What this lesson teaches
I can explain what a representative democracy is and how its government has functions and roles.
Syllabus K230, Issue 1, Guiding Question 2. Functions and roles of government in a representative democracy
Make a guess
A new food safety rule needs a law, inspections and fair decisions when a stall owner disagrees. How many parts of government do you think are involved?
- One: the ministry in charge of food does the whole job.
- Three: one makes the law, one enforces it, one judges disputes.
- Two: Parliament makes the rule and the police handle everything after that.
Show the answer
Three: one makes the law, one enforces it, one judges disputes.
The legislature makes laws, the executive carries them out and the judiciary applies them. Splitting the jobs checks power.
Government has three functions: making laws, carrying them out and applying them in court. These serve its roles, such as keeping order.
A function is what a part of government does. Singapore's government has three functions. The legislature, the President and Parliament, makes laws. The executive carries out and enforces laws. The judiciary, the courts, interprets laws and applies them to cases.
The Constitution places executive authority in the President. In most matters, though, the President must act on the Cabinet's advice. So the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, directs government policy. Ministries and public agencies then do the daily work. In an answer, say the executive is the President and the Cabinet, supported by ministries and agencies.
Splitting these jobs creates checks on power. For example, when an agency accuses someone, that accusation does not decide the case. A court does. The three branches also work together.
A role is the purpose the work serves. Government has three roles: keeping law and order, supporting citizens' economic and social well-being, and protecting national interests.
Several functions can serve one role. A safety rule needs a law to create it, inspections to enforce it, and fair decisions by courts if a case is disputed.
In an answer, link the action to its purpose. Checking how a food stall stores food matters because safer storage reduces illness among customers. That explains how enforcement supports well-being. Just naming the agency does not. The same check also discourages rule-breaking, so one action can serve more than one role.
- Legislature
- President and Parliament: make laws.
- Executive
- President and Cabinet, supported by ministries and agencies: carry out and enforce laws.
- Judiciary
- Courts: interpret and apply laws.
Real examples to use
Stamford Catering suspension, 2024
After 160 people fell ill in October 2024, the Singapore Food Agency suspended the caterer for about two weeks. It kept the caterer under close surveillance after it reopened. Use it for the executive enforcing a law to protect well-being.
Worked example: The Singapore Food Agency and a caterer, 2024
Between 9 and 13 October 2024, 160 people fell ill with gastroenteritis after eating food from Stamford Catering Services. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) suspended the caterer from 14 to 29 October 2024. It lifted the suspension only after the premises were deep-cleaned and repaired, and food handlers re-attended and passed a food safety course.
- Function: the SFA, a public agency, enforces food safety law. This is the executive at work.
- Role: making the caterer fix its kitchen and retrain staff protects customers' health, supporting social well-being.
- It also warns other food businesses that breaches have consequences, which supports law and order. To judge success, look for fewer outbreaks later, not just one suspension.
Watch out for this
Enforcing laws and keeping law and order mean the same thing.
Enforcement is a function, an action. Law and order is a role, a purpose. Explain how the action serves the purpose.
Check your understanding
Which is a role of government, not a function?
- Applying laws to cases in court.
- Making laws for the country.
- Protecting the national interest.
Show the answer
Protecting the national interest.
Right. It is a purpose that functions such as law-making and enforcement help achieve.