminal, contract and tort
• how are topics that need reform flagged?

  the government may select areas of law that need reform or it might choose itself
• what is the first stage of the reform process?

  the commission researches the area of law needed reform
• what is the second stage of the reform process?

  publishing a consultation paper, seeking views from lawyers, academics and anyone interested in the area under investigation
• what will the consultation paper contain?

  suggestions for reform
• what happened after the response to the responses to the paper?

  the commission will then draw up firm proposals for reform. these proposals are then presented in a report