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
Chapter 1 — The President
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
Chapter 2 — The Executive
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
Chapter 3 — Capacity as regards property, contracts and suits
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
Chapter 1 — General provisions
102 Public services
103 Interpretation of this Part
104 Provisions about public service
Chapter 2 — The Public Service Commission
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
Chapter 3 — The Judicial Service Commission
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
Chapter 4 — The Legal Service Commission
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
Chapter 5 — Supplementary Provisions
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
Legislative History
Abbreviations
Comparative Table