COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES

LAW

What are laws?

Laws are a set of legal rules that can be enforced by police and the courts.

How is a law different from a rule?

Laws are different to rules because law applies to everyone while rules only apply
to people directly involved and usually don’t have serious consequences if broken.

Why do we need laws?

We need laws to keep everyone safe as without laws, we would be living in anarchy
and it could lead to tyranny. Laws also help resolve disputes and establish
boundaries.

What is anarchy and tyranny?

Anarchy is the state of having no laws or government, while tyranny is when one
individual holds absolute power over everyone.

What is the role of courts, policies, and parliament?

● Courts - interpret the laws; settle disputes according to strict rules of
evidence and procedure; set precedents by making decisions.

● Police - enforce the laws; investigate crime, protect life and property.

● Parliament – make new laws and change existing ones

What is justice?
Justice means fairness and equality for all is achieved.

What are the symbols of justice?

● The scales – represents the legal system weighing up both sides of the
argument equally.
● The sword – represents the punishment to be imposed on any guilty party.
● The blindfold – demonstrates that justice is impartial and not influenced by
wealth, race, religion, gender or status.
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What is private law and public law?
● Private law – deals with disputes between private individuals and the rights
and duties that people have to each other e.g. family law, tort law, contract
law and property law.

CLASSIFICATION OF LAW DESCRIPTION

This set of laws is concerned with

legal agreements between two or
more people. If one party fails to
Contract
carry out his or her side of the
agreement, that person can be sued
for breach of contract.

This law regulates family

relationships. It sets out rules
about the process of getting
Family married; who can get married; de
facto relationships; divorce; custody
and other aspects involving family
members.

This law recognises two broad types

of property: real property (land and
buildings) and personal property
Property (goods and services people
purchase). Specifically, property law
provides regulations about the sale,
leasing, and hiring of property.

This law deals with situations when

one person infringes the rights of
another, resulting in distress or
injury; for example, the mental
Tort
distress caused by being bullied.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
The person injured may claim
financial compensation from the
other party for any loss suffered.

● Public law – regulates people's behaviour within society as a whole and

protects the freedom of individuals e.g. constitutional law, administrative
law, employment law, property law and criminal law.

CLASSIFICATION OF LAW DESCRIPTION

These laws deal with the decisions

and powers of these government
Administrative departments. This law allows courts
to review and change the decisions
of the government if necessary.

This set of laws deals with the set

of rules by which a country is
governed. It is concerned with the
Constitutional powers and authority of parliament
and the rights of each citizen, and
the powers between federal and
state governments.

These laws are needed to keep the

community safe from harm, to
provide for an orderly society and
Criminal to provide a way of dealing with a
crime when it occurs. Offenders will
be punished if they choose to put
people and property at risk.
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This law is concerned with the
rights and obligations of employers
and employees. Much of the law
deals with the legal way of resolving
Industrial
industrial disputes, workers'
compensation, workplace health and
safety, and discrimination in the
workplace.

What is the legal citation?

CIVIL

CRIMINAL
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What is the meaning of standard of proof and burden of proof?

● Standard of proof - the amount of evidence necessary to prove an assertion
or claim in a trial.

● Burden of proof - a legal standard that requires parties to provide evidence

to demonstrate that the claim given is valid. The levels are: "beyond a
reasonable doubt," a "preponderance of the evidence," and "clear and
convincing”.

What is the difference between civil law and criminal law?

● Civil law involves disputes between parties.
● Criminal law is where prosecutions are brought against individuals or
companies by or on behalf of the state.

CRIMINAL LAW CIVIL LAW

Civil law, is part of private

Purpose is to protect law, deals with non-criminal
1. Area of society individuals from others matters. It allows an
this law is trying to doing the wrong thing, and individual to bring actions
protect make the community feel against other members of
safe. the public for a civil wrong
done to them.

2. Standard of proof Beyond reasonable doubt Balance of probabilities

3. Burden of proof Crown Prosecutor Plaintiff

Police Prosecutor/ Crown

4. Who initiates? Plaintiff
Prosecutor
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
5. Other party Defendant
Counsel of defence

Compensation – money,
6. Punishments Jail, fines, community
injunction
service, detention.

CRIMINAL LAW
What are the types of offences?
● Indictable offences – (serious crime) are often heard before a jury of 12
people in the District or Supreme Court.

● Summary offences (minor e.g. shoplifting) are heard in the Local Court.

What is criminal intent?

It is the physical act of the crime (actus reus) and the mental intent to do the
crime (mens rea).
● Actus Reus - physical activity that harms or causes damage.
● Mens Rea - mental element of a person’s intention to commit a crime.

What are some common offences?

Driving offences, larceny (stealing), destroying or damaging property, possessing a
prohibited drug, and common assault.

CIVIL LAW (PART OF PRIVATE LAW)

What is Tort?
The law of tort – where one person's actions harm another. Civil law gives the
plaintiff (injured party) the right to sue the defendant for damages
(compensation).
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
What are the types of Tort (offences)?
● Negligence - Where a person fails to take reasonable care and, as a result,
injures another person

● Defamation - An act of communicating to a third party false statements

about a person, place, or thing that results in damage to its reputation

● Nuisance - Where a person causes unreasonable interference with another

person's right to quiet.

● Trespass - Where a person interferes with another person's property.

What is the adversary system?

A common law system where two opposing sides present their arguments and
evidence to a neutral judge or jury, with each side trying to convince the
decision-maker while challenging the other side's arguments.

What is common law and statute law?

● Common law - laws made by judges in a court using precedents (decisions in a
previous case)
● Statute law - laws made by parliament. This law ALWAYS OVERRIDES
COMMON LAW.

How are laws made?

COMMON LAW STATUTE LAW

When judges rule in a case where there Parliament can make laws and change
is no existing law OR they interpret laws.
statutory law, they establish a The Federal Parliament can make laws
precedent which all lower courts have that affect the whole country.
to follow. State parliament can make laws that
affect the state.
Precedent helps the legal system
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
achieve fairness and justice as all The Parliament has to propose a bill
similar cases are dealt with in the same (proposed law) for a new law or change
way. to an existing one. It has to pass
through the House of Representatives
IF no past cases with similar and the Senate and has to be given
circumstances exist, a new decision is Royal Assent by the Governor-General
made, which would then become a for it to become a law. It is then called
precedent. an Act of Parliament. The bill must be
agreed to by a majority vote in both
houses of the Parliament.

(SEE IMAGE BELOW)

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What is customary law?

Customary law in Australia refers to the legal systems and practices followed by
Indigenous peoples, based on their customs and traditions. It is an integral part of
Indigenous cultural heritage, governing aspects such as social organisation, land
tenure, and dispute resolution. While it coexists with the common law system,
recognition and application of customary law vary across jurisdictions in Australia.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
What is law reform and why does it happen?
Law reform is the change to existing laws and it aims to improve justice and
efficiency. The law changes as a result of changing concepts of justice, new
technology and changing morals and ethics in society. The law can be reformed by
statute law (parliament) or common law (judges' decisions that have to be followed
by lower courts).

What is the separation of Powers?

The separation of powers is a fundamental principle in democratic systems where
the powers of government are divided among different branches (parliament,
executive, judiciary) to prevent concentration of power and provide checks and
balances.

POWER ROLE COMPOSITION

Made up of the King (represented by

Parliament Makes and amends
Governor-General), the Senate and the
(Legislature) the law
House of Representatives

Made up of the King (represented by

Executive Puts law into action Governor-General), Prime Minister and
ministers

Makes judgements Made up of the High Court of Australia and

Judiciary
about the law other federal courts

What is the role of the Governor-General?

The Governor-General has been given certain powers to act on behalf of the King.
The role is not just defined by the Constitution; it is also defined by customs and
tradition.

***
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES

THE COURT SYSTEM

What is the NSW court hierarchy?

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TYPES OF
PERSONNEL
POSITION IN CIVIL TYPES OF CRIMINAL CASES
COURT WHO HEARS
HIERARCHY CASES HEARD
THE CASE
HEARD

Minor – summary offences like

$0 -
Local Bottom Magistrate stealing, drunk driving. Also Bail
$100,000
hearing.

Serious – indictable offences like

$100,000 -
District Middle Judge & Jury armed robbery, burglary. * Hears
$750,000
appeals from the local court

Deals with the most serious

indictable offences like murder,
treason and serious sexual assault.
Supreme Highest in NSW Judge & Jury >$750,000
A special division – the NSW
Criminal Court of Appeal hears
appeals from the district courts

Appeals from Supreme courts;

High Highest in AU Judge --------------
cases involving the constitution

What is the role and function of the High Court?

● Interpret and apply the law of Australia

● To decide cases of special federal significance including challenges to the

constitutional validity of laws and to hear appeals, by special leave, from
Federal, State and Territory courts.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
Who sits in the common rome (legal personal)?
● Judges (supreme and district) AND Magistrates (local). They decide if the
defendant is guilty or innocent.

● Prosecutor. They represent the police or state and try to prove that the
person is guilty. ONLY IN CRIMINAL CASES

● Accused/Defendant and their lawyer. They try proving their innocence OR

they can have someone to represent them.

● Judges Associate. They are a trained lawyer who manages much of the
paperwork.

● Court reporter or transcriber. They record the hearing and write down or
type what is being said.

● Plaintiff and their lawyer. They bring up the case and try to get justice.

● Media/Public. The media gets access to most cases that aren’t children’s
cases. They observe proceedings.

● Witness. Someone who gives evidence in a case.

● Jury. They hear and determine the outcome of the case.

●

● Interpreter. Translates speech from one language into another.

What is the difference between Magistrate and Judge?

● A magistrate is a lower-level judicial officer who handles a wide range of
cases, often focusing on procedural matters. They may not have legal
training and their decisions can be reviewed.

● A judge is a higher-level legal professional with specialised knowledge who

presides over courts, makes final decisions, and interprets laws. Their
decisions are binding and can only be appealed to a higher court.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
What is the role of the jury/the jurors?
The jurors main task is to decide upon the truth from all the information
presented. They listen to the evidence presented by both the plaintiff and the
defendant, evaluate its credibility, and determine the guilt or innocence of the
accused. Their verdict must be based on the facts and law presented during the
trial.

When are juries used?

Juries are used in less than 5% of all legal cases. These cases include indictable
offences cases and optional civil trials.

CRIMINAL CASE CIVIL CASE

12 people in the Jury 6 people in the Jury

Before a judge can hand down a Before a judge can hand down a
sentence: sentence:
Jurors' decisions must be unanimous Jurors' decisions must be unanimous
(all 12 jurors must come to the same (all 6 jurors must come to the same
decision). decision).
OR
A majority verdict of 11 out of 12 In NSW defamation cases jurors are
jurors. only needed for usually only occurs in
defamation cases
Sometimes a “hung jury” occurs, which
means the jury cannot decide on a A “hung jury” can also occur in civil
verdict and a new trial is ordered. cases.

They decide whether the accused is They decide whether the defendant is
innocent or guilty beyond reasonable liable on the balance of probabilities.
doubt.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES

How is someone called to serve on a Jury?

If your name is on the electoral roll, you are eligible to be selected for jury duty. A
court officer called the sheriff selects names at random and those selected are
notified by mail. You are not on the electoral roll if; you are under 18, you have a
disability that makes you incapable, if you have a permanent mental or physical
impairment, and if you have a criminal record.

Is the Jury System effective?

FOR AGAINST

1. A jury is a cross-section of society 1. Some people are exempt from

and therefore reflects society’s values serving, meaning the jury is not a true
and attitudes. cross-section of society.

2. There is a widespread acceptance of 2. Ordinary people may not understand

the jury system. complex legal technicalities.

3. The final decision is made by more 3. Juries do not have to give reasons
than one person. for their decisions.

4. Juries are independent and impartial 4. Ordinary juries can be persuaded by

decision makers who are not controlled the skills of clever lawyers and other
by the government. jurors.

5. Ordinary citizens are given the 5. It is difficult for people to remain

opportunity to play an active role in the completely impartial, especially if they
administration of justice. are influenced by the media.

6. It provides an opportunity for the 6. It costs a lot of money to operate

community to understand the final and the jury selection process can be
decision. time consuming.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
ECONOMICS
The Nature of the Economy
What is the economy?
An economy is the system for deciding how scarce resources are used so that
goods and services can be produced and consumed.

Resources are things like; land, people (who can work or innovate through their
ideas) and raw materials. They are seen as scarce because we have unlimited wants
but there are not enough resources to produce the foods and services to satisfy
these wants.

An economy exists in a geographical area (e.g., a local area, country, and the world).

The Australian economy is market based.

Decisions to produce or consume goods and services reflect demand (what people
want to buy) and supply (how much businesses can provide) in the market.

What’s happening in the economy can affect us and the decisions we make. Our
decisions can also influence how the economy is performing. Every time you choose
to buy something (or not to), you are affecting the economy.

In Australia, we have a commercial economy in which we satisfy our wants by

buying goods and services. There are key players involved in a complex framework
of economic interaction. They are:
· Household sector
· Businesses/Firm sector
· Financial sector
· Government sector (state and federal)
· Overseas sector
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
How are these factors connected? Below is “The Circular Flow Model”.

1. Household Sector
This sector is made up of individuals in the economy.
· They provide their time and skills or ‘labour’ to firms in
exchange for income (wages).
· They are consumers who buy goods and services from Firms.
· They may borrow from, or save money with, the financial
sector.
· They pay taxes to the Government.

2. Firms Sector
This sector is made up of all businesses in the economy.
· They produce output (goods and services), which they sell to
consumers and receive revenue.
· They may borrow money from, or save money with, the financial
sector.
· They pay taxes to the Government.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
3. Financial Sector
This sector is made up of banks and other financial institutions in the
economy.
· They receive savings from Households and Firms.
· They help Households and Firms invest by lending them money.

4. Government Sector
This sector is made up of all bodies in national, state, and local governments.
· They receive taxation revenue from Households and Firms.
· They spend this money on public goods and services, such as
roads, parks, schools, and hospitals.

5. Overseas sector
This sector relates to Australia’s trade with other nations.
· Australia exports (sells) goods and services, produced by
businesses in Australia, to other countries.
· Australia imports (buys) goods and services, produced by
businesses in other countries.

Circular Flow of Income

1) Create a flowchart that illustrates all the consequences on the circular
flow of income for the following scenarios.
a) A new business being established in Australia. (FIRM + HOUSEHOLD)
Households provide Economic resources to Firms.
Firms provide new goods + services, and employment opportunities to
households.

b) The government is reducing the personal income tax rate.

(GOVERNMENT + HOUSEHOLD + FIRMS)
Household provides less money (tax) to the Government.
Government provides less on Firms.
Households provide more money to Firms.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
c) Banks are restricted in how much individuals and businesses are
allowed to borrow. (HOUSEHOLD + FINANCIAL + FIRMS)
Financial provides money (borrow) to Households.
Households provide less money to Firms.
Financial provides less money to Firms.

2) Brainstorm the impacts of a global recession on Australia’s circular flow

of income.
Households:
· Income reduction, job losses, and lower wages.
· Decreased consumer spending due to uncertainty.
Businesses:
· Decline in demand for goods and services.
· Production cutbacks, investment reduction, and layoffs.
· Disrupted supply chains affecting imports and exports.
Government:
· Decreased tax revenue from lower economic activity.
· Increased spending on unemployment benefits and welfare programs.

3) Complete the following table.

Statement Increase or decrease
economic activity
(a) Increased Increase (injection)
investment
(b) Higher taxes Decrease (leakage)
(c) Rising export sales Increase (injection)
(d) Reducing Decrease (leakage)
government
spending

4) Using the completed five-sector model, identify the money flows that
best describe each of the following transactions.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
a) An employee collects his wages.
Financial Sector to Savings/Investments to Household to Tax to
Government Sector.
b) A car manufacturer installed a new wielder.
Financial Sector to Investment to Firm Sector
c) A teenager opens and deposits money into a bank account.
Financial Sector to Savings/Investments to Household to Tax to
Government Sector.
d) A school student buys a mobile phone.
Savings/Investments to Firm Sector revenue to Financial Sector.
e) An Australian miner sells iron ore to China.
Savings/Investments to Firm Sector to Government Sector to
Overseas Sector.
f) An employee pays income tax.
Savings/Investments to Tax to Financial Sector Money to Government
Sector.

Injections and Leakages

In the circular flow model, money flows in and out of the economy. Think of a
bathtub with the tap on but the plug out. Water is being added by the tap but also
leaking out. It’s important to get the balance right so the water doesn’t overflow
or drain out completely.
Think of all the exchanges taking place within the economy. Some are putting
money into the economy. These are injections.
· Investment
· Government expenditure
· Exports

Some of these are taking money out of the economy – the money is not being
utilised elsewhere in the economy. These are leakages.
· Savings
· Taxation
· Imports
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
As with filling or emptying a bath, it’s important that an economy doesn’t grow or
shrink too much or too quickly.

The Business Cycle

Contraction Expansions
KEY FEATURES KEY FEATURES
- Falling levels of production (output) - Rising levels of production (output)
- Decreasing consumer spending - Increasing consumer spending
- Rate of inflation may fall - Rate of inflation may rise
- Wage rates generally fall - Wage rates generally rise
- Interest rates eventually fall - Interest rate eventually rise
- Level of unemployment rises - Level of unemployment falls

The Australian economy does experience a cycle of ‘booms’ (peak) and ‘busts’
(trough). What is the difference between the two”?
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
‘The periods of high and low economic activity are referred to as the business
cycle.

After a period of prosperity, business activity gradually slows until a recession or

depression is reached. Eventually, business picks up again until prosperity is
restored. This completes the cycle, and these cycles are a basic feature of our
economic system. The level of economic activity depends on the fluctuation and
these changes are caused by the total level of spending – consumers spending
(consumption), business spending (investment), government spending and exports.

As the economy fluctuates there are changes in:

· Employment
· Inflation
· Consumer Confidence
· Incomes

1. Economic Influences
Characteristics of a ‘boom’ period.
· Higher levels of employment (low unemployment).
· Inflation (prices) may increase – businesses increase prices of
their product.
· Wages increase – at the same rate as inflation.
· The level of spending by consumers increases – consumers have
more confidence in the economy.

Characteristics of a ‘bust’ period.

· Higher levels of unemployment – as people lose their jobs.
· Inflation (prices) may remain stable or fall.
· Wages are less likely to rise as employers are concerned about
business costs.
· The level of spending by consumers decreases – consumers have
less confidence in the economy.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES

The Nature of the Markets

What is a Market?
A market is where buyers and sellers interact to engage in an economic
transaction. Usually this is to exchange a good or service for a sum of money (but
this isn’t always the case).

Two-sides of a Market:
For markets to exist, there must be two groups:
1) Those who want to buy the product/good/service Those who DEMAND
the product.
2) Those who want to sell the product/good/service Those who SUPPLY the
product.

So, a market is where these 2 groups come together to determine the price of a
good and the quantity of it which is sold.

The Law of Demand

 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
As the price of a good or service increases, consumers' demand for that good or
service will decrease. There is thus an INVERSE relationship between price and
quantity demanded.

Factors Affecting Demand

- The price of the good itself (high price = low demand, low price = high
demand).
- The price of other goods (low price of other goods = low demand, vice
versa).
- Expected future prices (depreciation and rise in price).
- Changes in the consumer tastes and preferences (new trends = high
demand for new).
- The level of income (high income = more demand, low income = less
demand).

The Law of Supply

As the price for a good or service increases, the quantity supplied will increase.
Similarly, if the price decreases the supply of that good or service will decrease.
There is a DIRECT relationship between these two.

Price Mechanism
The point at which the demand and supply curve intersect is called the market
equilibrium. This is the point at which buyers and sellers agree on a price and
exchange the good or service for money. So, the price mechanism refers to the
force of demand and supply in determining the price and quantity if a good.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
POLITICS
Participation in the Democratic Process
What is a democracy?
In Australia, we live in a democracy. This means that our society is based around
the idea that a government's power is derived from the will of the people, and:

● Is exercised by them either directly or indirectly.

● Takes place through a system of representation – we elect individuals to
represent us in parliament.
● Usually involves electing a member of a political party whose policies we
agree with.

The Australian Constitution

It has properly been described as the ‘birth certificate of a nation.’ It also
provides the basic rules for the government of Australia.

Indeed, the Constitution is the fundamental law of Australia binding everybody

including the Commonwealth Parliament and the Parliament of each State.
Accordingly, even an Act passed by a Parliament is invalid if it is contrary to the
Constitution.

- 15 million+ of Australians vote for federal representatives.

- 226 federal representatives.
- 76 senators in the Senate.
- 150 members in the House of Representatives.
- 42 executive government.
- 50%+ support needed to form government in the House of Representatives
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
Structure of Australia’s Government

On 1 January 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was formed. Before this,

Australia consisted of 6 colonies, under the control of the British monarch. Each
had its own form of government and set of laws. The colonies – now called states –
agreed to join to become one nation in a process called Federation. The British
monarch (queen or king) was still the head of state, but Australia became an
independent country governed by a constitutional monarchy with 3 levels of
government; federal (or central), state, and local.

Australia’s three levels of government each:

● have their own power to make decisions.
● have their own separate responsibilities.
● are elected by the people.

To change the constitution, a referendum must be held. Proposed changes are

accepted only if supported by a majority of voters in most states (that is, at least
four states).
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
1. Federal Government
● Two houses of parliament (upper and lower).
● The PM is the head of the government (Anthony Albanese).
● Ministers are appointed to look after portfolios.
● The Cabinet consists of the PM and the senior ministers who make
the key government decisions.
● Government General (David Hurley) represents the British monarch
as head of state.
● Controls things that affect all of Australia.
● Income obtained through tax.
● Responsible for defence, foreign affairs, Medicare, immigration.

2. State Government
● Own parliament (upper and lower).
● Control affairs within their own state.
● Head of government is the Premier (Chris Minns).
● The head of state is the Governor (Margaret Beazley).
● Obtains most of its income from federal grants, property, and
payroll taxes.

3. Local Government
● Approx. 900 local councils.
● Head of council is the mayor (Dr Peter Gangemi for the Hills Shire
Council).
● Operates under state government legislation.
● Makes rules called by laws on local issues.
● Is responsive for the needs of the citizens in a city or town.
● Obtains most of its income from land rates.
● Responsibilities: town planning, rubbish collection, swimming pools,
parks, sewerage, streets and bridges, libraries.
***
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
QUESTIONS:
4. Which level of government is involved in the following situations?
a. You travel to school by rail. (S)
b. Your car is stolen so you use your phone to call the police. (S)
c. You write a letter thanking the staff for repairing the swings in
the park. (L)
d. You email your income tax return to your accountant. (F)
e. You need a passport to travel overseas. (F)

Role and Function of Political Parties

Political parties are groups of people who band together because they share the
same views about issues they think are important. Their main aim is to get
candidates elected to Parliament to influence the decisions of the government.

All political parties must be registered with the Australian Electoral Commission.
There are two requirements for this registration. First, the aim of the party must
be submitted. Second, the party must have at least 500 eligible voters, unless the
party already has a member in parliament.

Not all candidates belong to a political party. Some may be independents.

In Australia, the major political parties are:

●
● Australian Labor Party
● Liberal Party of Australia
● National Party of Australia
● Greens Party
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
1. Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is the oldest political party in Australia
(formed in the 1890s). Unemployment was then high and living conditions
were harsh, so workers banded together to try to change things by having a
say in government. This background has meant the trade unions have always
had strong links with the Labour Party.

The ALP policies promote social justice, compassion, and a fair go for all. Its
main aims are to:

● ensure wealth and power are more evenly and fairly shared in
society.
● provide jobs for everyone who wants to work.
● abolish poverty and improve living standards of all Australians.
● ensure that all Australians can obtain the education, housing,
and community services they need.

In 2010, Labour Party leader, Julia Gillard became the first female prime
minster of Australia.

2. Liberal Party
The Liberal Party of Australia was founded by Robert Menzies in 1944.
When in office, the Liberal Party usually forms a coalition with the National
Party.

The Liberal policies are based on the absolute rights and freedom of all
people. The party believes in incentive, individual freedom, and free
enterprise. Its main aims are:

● a lean government that minimises interference in daily life and

minimises taxes.
● a government that encourages private businesses and does not
compete with them.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
● a just and human society in which the family and the role of law
and justice are maintained.

3. National Party
The National Party was founded in 1914, originally as the Country Party. It
mainly represents people living in rural and regional Australia. The Nationals
fight for an equality of services, lifestyle, and opportunity between cities
and the regions.

The National policies are based on the rights of farmers and people living in
rural areas. Its main aims are to:

● provide strong local community representation.

● ensure decent health, safety, social, and economic welfare.
● promote individual achievement, free choice, a fair go, and
reward for private enterprise.

4. Greens Party
Formed in 1992, the Australian Greens (The Greens) is a progressive,
national party founded on four main principles: ecological sustainability,
social and economic justice, peace, and nonviolence, and grassroot
democracy. The Greens have frequently held the balance of power in the
Senate. Its main aims are to:

● protect and preserve the environment.

● ensure that everyone in our society is treated fairly and with
respect.
● create a safe, harmonious world in which force is not used to
solve differences.
● ensure that society is governed by the people, and not run by
the wealthy and powerful.

5. Independent
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
They are members of parliament who do not belong to a political party. Their
position can be very powerful if the government does not have a majority in
parliament. It relies on these independents to support the Bills going
through the parliament. The government often must make compromises and
deals with these independents to guarantee that government legislation
passes.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is a political party?
A political party is a group of people who band together because they
share the same views about issues.

2. What is required for a party to be registered with the Australian

Electoral Commission?
500 voters and the aim must be submitted.

3. What does ‘forming a coalition’ mean? Give an example.

A coalition is formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work
together to achieve a common goal (e.g. trade union).

4. What do you think about the Liberal Party forming a coalition with the
Nation and not the Labor Party or the Greens?
The origins of the Coalition date back to the 1922 federal election, when
the Nationalist Party, the main middle-class non-Labor party of the time,
lost the absolute majority it had held since its formation in 1917.

5. Which political party generally represents the interest of people in

rural and regional Australia?
Greens Party

6. Explain why a party or an individual who holds the balance of power is

so powerful.
If a party hold the balance of power, they can influence individual parties
to vote for them.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
Levels of Government
Federal (Commonwealth) State Local

- Defence and foreign - Schools - Building

- Affairs - Hospitals regulations and
- Trade - Conservation and development

- Commerce and currency environment - Public health

- Immigration - Roads - Local roads and

- Postal services - Railways and public footpaths

Responsibilities - Telecommunications and transport - Parks and playing

broadcasting - Public works fields

- Air travel - Agriculture and - Libraries

- Most social services fishing - Local

- Industrial environmental issues
- Pensions.
relations - Waste disposal
- Community - Community
services services
- Sport and
recreation
- Consumer affairs
- Police, prisons, and
emergency services.
Number of Offices 16 11 537
2 (House of 2 (Legislate Council
Number of Houses Representative and and Legislative 1
Senate) Assembly)
Leader’s position/title Prime Minister Premier Mayor
Frequency of election 3 Years 3 Years 2 years
Location Canberra, ACT All states Each shire
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
Politics Definitions
Democracy: a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible
members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

Federation: group of organisations, states, etc., that have united to form a larger
organisation or government.
Constitutional monarchy: system of government in which a monarch shares power
with a constitutionally organised government.

Constituent: the people politicians have been elected to represent.

Government portfolios: a minister's area of responsibility as a member of Cabinet.

Majority rule: the principle that the group that has the most supporters gets its
way.

Balance of power: the powers held and exercised by states within the system are
checked and balanced by the power of others.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
QUESTIONS IN THE YEARLY (PROBABLY)
MCQ:
What is a depression?
· Higher levels of unemployment – as people lose their jobs.
· Inflation (prices) may remain stable or fall.
· Wages are less likely to rise as employers are concerned about business costs.
· The level of spending by consumers decreases – consumers have less confidence
in the economy.

What is a BOOM?
· Higher levels of employment (low unemployment).
· Inflation (prices) may increase – businesses increase prices of their product.
· Wages increase – at the same rate as inflation.
· The level of spending by consumers increases – consumers have more confidence
in the economy.

What is a leakage?
Think of all the exchanges taking place within the economy. Some are putting
money into the economy. These are injections.
· Investment
· Government expenditure
· Exports

What is an injection?
Some of these are taking money out of the economy – the money is not being
utilised elsewhere in the economy. These are leakages.
· Savings
· Taxation
· Imports

Who is the defendant of the case?

The person who is charged with a criminal offence (accused)
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
What’s it called when there's a change in constitution?
Constitution alteration/reform (REFERENDUM)

What is a firm?
This sector is made up of all businesses in the economy.

What is inflation?
A general increase of the prices of goods and services in an economy.

Highest level of government…

House of Representatives?

(THERE'S MORE BUT UNKNOWN)

SHORT-RESPONSE:
Circular flow diagram fill thing.

Household, Firms (Business),

Financial, Government,
Oversea
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES

Supply and Demand Graph

a) 200 blueberry
b) 200 blueberry

Identify two impacts that recession has had on the Australian economy.
Increased Unemployment: Recessions often lead to a decrease in economic
activity, causing businesses to cut costs and reduce their workforce. This results
in higher unemployment rates as companies lay off workers or freeze hiring. In
Australia, this can have a particularly significant impact as it can affect industries
like mining, construction, and retail, which are major contributors to the economy.

Reduced Consumer and Business Spending: During a recession, consumer and

business confidence tends to decline. People become more cautious with their
spending, and businesses may postpone investments and expansion plans. This
reduction in spending can lead to a decrease in demand for goods and services,
which can further exacerbate the economic downturn. In the Australian context,
this reduced spending can impact retail, hospitality, and other consumer-dependent
sectors, which play a vital role in the country's economic health.

What is the criminal age responsibility

Children between 10-14 are not able to form criminal intent (doli incapax).

What is the concept of forming criminal intent (mens rea).

Mens rea, or criminal intent, is the mental state or guilty mind of an individual when
they commit a crime. It encompasses various levels of mental culpability, including
intentional, knowing, reckless, and negligent states of mind, depending on the
specific crime and jurisdiction.

Name 2 political parties.

Labour: progressive policies, social justice, and workers' rights
Liberal: conservative values, free-market economic policies, and individualism.
 COMMERCE YEARLY NOTES
Identify one key responsibility for each Federal, State, Local.
FEDERAL: Responsible for defence, foreign affairs, Medicare, immigration.
STATE: Responsible in areas such as education, health, transportation
infrastructure, and law enforcement within their respective states.
LOCAL: Responsible for town planning, rubbish collection, swimming pools, parks,
sewerage, streets and bridges, libraries.

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