What this lesson teaches
I can describe how the government makes and passes laws in Singapore.
Syllabus K230, Issue 1, Guiding Question 2, Functions of government. Makes and passes laws
Make a guess
A minister announces a new law on the news. When do you think people must start obeying it?
- As soon as most MPs say in a debate that they like the idea.
- Straight away, because ministers have the power to make new laws themselves.
- After it passes Parliament, gets the President's assent and starts.
Show the answer
After it passes Parliament, gets the President's assent and starts.
An announcement is only a plan. A Bill must pass its stages, become an Act, and then reach its commencement date.
A proposed law, called a Bill, must pass three readings in Parliament and get the President's assent before it becomes law.
Laws set out rights, duties, powers and limits. A Bill is a proposed law. It goes through several stages in Parliament.
At the First Reading, the Bill is introduced. At the Second Reading, MPs debate its main ideas. A committee may then examine its detailed parts, called provisions. At the Third Reading, MPs vote on whether to pass it. Debate lets MPs examine what the law would do and who it would affect.
Most Bills also go to the Presidential Council for Minority Rights. It checks that the law does not discriminate against any racial or religious community.
The Bill becomes an Act of Parliament once the President gives assent, or formal approval. The President and Parliament together form the legislature; Parliament alone is not the whole legislature.
Put these in order
Put the stages of a Bill in order, from its introduction in Parliament to becoming an Act.
- Committee stage: a committee of Parliament examines each clause and may amend it.
- Third Reading: MPs debate the final contents and vote to pass the Bill.
- Second Reading: MPs debate the Bill's main ideas and vote on them.
- The President gives assent. The Bill becomes an Act of Parliament and applies from its commencement date.
- The Presidential Council for Minority Rights checks that most Bills do not discriminate against any racial or religious community.
- First Reading: the minister introduces the Bill in Parliament, with no debate.
Show the answer
- First Reading: the minister introduces the Bill in Parliament, with no debate. Introducing and publishing the Bill lets MPs study it before they debate its main ideas.
- Second Reading: MPs debate the Bill's main ideas and vote on them. Once MPs agree with the main ideas, the Bill's detailed clauses can be checked one by one.
- Committee stage: a committee of Parliament examines each clause and may amend it. With the details checked and amended, Parliament can debate and vote on the final version.
- Third Reading: MPs debate the final contents and vote to pass the Bill. Only a Bill that Parliament has passed is sent on for the minority rights check.
- The Presidential Council for Minority Rights checks that most Bills do not discriminate against any racial or religious community. After the Council's check, the Bill can be presented to the President for formal approval.
- The President gives assent. The Bill becomes an Act of Parliament and applies from its commencement date.
Commencement is when the law starts to apply, which may be later than when it is passed. Different parts may start at different times, so check the date for the part you are discussing. Passing a law creates a framework. How it is carried out, and how people respond, decides its results.
- Bill
- A proposed law.
- Three readings
- Introduce, debate and vote on the Bill in Parliament.
- Presidential Council for Minority Rights
- Checks that Bills do not discriminate against racial or religious groups.
Real examples to use
Protection from Scams Act 2025
First Reading 11 November 2024, passed 7 January 2025, in force 1 July 2025. Use it to trace a real Bill from proposal to Act to commencement.
Workplace Fairness Act 2025
Passed on 8 January 2025 but due to take effect only by the end of 2027, to give employers time to prepare. Use it to show that passing a law and the law applying are different steps.
Worked example: The Protection from Scams Act, 2024 to 2025
Scams were costing Singaporeans large sums. The Ministry of Home Affairs held a public consultation from 30 August to 30 September 2024. The Protection from Scams Bill had its First Reading on 11 November 2024. Parliament passed it on 7 January 2025, and it came into force on 1 July 2025. It lets the police order banks to stop a person's money transfers when the person is about to send money to a scammer.
- Before the Bill: the ministry consulted the public, so concerns could shape the proposal.
- In Parliament: First Reading introduced the Bill, Second Reading debated it, and MPs then voted to pass it. With the President's assent it became an Act.
- Commencement: the Act applied only from 1 July 2025, almost six months after it was passed. That gap gave the police and banks time to prepare.
Watch out for this
Once a minister announces a new law, it already applies.
A Bill must pass Parliament, get the President's assent and reach its start date before anyone must follow it.
Check your understanding
Parliament passed the Workplace Fairness Act on 8 January 2025. Why might an employer still not be punished under it in 2026?
- It is law, but its rules only start applying at a later commencement date.
- The courts must first approve it before employers have to follow it.
- It still needs a Third Reading in Parliament before it becomes an Act.
Show the answer
It is law, but its rules only start applying at a later commencement date.
Right. Passing a law and the law applying are different steps. This Act is due to take effect by the end of 2027.
Check your understanding
A Bill has passed its Third Reading in Parliament. What must still happen before it becomes an Act?
- The Cabinet must vote to approve it.
- The courts must check that it is fair.
- The President must give formal assent.
Show the answer
The President must give formal assent.
After assent it becomes an Act, and it applies from its commencement date.