FOR MODEL PARLIAMENT 2014 Ms Chua Lin Hwee Senior Assistant Clerk PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES FOR MODEL PARLIAMENT 2014 Ms Chua Lin Hwee Senior Assistant Clerk

OUTLINE OF BRIEFING (A) Why Parliamentary Procedure Is Needed? (B) Basis of Parliamentary Procedure (C) Business of the House Question Time Ministerial Statements Bills Orders of the Day Motions Adjournment Decisions (D) Rules of Debate

(A) WHY PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE IS NEEDED? Rules exist to facilitate the transaction of business Members to have equal rights, privileges and responsibilities Rules to be administered impartially Mutual respect and decorum to protect dignity of parliament Right to know what will be discussed Definite precedence for the order of business

(A) WHY PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE IS NEEDED? (cont’d) Only one question at a time Speaker proposes the question to the House. “The Question is, “That the House…….” Definite and logical order of precedence for the disposition of business Opportunities for full and free discussion before any decision Right to know the question before voting Speaker puts the question to the House. “The Question is, “That the House……” As many as are of that opinion, say 'Aye' [pauses], to the contrary say 'No'.”

(B) BASIS OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE Statutes -> Constitution of Singapore, Parliament (Powers, Privileges and Immunities) Act and other Acts Standing Orders of Parliament Conventions and Practice - > Speaker’s rulings

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - QUESTION TIME An integral and important part of parliamentary business. Do not involved the House to be involved in any kind of decision. Demonstrates government’s responsibility and accountability to Parliament. Sittings usually begins with Question Time and it continues for the next 90 minutes. Types of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) Questions for Oral Answer and Questions for Written Answer Rules on PQs Number of PQs per MP for each sitting Notice period Content of PQ – 15 rules under Standing Order 21(1) Related to affairs within official functions Concise and contain one issue Questions should not ask for opinions, answers to hypothetical issues and sub judice matters Questions fully answered should not raised again

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - QUESTION TIME (cont’d) Supplementary Questions (on Oral PQs) Must be relevant to the original PQ No speeches allowed What happens in the Chamber? Order Paper list the Oral PQs for that sitting. Speaker calls the Member to ask their PQs. Member will stand and state his Question Number. If that Member is absent, any other Member can ask the Question in his place. Speaker will call Minister to respond. Member may ask Supplementary Questions after the Minister’s response.

QUESTION TIME

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Statements of Government policy on matters of public importance. Sometimes, replies to Oral PQs may be delivered as a Ministerial Statement. Rules on Ministerial Statements Clarification allowed on Minister’s speech but no debate. Clarification must be in the form of a question on a matter raised in the speech. Not a motion itself, no question before the House for decision. Notice not required.

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS (cont’d) Motion on Ministerial Statement To give an opportunity for the House to discuss/debate on the Statement without having to come to a decision/resolution of the House, a Motion may be moved for a debate on a Ministerial Statement (S.O. 44). Usually phrased as, “That [subject matter of Ministerial Statement] be considered by Parliament.” Rules on a Motion on Ministerial Statement Motion can only be moved by a Minister No amendment allowed No notice is required. However, notice of debate is encouraged. No vote taken. Motion lapses at the end of debate

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - BILLS A Bill is a draft law introduced in Parliament. It may be a Bill proposing a new law or an amendment to an existing law. Each Bill progress through its three readings in Parliament. Rules on Bills [ S.O. 66 to 88] Any MP can introduce a Bill [Art. 59(1) Const.] Private Member Bill (leave required) vs Government Bill Notice period required to introduce Bills and amendments to Bills See Passage of Bills

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - BILLS (cont’d) Introduction and First Reading Second Reading Committee Stage Third Reading Presidential Council for Minority Rights President’s Assent Government Gazette No debate Bill circulated to all Members Highlight if the Bill discriminates against any racial or religious community in Singapore At least seven clear days after Introduction Debate on principles of a Bill Debate on Amendments to clauses Committee of the Whole House Select Committee on a Bill Reporting a Bill from a Committee

Passage of Bill

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - ORDERS OF THE DAY Definition - Any Bill or other matter which Parliament has ordered to be taken into consideration on a particular day [S.O. 26 (1)]. Examples : Second reading of Bills and adjourned debate.

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - MOTION A proposal for the House to do something, order something to be done or express an opinion on some definite matter. A motion is debatable and will be put to a vote. The result is a decision or resolution of the House. Rules on Motion In most cases, notice of motion is required. Supporters required for non-Government motion – at least 1 and not more than 5 Mover speaks twice and all other Members speak once. Speech limit: Mover of the motion – 40 mins to move and 40 mins to reply Backbench MPs: 20 mins Officeholders: 40 mins Content of Motion Motions considered and concluded in Parliament should not be raised again Matters which are sub judice Anticipating a matter already appointed for discussion on a future day

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - MOTION (cont’d) What happens in the Chamber? Speaker calls the mover. Mover states the motion then makes his speech Speaker proposes the motion Debate (other Members make their speeches) At the end of the debate, Speaker calls the mover to reply After the reply, Speaker puts the motion and takes the vote Amendments to Motion

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - ADJOURNMENT Proceedings in the House to be adjourned before adjournment of Parliament. Standing Order 27(1) – Any Member may move “that the debate be now adjourned” If agreed to, the debate shall be adjourned and Speaker will call the Member in charge of that item of business to name a later time or a later sitting day for its resumption. Adjournment of Parliament moved by Minister.

(C) BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE - VOTING At the end of a debate, Speaker will put the motion or Bill to a vote. There are two methods of voting: Collection of Voices: Most decisions are carried by the majority of Members present. Speaker will ask those who agree to say “Aye” and those who disagree to say “No”. He will then decide if the “Ayes” or “Noes” are in the majority and annouce “I think the Ayes/Noes have it. The Aye/Noes have it.” Dissent: If a Member wants his dissent to be recorded in the Hansard and the Votes and Proceedings, he should inform Speaker immediately after he announces the result of the vote Division: Some decisions require the support of two-thirds of all Members, for example, an amendment to the Constitution. For this we have the Electronic Voting System where the vote of each Member is counted and recorded

(D) RULES OF DEBATE Speaking in Parliament No Unparliamentary Language Catch the Speaker’s Eye - Speak only when called by the Speaker Addressing the Chair and References to another Member Refer all speeches, questions and observations to the Chair Be seated and remain silent when Speaker rises to speak No Unparliamentary Language No reference to any sub judice matters, or conduct of the President or of any Member except in his capacity as MP No Member shall interrupt another Member except by rising on a point of order or a point of clarification.

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