This document provides information about Singapore's history, government, and democratic system. It discusses: - Singapore's founding by Stamford Raffles in 1819 and its history as part of Malaysia before becoming a republic in 1965. - Its dominant People's Action Party (PAP) political system led by the PAP since 1959, which some see as a dominant party system with advantages of stability and prosperity but disadvantages of restrictions on individual rights. - Singapore's democratic institutions including regular parliamentary and presidential elections run by the Elections Department of Singapore, which are secret, compulsory, and held every 4-5 years.

1. Republic of Singapore
Kathleen, Alexander, Tao and Zeeshan

3. 1819 – Stamford Raffles
Immigration free of restriction
Free market
1963 – Federation of Malaysia
1965 – Republic of Singapore
HISTORY

4. Busiest port in the world
Exports:
Electronics, pharmaceuticals
and financial services
PRESENT DAY

5. Political party: PAP – Peoples Action Party
Elections Department of Singapore / Election System
Parliament of Singapore
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS OF SINGAPORE

6. Dominate party system vs Single party system
Hierarchy of merit rather than seniority
Various political views and philosophies: pro-Singapore
- democratic through inter-party discrepancy rather than intra-party
competition
High and comfortable salaries to avoid corruption
Universal adult suffrage: Choice to change is up to the people
Reasons the PAP retains so much political power
PAP – PEOPLES ACTION PARTY

7. Wealth and elitism
Obstacles for opposing parties
Economic prosperity
- in exchange for political dominance
Stability and prosperity
- in exchange for restrictions on individual rights
ADVANTAGES vs DISADVANTAGES
OF DOMINANT PARTY SYSTEM

8. Vision
Our Vision is to be a dynamic and innovative organization which values
its people, always striving for quality and accountability in delivering
electoral services and in promoting and sustaining our citizens’ trust
and confidence in Singapore’s democratic process.
Mission
We are a professional election administrator committed to preparing
and organizing the public service to efficiently conduct free and fair
elections in Singapore.
ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT OF SINGAPORE

10. - Two types of elections in Singapore: Parliamentary and Presidential
- Parliamentary elections are held every four years and presidential
elections are held every five years
- The Elections Department of Singapore is responsible for the
planning, preparation and conduct of presidential and parliamentary
elections and of any national referendum in Singapore
- Voting has been compulsory in Singapore since 1959
- The legal voting age is 21
ELECTIONS IN SINGAPORE

11. - Legislations on Presidential Elections
- The President: Head of state for a term of 6 years
- Conduct of Election: Within 6 months after the office of the
president becomes vacant
- Writ of Election: When and where the nomination of the candidates
is to be taken
- Notice of Election: Date, time and place, nomination paper, and the
payment
- Presidential Elections Committee
- Nomination Day: nomination papers are presented
- Notice of Contested Election: date, place of polling and name of
candidates
- Campaigning: election campaigns
- Polling Day: VOTING IS SECRET AND COMPULSORY
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

12. - The Parliament: Elected, Non-Constituency and Nominated MPs
- The Parliamentary Elections Act (CAP 218) : Production of the
registers of electors and conduct of elections
- Registers of Electors: Who can vote, electors, 23 registers
- Conduct of Election: Dissolve Parliament, issue writ
- Writ of Election: When and where the nomination of the candidates
is to be taken
- Notice of Election: Date, time and place, nomination paper, and the
payment
- Nomination Day: nomination papers are presented
- Notice of Contested Election: date, place of polling and name of
candidates
- Campaigning: election campaigns
- Polling Day: VOTING IS SECRET AND COMPULSORY
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

13. To vote at any contested election in a constituency, your name must be
on the latest certified register of electors for that constituency.
- You are a citizen of Singapore i.e. holder of a Pink-colored Identity
Card.
- You are at least 21 years old; and
- You are ordinarily resident or deemed to be ordinarily resident in
Singapore at an address that is in that constituency
- Overseas voters
WHO CAN VOTE?

14. - Westminster system
- Prime minster sets agenda
- Non constituency members
- Distribution of power as sub committees
PARLIAMENT

15. Liberal Democracy
- Capitalism
- Transfer of power
- Individual freedoms
- Civil liberties/rights
- Speech, property
- Productivity and efficiency
- Choice
- Competing power system*
- Welfare state
- Double system of power
- Legal Equality
- Party Responsibility
- Separation of Power
- Class society
Communism Democracy
- Vanguard elite rule
- Dictatorship of the proletariat
- Socialism
- Single party state*
- Not a proletarian revolution – led by bourgeoisie
Developing Nations Democracy
- Classless to start with (everybody is poor)
- Tribal/Ethnic groups
- Lacking capital
- New Nation: Colonial Revolution
- National Identity
- Single Party*
- Development
- Unify People’s will
TYPE OF DEMOCRACIES

16. Questions?