Subscribe to my education channel. bit.ly/gohbangrui These slides introduce Chapter 2.2 Decision Making in a Representative Democracy to the Secondary 3 students who are studying Social Studies for the Singapore current syllabus 2016. These slides are divided into 4 areas. 1. What is Democracy [Slide 8] 2. The Legislative [Slide 23] 3. The Executive [Slide 73] 4. The Judiciary [Slide 84] Any feedback is welcome.

1. 2.2 Decision-making in a Representative
Democracy

2. Being a part
of Singapore
Society
Chapter 1: What
does it mean to
be a Citizen of
my Country?
Chapter 2: How
do we decide
what is good for
society?
Chapter 3: How
can we work for
the good of
society?

3. How do we
decide what
is good for
society?
Part 1:
Challenges in
deciding what is
good for society
Part 2: Decision-
making in a
Representative
Democracy
Part 3: Ideas
shaping
Governance

4. It is impossible for every
citizen in a democracy to be
satisfied with every
decision.
Trade-offs NIMBY

9. is a system of government to control people by
allowing the people to choose their own leaders.

10. People Power

11. He once said this during his
famous speech that a
(democratic) government is
Of the people
By the People
For the people

12. made up of the
same kind of
people as us
chosen by the
people
working for the
people’s best
interests
The government serves us and our needs

14. is a system where we choose our leaders
who represent us in Parliament

15. Their actions/ decisions are the
as if we made those actions/ decisions,
because we chose them to represent us.

17. We elect/ choose the leaders that
represent our constituencies.

19. They
represent us
or our views
in Parliament.

20. The Incumbent Party
People’s
Action Party
The Opposition Parties
Workers’ Party Singapore
Democratic Party
The Reform Party

22. Chapter 2: The 3
Branches of a
Democratic
Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

23. Chapter 2: The 3
Branches of a
Democratic
Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

24. In a Democracy, no one part (of the govt)
or person in the government is allowed to hold

25. Hence, political power is divided into

29. The Legislature meets to and
in Parliament building

31. Mr Tony Tan Keng Yam Mr Lee Hsien Loong

32. Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Mr Teo Chee Hean

37. 70 are from 16
GRCs (Group
Representation
Constituency of
4/5/6 members)
13 from SMCs (Single
Member Constituency)

41. is a constituency where voters vote for
a whole group of MPs instead of just 1.

42. The group must contain at
least 1 member from a
minority community in
Singapore
The group will all be from
the same party

43. 1. Ensures minority
representation in
Parliament
2. Economical for Town
Councils to manage larger
estates
1. Strong members of the
GRC team can ‘carry’
weaker/ new MPs into
Parliament
2. Difficult for Opposition
Parties to field so many
candidates for GRCs

45. 6 Opposition MPs
(Workers’ Party)
3 NCMPs (Non–
Constituency MPs)

47. If there are less than 9 opposition candidates in
Parliament after the elections…
The Constitution states that NCMPs can be appointed
until there are 9 opposition candidates

49. is an opposition candidate that have gained at least
15% of their votes in their constituency and have
scored the highest among the losers of the elections.

50. 1. Not from any political party
(Non-Partisan)
2. Ensure wider views and
representation in Parliament
3. Contribute independent views
in Parliament
4. Appointed, not elected (by a
Special Committee)
5. Represent different sectors of
Singapore Society
Up to
NMPs
(Nominated MPs)

54. Mdm Halimah Yacob

55. 1. Acts as leader of the debates in Parliament
2. Enforces the rules of conduct during debate
3. Decides on who has the right to speak and what
Parliament will debate
4. Does not need to be an MP (but can be)
5. Does not take part in Parliamentary debates
6. Can only vote if they are elected MPs
7. Must be fair and Non-Partisan

56. A Bill
A proposed new law
that has not been
passed by Parliament
yet
All Bills are
introduced at the
start of a new session
of Parliament
First Reading

57. Bill is fully explained
by proposing MP
All MPs can question
the proposer and
debate whether the
bill is necessary
A vote is taken; Bill
must pass before
going to the next
stage
Second Reading

58. If necessary, a group of
MPs will be chosen to
further research the
usefulness of this Bill
While researching the
Bill, they can gather
feedback from experts
and/or the public (if
necessary)
Report their findings to
Parliament
Select Committee

60. All MPs now debate
the details and how to
implement the bill.
Committee of the
Whole House

61. Final debate over the
Bill
Only minor changes
allowed or Bill is
thrown back to Stage
3.
Third Reading

62. Consists of
representatives from
each major race and
religion in Singapore
Has the power of veto,
but only if the Bill
discriminates against any
race of religion
Report their findings to
Parliament
Presidential
Council of
Minority Rights

63. Final stage
Approval means Bill is
now an Act of Parliament
– a new Singapore Law.
Approval from
President

64. Act is published in the
Gazette, considered to be in
effect on the date of gazette
publication
Republic of Singapore
Government Gazette
A report published by the
Singapore government
which lists out all the new
and amended laws
Gazetting

68. The amount of money that the government
needs to spend in a year, to keep Singapore
running

69. In March annually, the Parliament
also serves
debates and decides on the budget
of each Ministry.

70. is the budget which the COS
presents to the rest of Parliament
for more debate and voting.

71. has been passed, then the money is
distributed to the Ministries to use.
Once

72. Chapter 2: The 3
Branches of a
Democratic
Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

73. Chapter 2: The 3
Branches of a
Democratic
Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

74. will carry out (execute) the law and enforce it
After the Legislature makes new laws or
alters older ones,

75. Is led by the PM, DPMs and
their Cabinet including all
the staff of the 16
Ministries
Carries out government
policies
Runs the day to day
administration of
Singapore

77. Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA)
• Handles diplomatic relations
with other nations
• Runs all Singapore embassies
and consulates
• Represents Singapore at
international organisations
(UN, ASEAN, etc)
Ministry of Defence
(MINDEF)
• National Defence and Security
• Run the 3 branches of the SAF
Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA)
• Internal Security/Maintain
Law and Order
• Disaster Aid/Relief
• Run the prisons
• Immigrations and checkpoints

78. Ministry of Education
(MOE)
• National Education
• Runs all Singapore schools of
all levels
• Oversee private education
• Manage scholarships and
bursaries
• Develop special education
platforms
Ministry of National
Development (MND)
• Build/maintain housing for the
nation
• Build/maintain infrastructure
• Maintain/protect Singapore’s
environment
Ministry of Transport
(MOT)
• Build/maintain all forms of
public transport and transport
infrastructure in Singapore
• Oversee/regulate all forms of
private transport in Singapore
– land, sea and air

79. Ministry of Trade and
Industry (MTI)
• Promotes and develops
Singapore’s trade and business
opportunities, and economic
growth
• Attract foreign investment
• Job creation
Ministry of Manpower
(MOM)
• Implements all policies
regarding local or foreign
workforce in Singapore
• Oversees labour immigration
issues – workpass, student
pass etc
• Ensure fair business practices
among employers and
employees
Ministry of Finance
(MOF)
• Regulate all financial matters
• Oversee the operations of all
banks in Singapore
• Regulate currency
value/interest rates

80. Ministry of Health
(MOH)
• Oversee all public hospitals, clinics,
medical workers, professionals
and all other public health facilities
or workers
• National Health Issues
Ministry of
Communications and
Information (MCI)
• Oversee all media and
infocommunications issues in
Singapore
• Media Censorship and Ratings
• All Public Archives and Libraries
Ministry of the
Environment and
Water Resources
(MEWR)
• In charge of all water resources
and preservation of the
environment
• Run the NEA and the PUB
• National Education about
NEWater and water conservation

81. Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
(MCCY)
• Regulate and promote the Arts in Singapore
• Protect Singapore’s history and heritage
• Promote the growth of Sports in Singapore
• Support and encourage Youth activities and participation
• Foster racial harmony and rootedness in Singaporeans
Ministry of Social and Family Development
(MSF)
• Oversees all Social Services and Social Welfare
• Aid for the handicapped
• Youth Guidance
• Women’s Affairs
• Gambling Safeguards
• Family Policies

82. Ministry of Law (MINLAW)
• Regulate all forms of legal practices in Singapore
• Provide legal advice and input to other Ministries
proposed Bills and programmes
• Legal Aid
• Legal/Community Mediation
• Regulate all foreign registered lawyers practicising in
Singapore
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
•Oversees all other Ministries
•Runs the following national agencies:
•Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB)
•Cyber Security Agency (CSA)
•Elections Department (ELD)
•National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS)
•National Population and Talent Division (NPTD)
•National Research Foundation (NRF)
•National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS)
•Public Service Division (PSD)
•Smart Nation Programme Office (SNPO)

83. Chapter 2: The 3
Branches of a
Democratic
Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

84. Chapter 2: The 3
Branches of a
Democratic
Government
The Legislature
The Executive
The Judiciary

85. will carry out (execute) the law and enforce it
After the Legislature makes new laws or
alters older ones,

86. will punish you if you break the laws.
After the Legislature makes new laws or
alters older ones, the Executive will carry out
(execute) the law and enforce it.

87. consists of
1. the Supreme Court,
2. the State Courts and
3. the Family Justice Courts.

88. made by the Legislature are
interpreted and applied by the Judiciary.

89. Mr Sundaresh Menon
The Judiciary is headed by
the Chief Justice (Our most
powerful judge)
He heads the Court System
in Singapore, and all the
other judges

90. The court system in Singapore has
3 main parts
1. Supreme Court
2. State Court (also called
Subordinate Court)
3. Family Justice Court

91. is the highest law court in Singapore.

92. It consists of
1. High Court
Deals with all civil (monetary amounts above a certain value) and criminal
cases (offences punishable by death or with imprisonment terms
exceeding 10 years)
2. Court of Appeal: Deals with appeals against High Court decisions
3. Singapore International Commercial Court:
Deals with transnational commercial disputes

93. deals with less serious cases than Supreme Court.

94. State Court has many different types of court, such as:
1. District Court: Similar to Supreme court but only hears civil and criminal cases that are
less serious
2. Magistrates Court: Similar to District Court but only hears less serious cases
3. Coroners Court: Hears cases of unexpected, unnatural or accidental death
4. Small Claims Tribunal: Hears civil cases between consumers and businesses (less than
$10 000)
5. Community Court: Hears cases involving youth (aged 16 – 18) and animal abuse
6. Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals: Hear cases involving disputes between
neighbours

95. specialises in all cases dealing with families, youth and children
.

96. Family Justice courts comprises of:
1. Family Court: Hears all cases regarding family issues
2. Youth Court: Hears all cases regarding youth and children
3. High Court (Family Division): Hears all appeals against the decisions of
Family and Youth Court