'The use of parliamentary committees and royal commissions serves a number of valuable purposes.' Referring to one recent example of a recommendation for law reform, explain one strength and one weakness of either a parliamentary committee or royal commission in influencing a change in the law. - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 7 - 2020 - Paper 1

A key strength of a royal commission is that it has the ability to expose individual and institutional wrongdoing. This can significantly influence the government's legislative agenda, as findings from a commission are independent of political pressures. This independence allows for comprehensive investigations that uncover systemic issues, leading to better-informed policy decisions.

However, a notable weakness of a royal commission is that it operates within limited terms of reference, which means that the scope of investigation is predefined and can restrict the inquiry's breadth. Additionally, there may be a lack of follow-up on recommendations, particularly if the government chooses not to implement them, thus undermining the potential impact of the commission's findings.