Singapore · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in Singapore, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- The Constitution
- Supreme law; Article 4 voids inconsistent legislation.
- Acts of Parliament
- The dominant source; extensive statutory codification of commercial law.
- Judicial precedent
- Court of Appeal decisions bind lower courts; English authority is persuasive only.
- Subsidiary legislation
- Regulations and orders published in the Government Gazette.
- Muslim law
- Applied by the Syariah Court to Muslims in marriage, divorce and inheritance under AMLA.
The legislative process
Three readings in a unicameral Parliament, with committee consideration between the second and third. Most bills then go to the Presidential Council for Minority Rights before presidential assent. The President's assent is normally a formality, but bills touching the reserves or specified appointments engage the custodial powers, where the Council of Presidential Advisers must be consulted. Constitutional amendments generally require a two-thirds majority.
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