Constitution Of The Republic Of Singapore

Constitution of the Republic of Singapore

Table of Contents

Part 1 PRELIMINARY

1 Citation

2 Interpretation

Part 2 THE REPUBLIC AND THE CONSTITUTION

3 Republic of Singapore

4 Supremacy of Constitution

5 Amendment of Constitution

Part 3 PROTECTION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

6 No surrender of sovereignty or relinquishment of control over the Police Force or the Armed Forces except by referendum

7 Participation in co-operative international schemes which are beneficial to Singapore

8 No amendment to this Part except by referendum

Part 4 FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES

9 Liberty of the person

10 Slavery and forced labour prohibited

11 Protection against retrospective criminal laws and repeated trials

12 Equal protection

13 Prohibition of banishment and freedom of movement

14 Freedom of speech, assembly and association

15 Freedom of religion

16 Rights in respect of education

Part 5 THE GOVERNMENT

17 The President

17A Election of President

18 Presidential Elections Committee

19 Qualifications of President

19A Disabilities of President

19B Reserved election for community that has not held office of President for 5 or more consecutive terms

20 Term of office

21 Discharge and performance of functions of President

21A General time limit for President to exercise discretionary powers

22 Appointment of public officers, etc.

22A Appointment of members of statutory boards

22B Budgets of statutory boards

22C Appointment of directors of Government companies

22D Budgets of Government companies

22E Moneys of the Central Provident Fund

22F President’s access to information

22G Concurrence of President for certain investigations

22H President may withhold assent to certain Bills

22I Restraining order under Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act 1990

22J Civil List and personal staff of President

22K Immunity of President from suit

22L Vacation of and removal from office of President

22M Determination by Election Judge that President was not duly elected or election of President was void

22N Persons to exercise functions of President when office is vacant

22O Temporary disability of President

22P Grant of pardon, etc.

22Q President may perform foreign and international roles in private capacity if national interest requires

23 Executive authority of Singapore

24 Cabinet

25 Appointment of Prime Minister and Ministers

26 Tenure of office of Prime Minister and Ministers

27 Oath

28 Summoning of and presiding in Cabinet

29 Validity of proceedings in Cabinet

30 Assignment of responsibility to Ministers

31 Parliamentary Secretaries

32 Leave of absence for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries

33 Disabilities of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries

33A Ministers may perform foreign and international roles in private capacity if national interest requires

34 Permanent Secretaries

35 Attorney-General

35A Deputy Attorneys-General

36 Secretary to Cabinet

37 Capacity of Government as regards property, contracts and suits

Part 5A COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISERS

37A Interpretation of this Part

37B Council of Presidential Advisers

37C Alternate members

37D Qualifications of members and considerations in appointing members

37E Disqualifications of members

37F Termination of membership

37G Determination of questions as to membership

37H Oaths of Allegiance and Secrecy

37I Function of Council

37IA President’s general duty to consult Council

37IB President to immediately refer to Council certain cases concerning veto powers

37IC Referred cases — time limit for Council to make recommendation

37ID Referred cases — matters to be stated in Council’s recommendation, etc.

37IE Referred cases — Prime Minister to receive President’s grounds and Council’s recommendation if President exercises veto, etc.

37IF Referred cases — Parliament may overrule Presidential veto exercised contrary to Council’s recommendation

37IG Quorum and voting

37J Proceedings of Council

37K (Repealed)

37L Fees

37M Appointment of staff

Part 6 THE LEGISLATURE

38 Legislature of Singapore

39 Parliament

39A Group representation constituencies

40 Speaker

41 Remuneration of Speaker

42 Deputy Speaker

43 Performance of functions of Speaker

44 Qualifications for membership of Parliament

45 Disqualifications for membership of Parliament

46 Tenure of office of Members

47 Provision against double membership

48 Decision on questions as to disqualification

49 Filling of vacancies

50 Penalty for unqualified persons sitting or voting in Parliament

51 Staff of Parliament

52 Standing Orders

53 Use of languages in Parliament

54 Presiding in Parliament

55 Validity of proceedings of Parliament

56 Quorum

57 Voting

58 Exercise of legislative power

59 Introduction of Bills

60 Words of enactment of laws

61 Oath of Allegiance

62 Address by President

63 Privileges of Parliament

64 Sessions of Parliament

64A Continuity of Parliament

65 Prorogation and dissolution of Parliament

66 General elections

67 Remuneration of Members

Part 7 THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL FOR MINORITY RIGHTS

68 Interpretation of this Part

69 Establishment of Presidential Council for Minority Rights

70 Temporary appointment during incapacity of member

71 Qualifications of members

72 Disqualifications of members

73 Termination of membership

74 Determination of questions as to membership

75 Oaths of Allegiance and Secrecy

76 General function of Council

77 Functions of Council in respect of Bills and subsidiary legislation

78 Copies of Bills and amendments thereto to be sent to Council

79 Functions of Council in regard to Bills enacted on a certificate of urgency

80 Functions of Council in regard to subsidiary legislation

81 Functions of Council in regard to certain written law

82 Duties of Chairman

83 Quorum and voting

84 Proceedings of Council to be in private

85 Council’s report

86 Validity of proceedings notwithstanding vacancy in membership

87 Attendance of Minister, etc.

88 Power of Council to make rules regulating procedure

89 Annual report

90 Salaries and fees

91 Appointment of staff

92 Power to make rules generally

Part 8 THE JUDICIARY

93 Judicial power of Singapore

93A Jurisdiction to determine questions as to validity of Presidential election

94 Constitution of Supreme Court

95 Appointment of Supreme Court Judges, etc.

96 Qualifications of Supreme Court Judges

97 Oath of Office of Supreme Court Judges, etc.

98 Tenure of office and remuneration of Supreme Court Judges, etc.

99 Restriction on Parliamentary discussion of conduct of person holding high judicial office

100 Advisory opinion

101 (Repealed)

Part 9 THE PUBLIC SERVICE

102 Public services

103 Interpretation of this Part

104 Provisions about public service

105 Public Service Commission

106 Disqualification for appointment to Commission

107 Tenure of office

108 Terms of service of Chairman and members of Commission

109 Secretary to Commission

110 Functions

110A (Repealed)

110B (Repealed)

110C (Repealed)

110D Personnel boards

111 (Repealed)

111AA (Repealed)

111A Promotion to significant grade

111B Judicial Service Commission

111C Disqualification for appointment to Commission

111D Tenure of office of appointed members

111E Terms of service of appointed members, etc.

111F Functions

111G Procedure

111H Secretary to Commission

111I Personnel boards

111J Legal Service Commission

111K Disqualification for appointment to Commission

111L Tenure of office of appointed members

111M Terms of service of appointed members, etc.

111N Functions

111O Procedure

111P Secretary to Commission

111Q Personnel boards

112 Protection of pension rights

113 Power of Commissions in relation to pensions, etc.

114 Pensions, etc., to be charged on Pension Fund or Consolidated Fund

115 Pension rights on transfer

116 Regulations regarding public service

117 (Omitted)

118 Performance by Public Service Commission of other functions

119 Annual reports

Part 10 CITIZENSHIP

120 Status of citizen of Singapore

121 Citizenship by birth

122 Citizenship by descent

123 Citizenship by registration

124 Registration of minors

125 Effect of registration

126 General provisions as to registration

127 Citizenship by naturalisation

128 Renunciation of citizenship

129 Deprivation of citizenship

130 Deprivation of citizenship of child of person losing citizenship

131 General provisions as to loss of citizenship

132 Cancellation of enrolment as citizen

133 Procedure for deprivation

134 Deprivation of citizenship on acquisition of foreign citizenship

135 Deprivation of citizenship on exercise of rights of foreign nationals, etc.

136 Termination of citizenship of Malaysia

137 Deprivation of citizenship or cancellation of enrolment of child of person losing citizenship

138 Grant of certificate of citizenship in cases of doubt

139 Commonwealth citizenship

140 Application of Third Schedule

141 Repeal

Part 11 FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

142 Interpretation of this Part

143 No taxation unless authorised by law

144 Restriction on loans, guarantees, etc.

145 Consolidated Fund

146 Withdrawal from Consolidated Fund, etc.

147 Annual estimates and financial statements

148 Authorisation of expenditure from Consolidated Fund and Development Fund

148A Withholding of assent to Supply Bill, etc.

148B Power to authorise expenditure on account, etc., or for unspecified purposes

148C Contingencies Funds

148D (Repealed)

148E Debt charges and moneys required to satisfy judgments

148F Appointment of Auditor-General

148G Duty to inform President of certain transactions

148H Publication of President’s opinion regarding certain liabilities of the Government

148I Transfer of Government’s past reserves

Part 12 SPECIAL POWERS AGAINST SUBVERSION AND EMERGENCY POWERS

149 Legislation against subversion

150 Proclamation of Emergency

151 Restrictions on preventive detention

151A Defence and security measures

Part 13 GENERAL PROVISIONS

152 Minorities and special position of Malays

153 Muslim religion

153A Official languages and national language

154 Impartial treatment of Government employees

154A Exemption

155 Authorised reprints of Constitution

156 Institution of marriage

Part 14 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

157 Existing Standing Orders

158 Public officers to continue in office

159 Terms of service of persons who continue in office

160 Succession to property

161 (Omitted)

162 Existing laws

163 Person holding office of President immediately prior to 30 November 1991 to continue to hold such office

164 Transitional provisions for Article 19B

165 Transitional provisions for Council of Presidential Advisers

166 Transitional provision for persons who hold or have held office as Judge of Appeal immediately before date of commencement of Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 2019

FIRST SCHEDULE Forms of Oaths

SECOND SCHEDULE Oath of Renunciation, Allegiance and Loyalty

THIRD SCHEDULE Citizenship

FOURTH SCHEDULE Appointment of Nominated Members of Parliament

FIFTH SCHEDULE Key Statutory Boards and Government Companies