Singaporean Parliament

Singaporean Parliament
Name	Parliament of Singapore
Legislature	14th Parliament
House type	Unicameral
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Tan Chuan-Jin
Leader2 type	Prime Minister
Leader2	Lee Hsien Loong
Leader3 type	Leader of the Opposition
Leader3	Pritam Singh
Members	93
Voting system	First-past-the-post; Group Representation Constituency; Non-Constituency Member of Parliament; Nominated Member of Parliament
Last election	2020 Singaporean general election
Meeting place	Parliament House, Singapore

Singaporean Parliament is the unicameral legislature that enacts statutes and scrutinises public administration in Singapore. It convenes at Parliament House, Singapore and comprises elected and appointed representatives drawn from People's Action Party, Workers' Party (Singapore), and other parties and independents. The body operates under the constitutional framework established by the Constitution of Singapore, interacting with the offices of the President of Singapore and the Prime Minister of Singapore.

History

The modern institution traces roots to the Legislative Assembly of Singapore created after World War II and the Rendel Constitution era, evolving through milestones such as the 1959 Singaporean general election, merger with Malaysia in 1963, and independence following the 1965 Singaporean separation from Malaysia. Early figures included Lee Kuan Yew and members of the People's Action Party who shaped the post-independence legislative order. Subsequent constitutional amendments, responses to events like the 1964 race riots in Singapore and policy debates during the Asian financial crisis of 1997, influenced reforms to representation, electoral law, and parliamentary procedure. The Parliament's institutional history intersects with developments in Singaporean law, administrative reforms under successive administrations of Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsien Loong, and international engagements such as bilateral relations with United Kingdom and United States delegations.

Composition and Membership

Membership consists of elected Members of Parliament returned from single-member constituencies and Group Representation Constituency teams, supplemented by Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament. Major political organisations represented include the People's Action Party, Workers' Party (Singapore), Progress Singapore Party, and smaller parties such as the Singapore Democratic Party and National Solidarity Party (Singapore). Prominent individual MPs have included Chan Chun Sing, Heng Swee Keat, Sylvia Lim, and Low Thia Khiang. The Speaker, drawn from members or external appointees, presides over sittings; recent Speakers include Tan Chuan-Jin and predecessors like Halimah Yacob. Membership rules are grounded in the Constitution of Singapore and statutes such as the Parliamentary Elections Act.

Powers and Functions

Parliament enacts primary legislation, approves budgets and appropriation bills presented by the Minister for Finance, and holds ministers from the Cabinet of Singapore to account via questions, motions, and debates. It confers authority on administrative agencies including the Infocomm Media Development Authority and statutory boards like the Housing and Development Board through legislation. Constitutional functions include amending the Constitution of Singapore, approving emergency measures under the Internal Security Act framework, and considering treaties subject to domestic ratification procedures. Oversight mechanisms involve select committees, parliamentary questions to ministers such as the Minister for Health and Minister for Education, and privilege proceedings related to codes like the Parliamentary Elections Act and standing orders.

Legislative Process

Bills may be introduced by ministers or private members; government bills typically originate from ministries including the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The legislative stages—first reading, second reading, committee stage, and third reading—are conducted in plenary sittings with debate governed by the Speaker and standing orders. Financial legislation follows constitutional conventions, with supply bills presented by the Ministry of Finance and debated during Budget statements by the Minister for Finance. Private Member's Bills and opposition motions, advanced by MPs from parties such as the Workers' Party (Singapore) or independents, undergo similar scrutiny though procedural rules and party discipline shape outcomes. Enactment requires Presidential assent by the President of Singapore where constitutionally required.

Committees and Parliamentary Procedure

Parliament employs standing committees, select committees, and ad hoc committees to examine legislation, public accounts, and policy areas; examples include the Public Accounts Committee and select committees on constitutional amendments. Committee membership often includes MPs from major parties such as the People's Action Party and the Workers' Party (Singapore), and committees liaise with statutory bodies including the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Procedural tools encompass parliamentary questions, adjournment motions, urgent questions, and evidence-taking hearings. Rules are codified in standing orders and shaped by precedents involving Speakers like Lui Tuck Yew and procedural reforms following debates in sessions presided over by figures such as Halimah Yacob.

Relationship with the Executive and Judiciary

Parliament operates within a Westminster-derived system where the Prime Minister of Singapore and the Cabinet of Singapore are responsible to the House, while the President of Singapore holds certain reserve powers. Cabinet ministers are typically drawn from Parliament, linking legislative majorities—especially the dominant People's Action Party—to executive authority. Judicial review by the Supreme Court of Singapore and the Court of Appeal of Singapore can assess the constitutionality of legislation and executive acts, engaging doctrines found in cases involving the Attorney-General of Singapore and statutory interpretation under the Constitution of Singapore. Interbranch relations are mediated by conventions, statutory limits, and institutional actors including the Public Service Commission and the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Category:Politics of Singapore Category:Parliaments