Article 63-67 Constitution of Singapore 1963
Article 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, among others, are under Part VI of the Constitution of Singapore 1963. Part VI is titled The Legislature.
Article 63 Singapore Constitution 1963
Privileges of Parliament
It shall be lawful for the Legislature by law to determine and regulate the privileges, immunities or powers of Parliament.
Article 64 Singapore Constitution 1963
Sessions of Parliament
(1) There shall be a session of Parliament once at least in every year and a period of 6 months shall not intervene between the last sitting of Parliament in any one session and the first sitting thereof in the next session.
(2) The sessions of Parliament shall be held in such places and shall commence at such times as the President may, from time to time, by Proclamation in the Gazette, appoint.
Article 64A Singapore Constitution 1963
Continuity of Parliament
(1) Clause (2) —
(a) applies for a period of 6 months after the appointed date, and thereafter for a period of 6 months if —
(i) Parliament resolves that it is or will be impossible, unsafe or inexpedient for Parliament to sit and meet in one place; or
(ii) the Speaker presents to Parliament a notice in writing given by a majority of all Members of Parliament stating that it is or will be impossible, unsafe or inexpedient for Parliament to sit and meet in one place; but
(b) ceases to apply if Parliament so resolves at any time, but without prejudice to a fresh resolution under paragraph (a)(i) or a fresh notice under paragraph (a)(ii).
(2) When this clause applies —
(a) if there is only one place appointed under Article 64(2), at least one other place must be appointed;
(b) arrangements (called in this Article continuity arrangements) may be made for Parliament and its committees to sit, meet and despatch business with Members of Parliament being present at 2 or more appointed places and in contemporaneous communication with one another; and
(c) those arrangements may be —
(i) prescribed by Standing Orders or resolution of Parliament; or
(ii) subject to anything prescribed under sub‑paragraph (i), decided by the Speaker.
(3) A Member of Parliament who takes part in the proceedings of Parliament or its committees under continuity arrangements is taken to be present at those proceedings for all purposes under this Part, including for the purposes of Articles 46(2)(d), 56 and 57(1).
(4) Subject to any law enacted after the appointed date, the privileges, immunities and powers of Parliament and its committees as at the appointed date apply, with any necessary modification, to or in relation to —
(a) the proceedings of Parliament or its committees under continuity arrangements;
(b) any appointed place from which a Member of Parliament takes part in the proceedings of Parliament or its committees; and
(c) a person appearing before or attending Parliament or its committees at any appointed place.
(5) In this Article —
“appointed date” means the date on which the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 2020 is published in the Gazette;
“appointed place” means a place appointed by the President under Article 64(2).
Article 65 Singapore Constitution 1963
Prorogation and dissolution of Parliament
(1) The President may, at any time, by Proclamation in the Gazette, prorogue Parliament.
(2) If, at any time, the office of Prime Minister is vacant, the President shall, by Proclamation in the Gazette, dissolve Parliament as soon as he is satisfied, acting in his discretion, that a reasonable period has elapsed since that office was last vacated and that there is no Member of Parliament likely to command the confidence of a majority of the Members thereof.
(3) The President may, at any time, by Proclamation in the Gazette, dissolve Parliament if he is advised by the Prime Minister to do so, but he shall not be obliged to act in this respect in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister unless he is satisfied that, in tendering that advice, the Prime Minister commands the confidence of a majority of the Members of Parliament.
(3A) The President shall not dissolve Parliament after a notice of motion proposing an inquiry into the conduct of the President has been given under Article 22L(3) unless —
(a) a resolution is not passed pursuant to the notice of such motion under Article 22L(4);
(b) where a resolution has been passed pursuant to the notice of such motion under Article 22L(4), the tribunal appointed under Article 22L(5) determines and reports that the President has not become permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office or that the President has not been guilty of any of the other allegations contained in such motion;
(c) the consequent resolution for the removal of the President is not passed under Article 22L(7); or
(d) Parliament by resolution requests the President to dissolve Parliament.
(4) Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for 5 years from the date of its first sitting and shall then stand dissolved.
Article 66 Singapore Constitution 1963
General elections
There shall be a general election at such time, within 3 months after every dissolution of Parliament, as the President shall, by Proclamation in the Gazette, appoint.
Article 67 Singapore Constitution 1963
Remuneration of Members
The Legislature may by law make provision for the remuneration of Members of Parliament.
See also:
Article 38-45 Singapore Constitution 1963
Article 46-54 Singapore Constitution 1963
Article 55-62 Singapore Constitution 1963
