Citizens elect representatives to make public decisions on their behalf. Representatives raise concerns, debate proposals and ask ministers to explain their actions.
In a representative democracy, voters choose representatives rather than voting directly on every public decision. In Singapore, elected Members of Parliament, or MPs, represent constituencies, or electoral areas. Parliament also includes Non-Constituency MPs and Nominated MPs, so not every MP is an elected constituency representative. MPs debate proposed laws, raise public concerns and question ministers about policies - plans for dealing with public issues - and spending.
Cabinet is the team of ministers led by the Prime Minister. It directs government policy and day-to-day administration. The President is head of state, while the Prime Minister heads the government. The President appoints as Prime Minister an MP likely to have the support, or confidence, of a majority of MPs. Cabinet is collectively responsible to Parliament: the team must answer to Parliament for its policies and actions. Ministers are also MPs, so different institutional functions do not require completely separate groups of people.
A political party is an organisation that contests elections and seeks to influence public decisions. Its members may hold government office, but Parliament, the courts and public agencies are not branches of that party. These institutions have responsibilities to the public. People can question a policy or support a different party while remaining citizens with a stake in the country.
Worked example: From a resident's concern to a parliamentary question
Residents tell their elected MP that a benefits application is difficult to complete. The MP asks the responsible minister what help is available and how the process will be improved.
- The residents bring a practical problem to someone elected to represent them.
- The MP questions the executive - the branch that directs and carries out government policy - about the service. The minister is expected to explain the policy and action taken.
- This is scrutiny: checking actions and asking for explanations. It brings residents' concerns into public decisions, but does not let the MP personally approve every application or guarantee the change residents request.
Watch out for this
The government and the governing political party are the same organisation.
Party members may hold government office, but a party and public institutions have different roles. Identify the institution and its legal responsibility rather than replacing its name with a party label.
Check your understanding
An MP questions a minister about delays in a public service. What does this show?
- Representatives can seek explanations from the executive about its work.
- The MP has taken over the ministry's daily administration.
- Citizens have directly voted on the service's operating rules.