The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the Presidentjointly make up

the legislature of Singapore, which is based on the Westminster system. Parliament

is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected, as well
as Non-constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) and Nominated Members of
Parliament(NMPs) who are appointed. Following the 2015 general election, 89 MPs and
three NCMPs were elected to the 13th Parliament. Nine NMPs were appointed during the
first session of this Parliament. The first sitting of the 13th Parliament took place on 15
January 2016.
Quick Facts: Malay:, Chinese: ...
Parliament House by the Singapore River with the dome of the Old Supreme Court Building in the
background, photographed on 7 September 2006
Between 1819, when modern Singapore was founded, and 1867, the lawmaking authorities
were the British government in India and the Parliament of the United Kingdom. After
the Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang, and Singapore) became a Crown colony, this
function was taken over by the Settlements' Legislative Council, which was an unelected
body. Following World War II the Straits Settlements were dissolved and Singapore became
a colony in its own right with its own Legislative Council. In 1948 the Constitution was
amended to allow for six seats in the council to be elected; the country's first democratic
elections were held that year. A further amendment in 1955 increased the number of elected
seats to 25, and in the general elections that followed, the Labour Front won the majority of
the seats in the Legislative Assembly of Singapore and its leader, David Saul Marshall,
became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. Self-government was negotiated with
the Colonial Office in London in 1956–1957, and became a reality in 1959. In the 1959
general elections, the People's Action Party (PAP) swept to power, and its leader Lee Kuan
Yewwas appointed Prime Minister of Singapore. Singapore gained independence from
Britain by joining Malaysia in 1963, but became a fully independent republic on 9 August
1965. Its Legislative Assembly was renamed the Parliament of Singapore.
The Speaker of Parliament has overall charge of the administration of Parliament and its
secretariat, and presides over parliamentary sittings. The Leader of the House is an MP
appointed by the Prime Minister to arrange government business and the legislative
programme of Parliament, while the unofficial Leader of the Opposition is the MP who leads
the largest opposition party able and prepared to assume office if the Government resigns.
However, in September 2011, Low Thia Khiang, the secretary-general of the Workers' Party
of Singapore, which holds the most opposition seats in Parliament, said that he would not be
accepting the title. Some of Parliament's work is carried out by select committees made up of
small numbers of MPs. Standing select committees are permanently constituted to fulfil
certain duties, and ad hoc select committees are established from time to time to deal with
matters such studying the details of bills. In addition, selected PAP backbenchers sit on
Government Parliamentary Committees that examine the policies, programmes and proposed
legislation of government ministries.
The main functions of Parliament are lawmaking, controlling the nation's finances, and
ensuring ministerial accountability. Parliament convenes when it is in session. The first
session of a particular Parliament commences when Parliament meets after being formed
following a general election. A session ends when Parliament is prorogued (temporarily
suspended) or dissolved. The maximum term of each Parliament is five years, after which
Parliament automatically dissolves. A general electionmust then be held within three months.
The quorum for a Parliamentary sitting is one quarter of the total number of MPs, not
including the Speaker. An MP begins a debate by moving a motionand delivering an opening
speech explaining the reasons for the motion. The Speaker (or chairman, if Parliament is in
committee) then puts the motion in the form of a question, following which other MPs may
debate the motion. After that, the mover may exercise a right of reply. When the debate is
closed, the Speaker puts the question on the motion to the House and calls for a vote. Voting
is generally done verbally, and whether the motion is carried depends on the Speaker's
personal assessment of whether more MPs have voted for than against the motion. MPs' votes
are only formally counted if an MP claims a division.
Parliament regulates its own privileges, immunities and powers. For instance, the freedom of
speech and debate and proceedin