Politics in Singapore City

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Type of Government

Singapore has a unicameral system of government.  The parliament consists of 93 members, each of whom represents various electoral constituencies for 5-year terms.  Besides these elected members, the parliament has seats reserved for 9 non-elected members.  These are also called Presidential appointees.  In theory, the President wields all executive power, but in practice it’s the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister which exercises executive power.  The President himself occupies a largely titular role, although amendments to the constitution have recently seen him assume greater powers than before.  These additional veto powers give him extra oversight control regarding national reserves and the appointment of judges.  Although elections are held regularly and there is little evidence of corruption during actual polling, many critics argue that the ruling PPA (People’s Action Party) stymies any chance of the opposition winning an election through censorship and the use of lawsuits.   

Political System

Singapore has a fairly unique system of government - capitalism combined with strict controls and limits on certain liberties.  This medical tourism hotspot has been at the receiving end of some criticism owing to the lack of complete and total freedom of expression in the country.  The government controls most news publications, including the major English language ones, thereby controlling the kind of news citizens and medical tourism visitors can access.  Television is censored to filter out whatever the state deems undesirable content.  Some of the rules in this popular medical tourism hub may seem extreme to visitors.  Drop a cigarette on the road, and you’ll immediately be slapped with a fine.   Jaywalking is a strict no no, and chewing gum in subways is another fine attracting offence.  In spite of all these restrictions, Singaporeans are happy with their system of government, and believe that it’s this strict policing that helps them enjoy a quality of life rarely found in the rest of Asia.