Premium
Constitutional‐Electoral Reforms and Politics in Singapore
Author(s) -
MUTALIB HUSSIN
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
legislative studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.728
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1939-9162
pISSN - 0362-9805
DOI - 10.2307/3598663
Subject(s) - presidency , legislature , electoral system , consolidation (business) , politics , political science , representation (politics) , proportional representation , government (linguistics) , public administration , divided government , electoral reform , political economy , law , democracy , economics , linguistics , philosophy , accounting
The existence of a dominant one‐party system in Singapore makes legislative passage of constitutional and electoral system reforms easy. Such a system has enabled the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) government to formulate and implement sweeping reforms with little difficulty, however controversial they are. Since 1980, the Singapore government has instituted nonconstituency MPs, nominated MPs, group representation constituencies, and an elected presidency. Although not necessarily intended, one consequence of these reforms has been the consolidation of the government's power.