Parliament of Singapore

The Parliament of Singapore is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Singapore, which governs the country alongside the President of Singapore. It is based on the Westminster system and includes elected Members of Parliament (MPs), Non-constituency MPs (NCMPs) and Nominated MPs (NMPs). After the 2025 general election, 97 MPs from two political parties—the governing People's Action Party (PAP) and the opposition Workers' Party (WP)—were elected to the 15th Parliament. Two NCMPs from the Workers' Party were also appointed, and nine NMPs are usually chosen by the president every two years.

The Speaker of Parliament leads the meetings and manages the work of Parliament. The Leader of the House is chosen by the prime minister to organize government tasks, while the Leader of the Opposition heads the largest political party that is not in charge of the government. Some tasks are handled by groups called select committees of MPs. There are permanent committees and special committees created for specific issues, including reviewing bills. Some members of the People's Action Party also join Government Parliamentary Committees to look at government plans and laws made by government ministries.

The main jobs of Parliament are making laws, handling the country’s money, and making sure government leaders are doing their jobs well. Parliament meets during sessions, which start after a general election. A session ends when Parliament is prorogued or dissolved. Each Parliament can last up to five years, after which a new election must be held within three months. During meetings, debates start when an MP suggests a motion and speaks about it first. Other MPs can join the discussion, and the speaker helps decide the outcome by putting the motion to a vote, sometimes counting it carefully if asked for a division.

Since 1990, Parliament has included elected, non-constituency and nominated MPs. Committees and organized debates help review laws, look at government policies, and manage parliamentary work. Parliament first met at the Old Parliament House from 1965 to 1999, and then moved to the current Parliament House on 6 September 1999.

Terminology

The word Parliament has a few meanings. It can mean the group of people called Members of Parliament, or MPs, who are chosen by voters to talk about important issues for the country. Each time people vote in a big election, a new group of MPs starts their work. The first group for Singapore started on December 8, 1965. The current group began on September 5, 2025, and it is the fifteenth one.

Sometimes, people use Parliament to talk about the building where these meetings happen, called Parliament House.

History

On 6 February 1819, leaders of Singapore made an agreement with a British official to allow a trading post on the island. This placed Singapore under British control. Over time, Singapore’s government changed several times, with different groups making laws and decisions.

In 1959, Singapore got its own government with elections. The People’s Action Party won most seats, and Lee Kuan Yew became the first prime minister. In 1963, Singapore joined Malaysia but left in 1965 to become fully independent, keeping its own Parliament and powers to make laws.

Composition

The Parliament of Singapore is made up of different types of members. It is a single chamber, meaning all members meet together in one group. There can be up to 105 elected members, called Members of Parliament (MPs). Additionally, there can be up to 12 non-constituency MPs (NCMPs) and up to nine nominated MPs (NMPs).

After the 2025 general election, 97 MPs were elected from two political groups: the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP). The PAP won most seats, while the WP won a smaller number, including some seats as NCMPs.

MPs are elected from areas called constituencies. Some areas elect one MP, while others elect several MPs as a group. This system helps make sure that minority groups have representation in Parliament.

Committees

Select committees

A select committee is a small group of members of Parliament (MPs) chosen to focus on specific topics or problems. These committees can be permanent or set up just for a particular task. For example, they might look closely at new laws before Parliament votes on them. Sometimes, special committees are created to help choose other special members of Parliament.

These committees keep working even when Parliament takes a break, and they finish their work when they share their final reports.

Government Parliamentary Committees

Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) were started by a political group in 1987 to help check on government plans and laws. These committees look at what each government department is doing and give ideas for improvement. Only certain members of that political group can join these committees, and they sometimes ask people from the public to help give advice.

When GPCs were first started, a leader said they were created to let more MPs help make decisions, to let the public share ideas, and to make the country's systems stronger. Even when the political group lost some seats in an election, the GPCs continued, but they changed how they worked.

As of 10 July 2025, there are 12 GPCs focusing on different areas.

Parliament Secretariat

The Parliament of Singapore has a special group of people called the secretariat who help run it. They organize meetings, help translate discussions, and make reports about what happens in Parliament. They also help with important groups like the Presidential Council for Minority Rights and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

The main person in charge of the secretariat is called the Clerk of Parliament. She gives advice on how Parliament should work and helps during meetings. The Clerk is chosen by the president and works independently, meaning she can do her job without too much interference from others.

Serjeant-at-Arms

The Serjeant-at-Arms is a special officer in Parliament whose job is to keep order. If a member of Parliament behaves very badly during a meeting, the leader of the meeting or a committee head can tell that person to leave for the rest of the day. The Serjeant-at-Arms helps make sure they leave if they refuse.

The Serjeant-at-Arms also takes care of an important symbol called the Mace. They carry the Mace into and out of the room where Parliament meets during official sessions (see below).

Functions

Lawmaking

Main article: Sources of Singapore law – Statutes

The main job of Singapore's Parliament is to make laws. Singapore is a country on its own, so its Parliament has the full power to create laws for people living there. To make a law, Parliament votes on something called a "bill," which is like a draft of a new rule. After enough votes, the bill becomes an official law.

Anyone in Parliament can suggest a new bill, but most bills come from the government's leaders. Sometimes, other members of Parliament can suggest bills too. These are called "private member's bills." For these to become law, they need support from the government's leaders.

Before a bill becomes a law, it goes through a few steps. First, it is introduced and read out loud. Then, members of Parliament talk about the bill and can suggest changes. Finally, they vote on it. If most agree, the bill becomes a law.

Financial control

Parliament also watches over how the government's money is spent. All money that isn't set aside for special projects goes into a big fund called the Consolidated Fund. Another fund, the Development Fund, is used for big projects like building things or researching new ideas.

Before the government can spend any money, Parliament must approve it. This happens every year when the Minister for Finance presents a budget. Members of Parliament then discuss and vote on this budget. If they agree, the government can spend the money as planned.

Ministerial accountability

Parliament helps make sure government leaders do their jobs well. Members of Parliament can ask questions to the Prime Minister and other leaders about decisions or policies. This helps keep everyone accountable. However, because most members belong to the same party as the leaders, sometimes they don’t ask very challenging questions.

Questions to leaders can be asked during special times called "Question Time." Sometimes, written answers are given instead. This system helps make sure leaders explain their actions and plans clearly.

Parliamentary procedure

Parliament makes rules to keep its meetings organized and running smoothly. These rules are called Standing Orders, and Parliament can change them as needed. If a rule isn’t clear, the Speaker of Parliament decides what to do, though they can look at how the UK’s House of Commons handles things for ideas.

Sessions

Parliament meets in sessions. The first session starts after a general election. There should be at least one session each year, with no more than six months between the end of one session and the start of the next. Usually, Parliament has two sessions each year.

A session can end in two ways. The president can end a session on the advice of the government, called prorogation. This pauses Parliament but doesn’t end it, and no new election is needed. The other way a session ends is through dissolution. Dissolution ends the current Parliament completely. This happens after five years, if the prime minister’s job becomes empty and no one else can take it, or if the prime minister asks and the president agrees. After dissolution, a general election must be held within three months.

Sittings

Speaker's procession and the Mace

A sitting usually starts at 1:30 pm and begins with the Speaker’s procession. The Serjeant-at-Arms carries the Mace, a special staff that shows the Speaker’s authority, into the chamber ahead of the Speaker. Members of Parliament stand and bow when the Speaker enters. The Mace is placed on a table in the center of the room.

Debates

Parliament needs a certain number of members present to conduct business, called a quorum. If not enough members are there, the Speaker must stop the meeting. Members sit in specific seats, with government ministers on one side and opposition members on the other. They can speak in Malay, English, Mandarin, or Tamil, with translation available.

During debates, members follow a set order. They can ask questions, give speeches, and discuss important issues. Each speech has a time limit. Members must speak to the Speaker, not directly to each other, and stay on topic. When a debate ends, members vote to decide the outcome.

Suspension and adjournment

A sitting can be paused after 3:15 pm and usually resumes at 3:45 pm. At 7:00 pm, all business stops until the next day unless members agree otherwise. To end a sitting, a minister asks Parliament to adjourn. Sometimes, a member can ask to adjourn early to discuss an urgent issue, but this needs support from other members.

Broadcasting of parliamentary proceedings

Important events like the opening of Parliament and budget speeches are shown live on TV and online. Highlights are available on CNA for six months. The government owns the rights to these broadcasts.

Privileges, immunities and powers of Parliament

The Constitution allows the Legislature to create laws about the rights, protections, and authorities of Parliament. The first such law was made in 1962 before Singapore became independent. Today, these rules are found in the Parliament (Privileges, Immunities and Powers) Act.

Generally, Parliament and its members have the same rights and protections as the United Kingdom House of Commons did when Singapore became a country in 1965. These rights and protections apply even if they are not written in the Act and must be recognized by all courts.

Members of Parliament (MPs) have special protections. They cannot be sued or arrested for things they say or bring up in Parliament. They also do not have to appear as witnesses in court while attending Parliament. No legal actions can be taken against them for actions taken under Parliament's authority.

Parliament has the power to discipline MPs who behave badly. It can punish them by fining them, suspending them, or even sending them to prison for a short time. Parliament decides what actions are bad behavior and how to handle each case.

Parliament can also control who enters its buildings and can punish people who cause trouble there. It can order people to come and give evidence or show documents related to its inquiries.

List of Parliaments

See also: Legislative Assembly of Singapore § List of sessions

Supermajority   Majority   Plurality   Largest minority

Parliament House

Main article: Parliament House, Singapore

From 1954 to 1999, Singapore's leaders met in a building now called the Old Parliament House. This building was first built in 1827 as a home for a merchant but was later used as a courthouse. After many years, it was turned into a place for leaders to meet in 1954. When Singapore became independent in 1965, the building was renamed Parliament House.

In 1999, a new Parliament House was finished on a street renamed Parliament Place. Leaders moved there in a special ceremony. Some important items from the old building, like the Speaker's chair, were brought to the new place. The old building now serves as a venue for performances called the Arts House at the Old Parliament.