Singapore KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1965 Population: 5,188,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$42,930 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 26 Geography Area: 699 sq km Coastline: 193 km Capital: Singapore The name ‘Singapore’ derives from the Sanskrit Singa Pura (‘City of the Lion’). Situated in South-East Asia and lying just north of the equator, the Republic of Singapore is separated from Peninsular Malaysia by the narrow Johor Straits (1 km wide), crossed by a causeway. A number of smaller islands are included within its boundaries and a few kilometres to the south are islands belonging to Indonesia. Constitution Status: Republic Legislature: Parliament of Singapore Independence: 9 August 1965 Singapore is a republic and a parliamentary democracy, with an elective, non-executive presidency. The constitution came into force on 2 June 1959. It provides for a Head of State, a Prime Minister and a cabinet, and a unicameral Parliament. Elections, under universal adult suffrage and compulsory voting, must be held at least every five years. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party in parliament, who chooses a cabinet from among the members of parliament. The Parliament is made up of three types of members: 87 elected members (75 elected in teams of between three and six to represent 14 group representation constituencies and 12 in single-member constituencies); up to nine nominated members (NMPs); and up to three nonconstituency members (NCMPs) from the opposition political parties. In early 2013 the Twelfth Parliament had 99 members, comprising 87 elected members, nine NMPs and three NCMPs. The President is directly elected by universal adult suffrage for a six-year term. In practice the President no longer has powers of veto over legislation or appointments. The position is largely ceremonial. The first presidential election was held in 1993 but, in 1999 and in 2005, when the election committee, under the very restrictive eligibility rules, found only one candidate to be eligible, there was no election. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Singapore Ministry: Law The constitution provides for independence of the judiciary. The Supreme Court comprises the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Other courts include the district courts, magistrates’ courts, Coroner’s Court, Juvenile Court, Family Court, Small Claims Tribunal and Community Court (dealing with offenders aged 16–18, those with mental illnesses and cases involving family violence). The Court of Appeal is the final court of appeal. The High Court has original jurisdiction in the most serious civil and criminal cases and appellate jurisdiction in appeals from the lower courts. The district and magistrates’ courts both have jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, the more serious cases coming before the district courts. The chief justice and other Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President of the republic on the advice of the Prime Minister, or in the case of the other judges, the chief justice. Commonwealth Governance 264 Handbook 2013/14
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