Chapter 2, What are the functions and roles of government in working for the good of the society?

Question 1

Features of an election in SG

Answer 1

1. Free Election
2. Fair Election

Question 2

Free election

Answer 2

• A free election is one which all citizens can vote for the candidate of their choice.
• In Singapore, all eligible citizens can vote. Voting should not be more difficult for any group of people.
• Citizens are free from intimidation and have access to reliable information.
• In Singapore, Polling Day is also by law a public holiday.
• This ensures that every eligible voter will be free to vote.
• Cooling Day is also announced the day before elections. No advertising or campaigning is allowed.
• This allows voters to reflect on the issues in a rational manner.

Question 3

Fair Election

Answer 3

• A fair election is one in which all votes have equal power and are counted accurately.
• Citizens can stand for election as candidates.
• Voting is free from fraud. Every eligible voter only votes once.
• In Singapore, no campaigning is allowed during polling day, though the candidates may inspect the polling stations.
• At the counting centres, all the ballot papers from different boxes are mixed.
• Votes are counted in the presence of the candidates or their counting agents.
• This ensures that ballots are counted accurately and fair.

Question 4

Functions of Government

Answer 4

1. The Legislature
2. The Executive
3. The Judiciary

Question 5

The Legislature

Answer 5

• The Legislature performs the government function of making and passing laws.
• It consists of the President and the Parliament.
• Before a law is passed the draft or the bill is debated in Parliament. After the third reading, the bill is then voted upon so that it can no longer be questioned.
• The Presidential Council for Minority Rights will ensure the bill does not discriminate against any racial or religious community before the President agrees to the passing of the law.
• The long process ensures that laws passed will be at the best interest of the country and does not discriminate any group in Singapore.
• For example, In April 2020, amid the growing threat of Covid-19 in the country, the Singapore government passed the COVID-19 Temporary Measure Act that made the wearing of masks compulsory by law. The Act was passed to prevent, protect against, and control the transmission of the virus in Singapore.
• This is to prevent the spread of the disease by protecting the citizens and people living in Singapore

Question 6

The Executive

Answer 6

• The Executive performs the government function of enforcing and implementing laws.
• It consists of the President and the Cabinet. The work of the Executive is supported by various ministries and statutory boards.
• It formulates and implements government policies in areas such as education, healthcare, housing and transport.
• The Executive is responsible for making all government policies. The Ministers, in consultation with the senior officers in the Civil Service, map out directions, goals and broad strategies to carry out these policies.
• For example during COVID 19, several government agencies were issued a letter of appointment by the Ministry of Health and involved in enforcing the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act. The agencies includes the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and National Environment Agency (NEA)
• Officers from these agencies can issue offenders a Notice of Offence which includes fine.
• First-time offenders are fined $300 while repeat offenders are fined $1000.
• Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) were deployed to remind the public abide by the regulations and ensure that masks were worn correctly.
• This is to enforce the COVID-19 Temporary Measure to prevent the spread of the disease.

Question 7

The Judiciary

Answer 7

• The Judiciary fulfils the government function of interpreting and applying laws through the Courts.
• It consists of the Supreme Court, the State Courts and the Family Justice Courts.
• It administers justice by interpreting and applying laws made by the Legislature.
• It makes formal judgements on disputes between individuals and on those between individuals and the government.
• For example, during COVID-19, Individuals who ignore enforcement actions or commit more serious crimes are summoned to the state courts for sentencing.
• In 2020, a woman who was caught on video arguing with a passer-by who had told her to wear a mask and abide by law.
• She was sentenced to 2 weeks’ jail and fined $2000 for failing to wear a mask as well as being a public nuisance.
• Charging individuals who breach COVID-19 rules in court considers a variety of factors including the severity of breach and responsibility for wrongdoing of the offender.
• This ensures that people will obey the law and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Question 8

Separation of powers

Answer 8

• There is a separation of powers between the three branches to prevent the concentration of power withing a small select group.
• The Legislature checks the Executive by asking the Cabinet ministers questions on government policies for discussion or debate in Parliament.
• The Executive checks the Judiciary by the removal of judges under very limited circumstances.
• The Judiciary can declare a law passed to be void if it is deemed inconsistent with the constitution.
• Each branch check on the other branches so that they do not act illegally or irresponsibly.

Question 9

Roles of Government

Answer 9

1. Maintain Law & Order
2. Ensures the economic and social well-being of citizens
3. Promotes and Protects a country’s national interests

Question 10

Maintaining Law and Order

Answer 10

• The government preserves safety and security by ensuring that citizens’ lives and properties are protected from harmful acts.
• The Singapore Police Force (SPF) aims to prevent, deter, and detect crimes.
• For example, the police engaged students to fight scams during school assembly talks and road shows.
• This helps to maintain law and order by building awareness that disobeying the laws will not be tolerated and to deter potential crimes.
• To maintain law and order, it is also important that the government not only preserve safety and security within the society, but also ensure justice.
• To ensure justice, the Courts and law enforcements agencies would have to ensure everyone including the government itself is equal before the law.
• For example, in 2013, a former civil servant from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was jailed 10 years for misusing money entrusted to his care.
• When there is justice in the society, the people can expect equal and fair treatment, and outcomes.
• This will help to build the people’s confidence and trust in the government.
• With consistent and effective efforts to preserve safety and security, laws are respected and taken seriously.
• Hence, the government can deter unlawful behavior with its resources and act constitutionally to effectively maintain law and order.
• People will obey the law and behave in a peaceful way.

Question 11

Ensuring the economic and social well-being of citizens

Answer 11

• Economic and social well-being refers to the situation whereby an individual not only has his or her basic needs for food, water and shelter met but also has the opportunity to pursue their goals and enjoy quality life.
• Some indicators of citizens’ economic and social well-being are income, occupation, housing, skills, safety, health, and social relationships.
• One way to ensure citizens’ economic and social well-being is by devoting significant resource to provide goods and services to the public.
• For example, the Housing Development Board (HDB) has built more than one million flats which are homes to 80% of the country’s population.
• The government also provides goods and services to create conditions for growth and opportunity.
• For example, SkillsFuture is a national movement to provide Singaporeans with the opportunities to develop their fullest potential throughout life through skills mastery and lifelong learning. Singaporeans at aged 25 will receive a $500 opening credit to encourage continuous learning.
• Through Skillsfuture, individuals can pursue their goals and enjoy a satisfactory quality of life, through broadening their perspectives and knowledge.

Question 12

How to promote and protect country’s national interests?

Answer 12

1. Diplomacy
2. Deterrence

Question 13

Diplomacy

Answer 13

• Diplomacy is the practice of obtaining agreement between countries to cooperate in order to produce results that align with their interests.
• Governments conduct diplomacy to promote common interests and resolve conflicting interests in a peaceful manner.
• Singapore actively forges strong bilateral relationships. To do so, Singapore political leaders frequently meet with its leaders of other countries to exchange views and find ways to promote mutual interests in areas such as trade and security.
• With strong and friendly bilateral and multilateral relationship with other countries, a small country like Singapore can safeguard and advance its interests.
• Singapore maintains strong bilateral relations with Malaysia in water security. Under the 1962 Water Agreement, Singapore draws 250 million gallons of raw water per day from the Johor River. In return, Singapore provides Malaysia with daily supply of treated water up to 2 per cent of the volume supplied to Singapore. This ensures that Singapore will have enough clean water to support its economy and people.
• Singapore maintains multilateral relationships with other countries through its membership in regional and international organisations like ASEAN.

Question 14

Deterrence

Answer 14

• Deterrence are measures taken by a country to discourage potential aggressors and making it costly for aggressors to attack.
• The Ministry of Defence develops the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to tapped on advances in technology and artificial intelligence to build its capabilities.
• For example, developed and manufactured locally, the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) is the Singapore Army’s first fully digitalized platform. It requires less manpower to operate. It also has touchscreen controls and an automatic system that enables the crew to detect and engage targets quickly and effectively.
• These moves makes the aggressor think twice before attacking Singapore as they protect its security and ensure that it is safe from attacks by another country.