SINGAPORE an EXCERPT from the 2015 Global Climate Legislation Study a Review of Climate Change Legislation in 99 Countries
CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION IN SINGAPORE AN EXCERPT FROM The 2015 Global Climate Legislation Study A Review of Climate Change Legislation in 99 Countries Michal Nachmany, Sam Fankhauser, Jana Davidová, Nick Kingsmill, Tucker Landesman, Hitomi Roppongi, Philip Schleifer, Joana Setzer, Amelia Sharman, C. Stolle Singleton, Jayaraj Sundaresan and Terry Townshend www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/legislation/ Climate Change Legislation – Singapore Singapore Legislative Process Singapore’s constitution took effect in August 1965 and is the supreme law. The country is a unitary multiparty parliamentary republic, with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government representing constituencies. General elections must be conducted within five years of the first sitting of parliament; however, since the legislative assembly election in 1959 the government has always been formed by the People’s Action Party, either outright, or with an overwhelming majority. A President is elected by popular vote every six years and is largely ceremonial (although has veto powers over certain executive decisions). Together with the President, a Prime Minister-led cabinet forms the executive branch of the government. The parliament is made up of elected MPs, non-constituency MPs (the best performing losers of the general election), and nominated MPs (appointed by the President). As a result of the 2011 general election, there are presently 87 elected MPs, three non-constituency MPs and nine nominated MPs. The next general election must be held by 8 January 2017. The parliament, together with the President, constitutes the legislative branch of government. Bills are usually introduced by a minister on behalf of the government, but any MP may introduce a bill (known as a Private Member’s Bill).
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