#legislative change

[legstuds-blog]

7a) Using one example, explain how groups or individuals may use the media to influence legislative change (2 marks)

Individuals or groups may use the media to put an issue out in to the public domain and have members of the community discuss the issue and put pressure on parliamentarians to change the law. In recent years Neil Mitchell of 3AW used his talk back radio program as a platform to raise community awareness and discussion about the mandatory reporting of child abuse, pursuing the matter until parliament changed the law.

2011 vcaa exam

[legstuds-blog]

5b) Evaluate the effectiveness of this method (4 marks)

This petition can be an effective way to enable a new bus service as petitions allow the government to be directly contacted (if tabled). Petitions also appear more legitimate than some other methods of legislative change like demonstrations, as petitions must be formally constructed and presented or will not warrant consideration. Contrastingly, due to these same elements that enable petitions to be effective, parliament is not able to respond to the numerous petitions submitted on a daily basis. Simultaneously, due to the ‘low key’ and local nature of petitions, petitions are much less likely to gain media support as opposed to other methods to bring about legislative change such as demonstrations.

2012 exam specifications 

[legstuds-blog]

5a) Explain the method being used by the residents of Kilysth to bring about legislative change (2 marks)

The residents of Kilysth are using a petition to bring about legislative change. A petition is a formal written request to the government for action in relation to a particular law that is considered outdated or unjust. In this case, the residents of Kilsyth are requesting that the parliament use their law making powers to enable a new bus service.

2012 exam specifications