Y10 SEM1: HUM EXAM

economics, history, geography, politics & law

What is the business cycle?

the ongoing pattern of expansion and contraction in economic activity

What are the targets for the economy?

GDP: 2-4%

Inflation: 2-3%

Unemployment: 4-5%

What is the role of the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics)?

the ABS collects official data on Australia’s economy, population, and society to help people make informed decisions.

How does economic performance affect living standards?

• Strong economic performance → more jobs, higher incomes, improves living standards.

• Poor performance → fewer jobs, lower incomes, lowers living standards.

What is macroeconomics, and why do we measure the economy?

• the study of the economy as a whole

• helps make predictions, better decisions and reduces uncertainty

How do other countries (overseas sector) influence our economy?

• when China grows → Australia exports more

• if interest rates change in another country → money moves between countries

• both global and local factors impact our economy

Complete the table (high, low, increasing, decreasing)

How are economies measured (3 main quantitative indicators)?

1. economic growth - is the economy producing more goods & services?

2. unemployment - how many people can’t find work?

3. inflation - are prices rising too quickly?

What is GDP and why is GDP data gathered?

• GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in one year.

• Data is gathered to measure economic performance, track growth, and compare living standards over time.

GDP per capita

• GDP divided by population

• shows the average output per person and gives an indication of living standards.

Limitations of GDP

it doesn’t measure:

• wellbeing

• unpaid work

• environmental damage

Why does economic growth matter and what does it mean to grow sustainably?

• creates jobs, increases income, and improves living standards.

• Sustainable growth is steady growth (about 2–4%) that meets current needs without harming future generations

What is unemployment and how do we measure it?

Types of unemployment. When they occur? Give an example.

• frictional

• structural

• cydical

• seasonal

Effects of high unemployment

negative

• lower standard of living

positive

• reduces inflation

What is inflation?

an increase in the prices of goods and services bought by households

Is it bad if prices rise?

• no, it is a sign of a healthy economy

• because it means there are lots of transactions and its adding value to what we produce and consume

How is inflation measured?

• by the ABS, using the CPI (consumer price index)

• CPI: a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by households for common goods and services

Causes of inflation

Demand-pull inflation: demand is higher than supply

👉 Too much money chasing too few goods.

Cost-push inflation: businesses have higher production costs

👉 It costs more to make things, so prices go up.

Effects of high inflation

• Decreased purchasing power for consumers

• Increase in interest rates

• Worsening income inequality

How do businesses respond during an economic downturn?

• Reduce output → because demand is falling

• Cut costs → to protect profits

• Increase marketing/promotions → to attract limited consumers

• Invest in innovation → to gain competitive advantage

How do businesses respond during an economic boom?

• Increase output → to meet higher demand

• Hire more staff / expand operations → to support growth

• Boost marketing / promotions → to capture more customers

• Invest in innovation → to stay ahead of competitors

What is the United Nations (UN)?

An international organisation created in 1945 after WWII.

Why was the United Nations created?

• To prevent future wars after WWII

• To promote peace and cooperation between countries

What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)?

• A document created by the United Nations

• on December 10, 1948

• that covers the basic rights and freedoms of every person

What are the key ideas of the UDHR?

• All humans are born free and equal

• Everyone has the right to be safe

• No one should face discrimination

What was the key objective of the US Civil Rights Movement (1950s)?

• African Americans wanted to fight against racial segregation

• and have equal rights

Who was Emmett Till?

1955

• A 14-year-old African American boy

• who was murdered in August 1955 in Mississippi

• for allegedly offending a white woman.

Why was Emmett Till’s death significant?

• His open casket showed the brutality of racism

• The killers were found not guilty

• It shocked the nation and helped spark the Civil Rights movement

Who was Rosa Parks?

1955

• An African American woman

• who refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger

• in Montgomery in December 1955.

What was the Montgomery Bus Boycott?

1956

• Lasted 381 days

• A protest where Black Americans refused to use city buses

• Showed success of the Civil Rights Movement

• Showed the power of peaceful protest

Who was Martin Luther King Jr?

died in 1968

• A social activist and baptist minister

• who promoted non-violent protest

• to fight racial segregation

Why was Martin Luther King Jr significant?

• Led many civil rights campaigns

• Said the “I Have a Dream” speech (1963)

• Helped achieve important civil rights laws

Who were the Little Rock Nine?

1957

• Nine African American students

• who attended Little Rock Central High School

• in Arkansas in September 1957

Why was the Little Rock Nine event significant?

• They faced violent protests from white students

• The Governor Orval Faubus told the National Guard to block them

• The President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect them

What discrimination did Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face before the 1960s?

• Weren’t counted in the national census

• Had limited voting rights

• Segregation in schools, pools, etc.

What was the Day of Mourning?

1938

• A protest held on 26 January 1938

• by Aboriginal activists

• who wanted equal rights and citizenship

Who was involved in the Day of Mourning; what was the result?

• protest organisers: William Cooper, William Ferguson, Jack Patten

• it drew attention to the injustices faced by Aboriginal people

• became an annual event for Aboriginals / their supporters

What happened in 1962 for Indigenous Australians?

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

• were given the right to vote in federal elections

Why was the 1962 voting right significant?

• It recognised Indigenous Australians as participants in democracy

• a step toward equal political rights

What was the Bark Petition and why was it significant?

August 1963

• In 1963, Yolngu people protested mining on their land to Parliament

• First Aboriginal document recognised by Australian Parliament

• Brought national attention to Indigenous land rights

What was the Gurindji Strike and why was it significant?

August 1966

• In 1966, Gurindji workers went on strike at Wave Hill station

• Protested poor wages and Aboriginal land rights

• Led to the PM handing back land to them

(Native Title Act 1993)

What were the Freedom Rides?

1965

• In 12-27 February 1965, university students

• travelled through rural NSW

• to expose discrimination against Aboriginal people

Why were the Freedom Rides significant?

• Brought national attention to racism in Australia

• Helped build support for change

• Led by Charles Perkins (activist)

What was the 1967 Referendum?

May 1967

• A vote where over 90% of Australians

• supported changing the Constitution (two sections)

• to improve rights for Indigenous people

What did the 1967 Referendum allow?

• The federal government would make laws for them

(Section 51)

• Indigenous Australians to be counted in the census

(Section 127)

What was the Mabo Decision (1992)?

June 1992

• A 1992 High Court ruling

• recognising that Indigenous Australians

• had traditional ownership of land

Why was the Mabo Decision significant?

• Rejected the idea that Australia was terra nullius (land belonging to no one)

• Recognised Indigenous land rights

Who were the Stolen Generations (1910s to 1970s)?

• Indigenous children

• who were removed from their families

• by government policies (1910s to 1970s)

What was the Bring Them Home Report (1997)?

• A 1997 report investigating the Stolen Generations

• and the harm caused by child removal policies

What was the National Apology (2008)?

• In February 2008, the Australian government (Kevin Rudd)

• formally apologised to the Stolen Generations and Indigenous people

What is Reconciliation in Australia?

• The process of building respectful relationships

• between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people

• to address past injustices and

• create a more just and equal Australia

climate change

• long-term changes in weather patterns (temp, rainfall, extreme weather events)

• driven by human activities → increases greenhouse gases

e.g. more heatwaves/bushfires in australia

greenhouse effect

• gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun

• keeps earth warm, but human activities has intensified it

e.g. CO₂ from coal increases heat trapping → increases global temp

global warming

• gradual increase in earth’s surface temp

• caused by the intensified greenhouse effect (more greenhouse gases in atmosphere)

e.g. last 10 years have been the warmest (record high)

carbon emissions

• release of CO₂ / carbon gases into the atmosphere

• caused by human activities → increases greenhouse effect

e.g. emissions from vehicles are a major source in australia

mitigation

• actions that reduce the causes of climate change

• lowering greenhouse gas emissions → limits impact of climate change

e.g. switching to renewable energy sources (climate change mitigation)

adaptation

• controlling human activities → reduce the negative impacts of climate change

• some climate change is unavoidable → manage its effects

e.g. flood barriers to protect coastal communities

sustainability

• using resources to meet current needs without harming future generations

• balancing protection of environment, economy, and social wellbeing

e.g. maintain soil health + continue food production (sustainable farming practices)

climate vulnerability

• how easily affected a place is on the effects of climate change

• judged by exposure to hazards, ability to adapt

e.g. low-lying islands are highly vulnerable to rising sea levels

sea-level rise

• gradual increase in the levels of oceans

• caused by expansion of seawater when it warms → serious risks to coastal environments

e.g. threatens homes/buildings near the coast

extreme weather events

• weather conditions very different from weather patterns (heatwaves, floods)

• climate change increases severity of these events

e.g. intense rainfall → increased flooding

kakadu case study: location + importance

• Northern Territory, Australia

• UNESCO World Heritage wetland

• High biodiversity + cultural significance for Traditional Owners

kakadu case study: environmental issue

• Saltwater intrusion into freshwater wetlands

• Increases salinity in water and soil

• Causes shift from freshwater to salt-tolerant ecosystems

kakadu case study: causes

• Sea-level rise pushes seawater inland

• Climate change drives warming and extreme weather

• Storm surges force temporary inland flooding

• Past buffalo damage weakened wetland barriers

kakadu case study: evidence + data

• Sea level rising ~3–4 mm per year

• Salinity levels increasing in floodplains

• Decline in freshwater vegetation like paperbark trees

• Up to 78% of freshwater wetlands could be lost within < 75 years

kakadu case study: environmental effects

• Freshwater plants die or decline due to salt stress

• Loss of habitat for fish, birds, and insects

• Reduced biodiversity and ecosystem stability

kakadu case study: social/cultural/economic effects

• Reduced access to traditional foods (fish, plants)

• Cultural connection to Country is affected

• Tourism declines due to environmental degradation

kakadu case study: stakeholders

• Traditional Owners: protect culture + manage Country

• Parks Australia: conservation + tourism balance

• Scientists: monitor and provide data

kakadu case study: management responses

• Saltwater barriers slow intrusion

• Vegetation restoration rebuilds habitats

• Monitoring tracks salinity and ecosystem change

kakadu case study: mitigation strategies

• Monitoring detects changes early

• Restoration repairs damaged ecosystems

• Adaptation planning prepares for long-term impacts

kakadu case study: evaluation

• Some success in local restoration areas

• Ongoing sea-level rise limits effectiveness

• Long-term solution requires broader climate action

define democracy

A system of government where citizens vote to choose representatives and have a say in decisions.

define the constitution. what does it outline?

It is the set of rules/laws that explains how Australia’s government operates, outlining powers of parliament, courts and the division of powers.

define rule of law

A principle that states no one is above the law, including the government.

define federalism

The system in Australia that involves the sharing of power between federal and state governments.

define the electoral system

It is the process Australians use to vote and elect representatives into parliament

define checks & balances

Systems in place to stop one branch of government being too powerful / corrupted. It ensures fairness as each branch can either reduce / examine the powers of another branch.

define the bicameral system

Australia’s parliament has two houses: House of Representatives and Senate. This helps review laws carefully and increases accountability.

what is the role of the Governor General?

To represent the King in Australia, while giving royal assent to laws and carrying out constitutional duties.

Australia is classified as a “constitutional monarchy”. what does this mean?

Australia has a monarch as head of state, but powers are limited by the constitution. Elected members can make political decisions, not the monarch.

what is the role of the House of Reps?

The House of Reps forms government, introduces most laws, and represents Australians based on population.

what is the role of the Senate?

The Senate reviews laws, represents the states equally, and helps hold the government accountable.

what is the legislative branch responsible for?

Branch of government responsible for making laws, including the House of Representatives and Senate.

what is the executive branch responsible for?

Branch of government responsible for applying laws, including the Prime Minister and Governor General.

what is the judiciary branch responsible for?

Branch of government responsible for interpreting laws, keeping laws fair and independent from politics.

define participation

Citizens being involved in democracy through voting, protests or political discussion.

what does participation ensure?

Participation ensures people have a voice in society, upholding democratic values.

define representation

Elected members speak and make decisions on behalf of citizens.

what does representation ensure?

Representation ensures different groups in society are considered in Parliament.

what is a direct vs representative democracy?

Direct = where citizens vote on laws themselves.

Representative = where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

define decentralised powers

Power is spread across different branches of government instead of one central authority.

why is decentralised powers important?

It reduces the risk of too much power being concentrated in one place.

define separation of powers

Government powers are divided between branches to prevent abuse of power.

what does separation of powers protect?

Separation of powers protects democracy and accountability.

define division of powers

What responsibilities are shared between federal and state governments, written in the Australian Constitution.

why is the division of powers important?

Prevents one govt from having too much control, ensuring laws stay fair and protect people.

what are exclusive powers and which level of govt has it?

Powers only the federal government can control, including defence, immigration and currency.

what are concurrent powers and which level of govt has it?

Powers shared by both federal and state governments, including education and healthcare.

define scrutiny

Closely examining government actions and decisions, helping hold the government accountable.