Advantages and Disadvantages of the legislative process

Advantage - Democratic

parl law made by elected representatives and gives effect to manifestos

parl answerable to electorate as has to be general election at least every 5 years

gov can be voted out if not performed as the electorate expected

Advantage - Consultation

Law can be made after detailed inquiry or report from law commission

pre-leg process allows consultation with interested bodies and can make new laws more effective

Advantage - Detailed debate

Bills subject to high levels of scrutiny and detailed consideration as they must pass many stages before becoming law

MP’s + lords from opposing parties will examine and vote = balanced

Advantage - Full Reform

Parl can reform and consolidate laws into one act to make it simpler to find

eg. Fraud Act 2006 = newer + simpler structure of offences

Advantage - Law making power can be delegated to other bodies

Acts of parl can set broad polices and give power to others so complex law can be made by relevant experts in the field

Disadvantage - Lengthy process

whole process can take months

eg. Consumer Rights Act 2015 took 14 months

Disadvantage - Government control

effective scrutiny of proposed laws is limited as majority of MPs will vote along party lines

debates can be affected by political agendas rather than genuine debate

Disadvantage - Lack of Parliamentary time

gov controls parl timetable and not always time to consider all reforms that are proposed

Disadvantage - Complexity

Acts of parl are often long and full of complex language

Disadvantage - lack of publicity

Pubic should know where law has changed before an Act has come into effect but many acts receive little or no publicity

eg. Control of Horses Act 2015