law making: influences on parliament, paper 2 sec a Flashcards
(19 cards)
1
Q
pressure groups and examples
A
- may cause government to reconsider the law on certain areas, they are a group that come together, and have a particular interest
- sectional pressure group: represents the interests of a particular group of people, often represent work groups or professions, such as the law society
- cause pressure groups: promote a particular case eg. Greenpeace, animal welfare groups, anti-smoking groups
- pressure groups may cause the government to reconsider laws
- eg. student rights 2010, in 2000, the government agreed to reduce the age of consent for homosexual acts in private to 16
2
Q
advantages: pressure groups
A
- gets message across to government and public
- can result in major changes
- raises awareness of the issue, even if the law doesn’t get changed
- can hold the government accountable, as we live in a democratic society
3
Q
disadvantages: pressure groups
A
- can get out of hand/violent (eg. 10 people injured in student rights act 2010)
- regardless of work of pressure groups, the government may not listen, making no difference
- if it becomes unlawful and violent, may not be portrayed well in the government
- some pressure groups have a lot more resources behind them, some may not, therefore no impact
4
Q
media and examples
A
- can play a large role in bringing public opinion to the governments attention
- where an issue is given a high profile on television, in newspapers or through social media, it will be brought to the attention of the public and politicians and may add to the weight of public opinion
- the media are able to critique government policy or demand government action
- examples: Sarahs law, dangerous dogs act 1991
5
Q
advantages: media
A
- spreads awareness
- highlights gaps in legislation
- allows others to express views on social media
- the government regularly monitors social media to judge political opinion
6
Q
disadvantages: media
A
- false news
- should be neutral, but may be biased a way the news is presented
- stories could have detrimental affect on individuals eg. victims
- lack of control, eg student reforms 2010
7
Q
political influences and examples
A
- when there’s a general election, all political parties publish a list of their policies and suggest reforms
- this is called the parties manifesto
- manifestos can include: policies on issues such as finance, education and transport
8
Q
advantages: political influences
A
- holds politicians to account
- democratic and very fair
- keeps public interest at heart
- we are a democracy, all about the people
9
Q
disadvantages: political influences
A
- dont have to always follow through in promise eg. liberal democrats, 2009, student fees abolished
10
Q
lobbying and examples
A
- trying to persuade your mp or government ministers to support a cause
- can take form of: individual meetings, writing messages, producing surveys or petitions
- often carried out by members of pressure groups on behalf of a campaign to convince
- if successful, could bring PMB, like abortion act
- bedfordshire MP: mohamed yasin (go to see)
11
Q
advantages: lobbying
A
- accessible, democratic process
- raise your concerns quite quickly
- very personal, gives opportunity to raise local concern
12
Q
disadvantages: lobbying
A
- jo cox, killed, makes MP vulnerable
- some MPs may have more success than others
13
Q
the full time body is set up by the law commission act 1965 - it consists of:
A
- a chair person
- a high court judge
- four other law commissioners who are expertise in certain areas of law
14
Q
the role of the commissioner is to consider areas of law that need reform. this role out in section 3 of the law commission act. this is a reforming commission, what is their role?
A
- to review areas of law
- where possible to codify or consolidate areas of law
- to repel old unnecessary law
- where possible to simplify and modernise law eg. human rights act 1998
15
Q
topics may be referred to it by the lord chancellor on behalf of the government. what is the process?
A
- the commission researchers the area of law needing reform
- it publishes a consultation paper, seeking views on possible reform from lawyers academies and anyone with an interest in the area under investigation. the consultation paper will suggest other options for reform
- following responses to the consultation paper, the commission will draw up proposals for reform. often be a draft bill attached to the report which can be considered by parliament
16
Q
repeal
A
- there remains in force may old, unnecessary and irrelevant statutes
- law commission investigates whether they are still required and will prepare a repel bill for parliament to consider
- by 2015, 19 statute law (repeals) acts, and the whole of 3000 old acts have been repealed
17
Q
consolidation
A
- looks at wider variation
- draws all the existing provision together in one act to make the law more accessible
- law commission produces about 5 consolidations bills each year
- for many years the law on sentencing practice and procedure was contained in: the powers of criminal courts act 2000
18
Q
codification
A
- brings together all the law, both statutory and judicial precedent on a topic into one single law
- law commission worked on producing a sentencing code so that all the law on sentencing adults and young offenders is in one document instead of all acts referred to previously
19
Q
success of the law commission and examples
A
- after it was established about 85% of its proposals were enacted by parliament
- included the unfair contract terms act 1977 and occupiers liability act 1984
- commissions annual report of 2018 showed that there were 13 reports awaiting response from government
- eg. the fraud act 2006, which has simplified the law on fraud
