There are many influences on Parliament before and during the legislative process such as Pressure groups and lobbyists, News Media and the Law Commission. The aims of these influences vary, for instance pressure groups may protest to create legislation on a pedophile name and shame system whereas Media groups may publish support against the name and shame legislation. The effects can also vary, a small pressure group which doesn't do a lot to get noticed has less chance of influencing any legislation choices than a larger pressure group which is out on the streets causing big scenes. .
The Law Commission was set up in 1965 with the duty of keeping the law under review with a view to its systematic development and reform. After carefully considering all such comments, and perhaps modifying its own original ideas in the light of the response, the Commission puts forward its final recommendations, often accompanied by a draft Bill. The Law Commission also has the task of identifying obsolete legislation still on the statute books and proposing its repeal. These proposals are usually implemented quite quickly, because they are treated as Consolidation bills and so can be enacted without debate in either House.
There are many different types of pressure groups, for instance there are "interest groups" which represent the interests of their members such as the Confederation of British Industry. Another well known type of pressure group is "cause groups" whose main function is to campaign for particular changes to society such as the RSPCA. Many pressure groups will arrange marches or other similar activities which catch the attention of the media and also give many people a change to stand up for what they believe in without having to do a lot of work, they can simply turn up and march. A recent pressure group activity, which is very well known in Britain, was the petrol crisis in September 2000.
