Singapore: Government#
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore local long form: Republic of Singapore local short form: Singapore etymology: name derives from the Sanskrit words "singa" (lion) and "pura" (city) to describe the city-state's leonine symbol |
|---|---|
| Government type | parliamentary republic |
| Capital | Singapore
Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions | none |
| Independence | 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation) |
| National holiday | National Day, 9 August (1965) |
| Constitution | several previous; latest adopted 22 December 1965; amended many times, last in 2015 (2016) |
| Legal system | English common law |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Singapore dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years |
| Suffrage | 21 years of age; universal and compulsory |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 September 2011) head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers TEO Chee Hean (since 1 April 2009) and Tharman SHANMUGARATNAM (since 21 May 2011) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Cabinet responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 27 August 2011 (next to be held by August 2017); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Tony TAN Keng Yam elected president; percent of vote - Tony TAN Keng Yam (independent) 35.2% , TAN Cheng Bock (independent) 34.9%, TAN Jee Say (independent) 25%, TAN Kin Lian (PP) 4.9% |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Parliament (101 seats; 89 members directly elected by popular vote, 9 nominated by the president, and up to 9 - but currently 3 - non-constituency members from opposition parties to ensure political diversity; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 11 September 2015 (next to be held in 2020) election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 69.9%, WP 12.5%, other 17.6%; seats by party - PAP 83, WP 6 |
| Judicial branch | highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the president or chief justice and 16 justices and organized into an upper tier Appeal Court and a lower tier High Court) judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president from candidates recommended by the prime minister after consultation with the chief justice; justices appointed for life subordinate courts: district, magistrates', juvenile, family, community, and coroners' courts; small claims tribunals |
| Political parties and leaders | National Solidarity Party or NSP (LIM Tean) People's Action Party or PAP (LEE Hsien Loong) Singapore Democratic Party or SDP (CHEE Soon Juan) Workers' Party or WP (LOW Thia Khiang) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | none |
| International organization participation | ADB, AOSIS, APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Ashok Kumar MIRPURI (since 24 July 2012) chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (1) (202) 537-3100 FAX: (1) (202) 537-0876 consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Kirk W. WAGAR (since 25 September 2013) embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001 telephone: (65) 6476-9100 FAX: (65) 6476-9340 |
| Flag description | two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle; red denotes brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality |
| National symbol(s) | lion, merlion (mythical half lion-half fish creature), orchid; national colors: red, white |
| National anthem | name: "Majulah Singapura" (Onward Singapore) lyrics/music: ZUBIR Said note: adopted 1965; first performed in 1958 at the Victoria Theatre, the anthem is sung only in Malay |