Singapore Legislation Conducted by Carol Wee Content by Lee Su-Lin Lecture on 20 August 2018 © C J Koh Law Library 2009-2019

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This tutorial is specifically designed for the Legal Analysis, Research and Communication (LARC) course for first year law students. The purpose of this tutorial is to teach students the fundamentals of locating and researching Singapore legislation.

Contents 1. Primary sources of law p.6 2. Singapore legislation p.7 3. Legislative process p.8 4. Subsidiary legislation p.10 5. Amendments to Acts p.11 6. Versions of Current Acts p.14 7. Earlier Versions of Acts p.21

Legal Authorities Others Introduction Primary Secondary Exam Papers Citators Digests Encyclopedias Exam Papers Subject Guides Library Services Law Library Page (October) Legislation Case Law Treatises Journal Articles

Primary Sources of Law Primary sources of law are authoritative records of law made by the law-making bodies of Singapore. The 2 main sources of law are: Legislation Statutes Subsidiary legislation Quasi-legislation. 2. Case Law Decisions of the Singapore courts.

Singapore Legislation The 2 main sources of legislation in Singapore today: I. Statutes of the Republic of Singapore (primary legislation) Ref: K7399 …. II. Subsidiary Legislation of the Republic of Singapore (secondary legislation) Ref: K7449 1990

Legislative Process The Legislature, the law-making body in Singapore, comprises the President the Parliament of Singapore. Statutes begin life as Bills which are drafted by legal officers in the Attorney-General's Chambers. A Bill becomes law (i.e. an Act) when it is passed by Parliament and assented to by the President. An Act comes into force on a date determined by the Minister and notified by a Commencement Notification in the Government Gazette.

Attorney-General’s Chambers Legislative Process Attorney-General’s Chambers Bill is drafted Parliament Bill will be debated or referred to a Select Committee Bill is passed by Parliament and assented to by the President becomes law Government Printer Act is published in the Government Gazette Act comes into force on date determined by the Minister and notified by Commencement Notification in the Gazette For more details, see The Legislative Process (by AGC)

Subsidiary Legislation Acts usually confer power on the Minister in charge to make subsidiary legislation. E.g. Central Provident Fund Act (Cap. 36, 2013 Rev. Ed.) Various regulations, rules and orders have been made under the Act

Amendments to Acts Principal Act Amendments Current Version of Act Consolidation of amendments (available in Singapore Statutes Online (SSO)) Substantial amendments to Act Act Supplement E.g. 36 of 2000 Subsidiary Legislation Supplement E.g. S 262/2004 Revised Edition of Act Authoritative version (available in print; several in SSO) Bill Parliamentary debate

Amendments to Acts Acts Supplement E.g. No.1 of 2004 and No.3 of 2004 Ref: K7399 SA

Earlier Revised Editions of the Singapore Statutes Amendments to Acts Earlier Revised Editions of the Singapore Statutes 1955 Rev. Ed. 1970 Rev. Ed. 1985 Rev. Ed.

Versions of Current Acts I. Latest Revised Edition heavily amended Acts are revised by the Law Revision Commission, AGC these are the authoritative versions of Singapore Acts available at the Law Library RBR; a selection are available in SSO II. Current Version (latest revised edition with amendments) Singapore Acts are updated regularly by the Attorney General’s Chambers available on Singapore Statutes Online (SSO): https://sso.agc.gov.sg/

Versions of Current Acts I. Latest Revised Edition (at Law Library RBR) e.g. Bankruptcy Act Title of Act Chapter No. Previous Rev. Eds. Original Act Previous Rev. Eds. amended by Acts supplements and subsidiary legislation supplements Current Rev. Ed. Date current Rev. Ed. came into effect In older revised editions, the legislative history of the Act can be found on the front page

Versions of Current Acts I. Latest Revised Edition (contd) e.g. Central Provident Fund Act In the new revised editions, the legislative history of the Act is no longer available on the front cover.

Versions of Current Acts I. Latest Revised Edition (contd) e.g. Central Provident Fund Act The legislative history can only be found at the back of the Act: Acts supplements and subsidiary legislation supplements amending the 2001 Rev. Ed. E.g. 2001 Rev. Ed.

Versions of Current Acts II. Current Version (https://sso.agc.gov.sg/) e.g. Central Provident Fund Act Search for the Act or browse the alphabetical list

Versions of Current Acts II. Current Version (https://sso.agc.gov.sg/) e.g. Central Provident Fund Act If you search for the Act, click on the relevant Act

Versions of Current Acts II. Current Version (https://sso.agc.gov.sg/) e.g. Central Provident Fund Act Amendments after 2013 Rev Ed Click on timeline to see legislative history Check status

Earlier Versions of Acts You can also retrieve earlier versions of Acts, including Revised Editions: 2. Click on date e.g. 30 Jun 2013 or PDF for the 2013 Rev Ed 1. Drag slider to required version

Earlier Versions of Acts Central Provident Fund Act (Cap 26, 2013 Rev Ed Sing) Note: Even though the status indicates it is not current, and only effective from 30 Jun 2013 to 31 Jul 2013, the latest Revised Edition is the current authoritative version of the statute.

Thank you You have reached the end of this tutorial. If you have any queries, please email cjkohlib@nus.edu.sg or speak to a librarian at the C J Koh Law Library Information Desk: 6516 2043. Content by Lee Su-Lin Updated 17 Aug 2018 © C J Koh Law Library 2009-2019