Government and Politics of Singapore

Government Type

parliamentary republic

Administrative Divisions

none

Legal System

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam (since 14 September 2023) head of government: Prime Minister LAWRENCE Wong (since 15 May 2024); Deputy Prime Ministers GAN Kim Yong and HEng Swee Keat (both since 15 May 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; last election held on 1 September 2023 (next election to be held by September 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: THARMAN Shanmugaratnam elected president on 1 September 2023; he won outright in a three-way contest, receiving approximately 70.4 percent of the vote; Ng Kok Song received approximately 15.7 percent and TAN Kin Lian received approximately 13.9 percent

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Parliament (97 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); in addition, there are up to nine nominated members appointed by a special select committee; the losing opposition candidate who comes closest to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member, with up to 12 such members permitted. Elections: last held on 10 July 2020 (next to be held by November 2025). Election results: percent of vote by party - People's Action Party (PAP) 61.2%, Workers' Party (WP) 11.2%, other parties 27.6%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10, nonconstituency members 2.

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

governing party: People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; opposition parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [LING How Dong]; National Solidarity Party or NSP [YIP Yew Weng] (SDA group); Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong] (includes SPP, PKMS, NSP, SJP); Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore Justice Party or SJP [Desmond LIM] (SDA group); Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS [Malik ISMAIL] (SDA group); Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong] (SDA group); Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia Lim Swee LIAN]

Head of State

President THARMAN Shanmugaratnam

Head of Government

Prime Minister LAWRENCE Wong

Cabinet

appointed by president, responsible to parliament

Elections

last held on 10 July 2020 (next to be held by November 2025).

Election Results

percent of vote by party - People's Action Party (PAP) 61.2%, Workers' Party (WP) 11.2%, other parties 27.6%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 10, nonconstituency members 2.

Constitution

3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Independence

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 9 August (1965)

International Organization Participation

APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

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 consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001 telephone: [65] 6476-9100 FAX: [65] 6476-9340

Capital City

Singapore

Location

1 17 N, 103 51 E

Time Difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

name derives from the Sanskrit words simha (lion) and pura (city), thus creating the city's epithet "lion city"

The U.S. Embassy 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 Telephone: [65] 6476-9100 Facsimile: [65] 6476-9340 Emergency after-hours telephone: [65] 6476-9100. Email: SingaporeACS@state.gov

Military Branches

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense)

Service Age and Obligation

18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 1/2 years of age for volunteers; 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers)