Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 8/1984

Read the first time on 29th June 1984.

An Act to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore.

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 1984.

Amendment of Article 9

2. Article 9(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (referred to in this Act as the Constitution) is amended by deleting the words “twenty-four hours” and substituting the words “48 hours”.

Amendment of Article 39

3. Article 39(1) of the Constitution is deleted and the following clauses substituted therefor:

“(1) The Parliament shall consist of —

(a)	such number of elected Members as is equal to the number of constituencies prescribed by or under any law made by the Legislature; and
(b)	such other additional Members, not exceeding 6 in number, who shall be known as non-constituency Members, as the Legislature may provide in any law relating to Parliamentary elections to ensure the representation in Parliament of a minimum number of Members from a political party or parties not forming the Government.

(1A) A non-constituency Member shall not vote in Parliament on any motion pertaining to —

(a)	a Bill to amend the Constitution;
(b)	a Supply Bill or Supplementary Supply Bill;
(c)	a Money Bill as defined in Article 68;
(d)	a vote of no confidence in the Government.

(1B) In this Article and in Article 47 a constituency shall be construed as an electoral division for the purposes of Parliamentary elections.”.

Repeal and re-enactment of Artice 49

4. Article 49 of the Constitution is repealed and the following Article substituted therefor:

“Filling of vacancies

49.—(1) Whenever the seat of a Member, not being a non-constituency Member, has become vacant for any reason other than a dissolution of Parliament, the vacancy shall be filled by election in the manner provided by or under any law relating to Parliamentary elections for the time being in force.

(2) The Legislature may by law provide for —

(a)	the vacating of a seat of a non-constituency Member in circumstances other than those specified in Article 46;
(b)	the filling of vacancies of the seats of non-constituency Members where such vacancies are caused otherwise than by a dissolution of Parliament.”.

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