Article 55-62 Constitution of Singapore 1963
Article 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, among others, are under Part VI of the Constitution of Singapore 1963. Part VI is titled The Legislature.
Article 55 Singapore Constitution 1963
Validity of proceedings of Parliament
Parliament shall not be disqualified for the transaction of business by reason of any vacancy among the Members thereof, including any vacancy not filled when Parliament is first constituted or is reconstituted at any time; and any proceedings therein shall be valid notwithstanding that some person who was not entitled to do so sat or voted in Parliament or otherwise took part in the proceedings.
Article 56 Singapore Constitution 1963
Quorum
If objection is taken by any Member present that there are present (besides the Speaker or other Member presiding) fewer than one-quarter of the total number of Members and, after such interval as may be prescribed in the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Speaker or other Member presiding ascertains that the number of Members present is still less than one-quarter of the total number of Members, he shall thereupon adjourn Parliament.
Article 57 Singapore Constitution 1963
Voting
(1) Subject to this Constitution, all questions proposed for decision in Parliament shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the Members present and voting; and if, upon any question before Parliament, the votes of the Members are equally divided, the motion shall be lost.
(2) If the Speaker has been elected from among persons who are not Members of Parliament, he shall not vote, but subject to this provision, the Speaker or other person presiding shall have an original vote but no casting vote.
Article 58 Singapore Constitution 1963
Exercise of legislative power
(1) Subject to the provisions of Part 7, the power of the Legislature to make laws shall be exercised by Bills passed by Parliament and assented to by the President.
(2) A Bill shall become law on being assented to by the President and such law shall come into operation on the date of its publication in the Gazette or, if it is enacted either in such law or in any other law for the time being in force in Singapore that it shall come into operation on some other date, on that date.
Article 59 Singapore Constitution 1963
Introduction of Bills
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution and of Standing Orders of Parliament, any Member may introduce any Bill or propose any motion for debate in, or may present any petition to, Parliament, and the same shall be debated and disposed of according to the Standing Orders of Parliament.
(2) A Bill or an amendment making provision (directly or indirectly) for —
(a) imposing or increasing any tax or abolishing, reducing or remitting any existing tax;
(b) the borrowing of money, or the giving of any guarantee, by the Government, or the amendment of the law relating to the financial obligations of the Government;
(c) the custody of the Consolidated Fund, the charging of any money on the Consolidated Fund or the abolition or alteration of any such charge;
(d) the payment of moneys into the Consolidated Fund or the payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of any moneys not charged thereon, or any increase in the amount of such a payment, issue or withdrawal; or
(e) the receipt of any moneys on account of the Consolidated Fund or the custody or issue of such moneys,
being provision as respects which the Minister responsible for finance signifies that it goes beyond what is incidental only and not of a substantial nature having regard to the purposes of the Bill or amendment, shall not be introduced or moved except on the recommendation of the President signified by a Minister.
(3) A Bill or an amendment shall not be deemed to make provision for any of the said matters by reason only that it provides for the imposition or alteration of any fine or other pecuniary penalty or for the payment or demand of a licence fee or a fee or charge for any service rendered.
Article 60 Singapore Constitution 1963
Words of enactment of laws
In every Bill presented for assent, the words of enactment shall be as follows:
“Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:”.
Article 61 Singapore Constitution 1963
Oath of Allegiance
No Member of Parliament shall be permitted to take part in the proceedings thereof (other than proceedings necessary for the purpose of this Article) until he has taken and subscribed before Parliament the Oath of Allegiance in the form set out in the First Schedule:
Provided that the election of a Speaker may take place before the Members of Parliament have taken and subscribed such Oath.
Article 62 Singapore Constitution 1963
Address by President
The President may address Parliament and may send messages thereto.
See also:
Article 38-45 Singapore Constitution 1963
Article 46-54 Singapore Constitution 1963
