1. The Singapore Legal System and Legislative Process
1st ASIAN FORUM OF LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION AFFAIRS
SOH Kee Bun, Senior State Counsel, Singapore

2. Singapore Legal System
Constitution of the Republic of Singapore
Historically based on the Westminister Model
Common law
Separation of powers into three main branches:
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

3. SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM
The President
Head of State; directly elected by citizens
Generally acts on the advice of the Cabinet
Acts in his discretion on several important matters as a custodian, e.g. the use of Singapore’s reserves and key public service appointments
Council of Presidential Advisers
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

4. SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM
The Executive
The President
The Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister
General direction and control of the Government and responsible to Parliament
Ministers assigned specific responsibilities by the Prime Minister
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

5. The Legislature — Parliament
President and Parliament
Main function is law making
Single legislative chamber based on the English House of Commons
No upper house or equivalent to the House of Lords
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

6. SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM
The Judiciary
Court Structure
Supreme Court Court of Appeal (appellate jurisdiction only) High Court (original and appellate jurisdiction)
Subordinate Courts District Court, Magistrate’s Court, Juvenile Court, Family Court, Coroner’s Court
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

7. SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM
The Attorney-General
Legal adviser to the Government
Not a Cabinet appointment
Drafting of Government Bills
Public Prosecutor
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

8. The Legislative Process in Singapore
Laws are made when Bills are passed by Parliament and assented to by the President
Votes on Bills are generally decided on a simple majority of the votes of members present and voting; two-thirds of elected members for a Constitutional amendment
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

9. The Legislative Process in Singapore
Procedure is regulated by the Standing Orders of Parliament
Debate can be in any of four languages: Malay, English, Mandarin or Tamil
Legislation in English
Delegated or subsidiary legislation
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

10. Presidential Council for Minority Rights
Bills passed by Parliament must (with exceptions) be sent to the Presidential Council for Minority Rights before they can be presented to the President for assent
Identify any legislative measure that is likely to be disadvantageous to persons or any racial or religious community and are not equally disadvantageous to persons of other communities (differentiating measure)
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

11. Presidential Council for Minority Rights
Report to the Speaker of Parliament: whether or not a Bill, if enacted, would be a differentiating measure
If there is an adverse report, Parliament can vote to send the Bill to the President for assent with two-thirds of the total membership of Parliament
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

12. Protection of Reserves: Presidential Veto
President may, in his discretion, veto or withhold assent to supply Bills that are likely to draw on reserves that are not accumulated by the Government during its current term of office
In the event of a veto against the advice of the Council of Presidential Advisers, Parliament can override with two-thirds of the total number of elected members
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM

13. ONLINE RESOURCES FOR REFERENCE
Singapore Law
Singapore Government
Government Public Consultation and Feedback Portal
Parliament of Singapore
Singapore Statutes Online
LAWNET Legal Portal
Law Reform work of the Singapore Academy of Law and Attorney-General’s Chambers
SINGAPORE LEGAL SYSTEM