The Government of Singapore

Some Basic Facts

• Country name, conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
• conventional short form: Singapore
• Data code: SN
• National capital: Singapore
• Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
• National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)

The Singapore Government Internet Website

• Overview
• Individual Ministries (e.g., Defence, Foreign Affairs, Education, and so on)
• Online Services

Form of Government, Legal System, and Constitution

• Government type: republic within Commonwealth
• Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)
• Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
• Legal system: based on English common law, but does not employ the jury system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Organization of Government

Executive branch

• founding head of government: Lee Kuan Yew (present title: Senior Minister)
• chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993)
• head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November 1990)
• Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November 1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)
• cabinet: appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
• elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
• election results: ONG Teng Cheong elected president in the country's first popular election for president; percent of vote -- ONG Teng Cheong 59%, CHUA Kim Yeow 41%

Legislative branch

• unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
• elections: last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 2002)
• election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party -- PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1

Judicial branch

• Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister
• other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders:

• government: People's Action Party (PAP), GOH Chok Tong, secretary general
• opposition:
  • Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), CHEE Soon Juan
  • Workers' Party (WP), J. B. JEYARETNAM
  • National Solidarity Party (NSP), C. K. TAN
  • Singapore People's Party (SPP), CHIAM See Tong

International Affairs

• International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS (pending member), C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
• Diplomatic representation in the US
  • chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
  • chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
  • FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
• Diplomatic representation from the US
  • chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy A. CHORBA
  • embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
  • mailing address: FPO AP 96534
  • telephone: [65] 476-9100
  • FAX: [65] 476-9340
• International Disputes: two islands in dispute with Malaysia