Chapter 2: (1) Governance in Singapore

Introduction

A government is responsible for making important decisions to meet the needs of the nation and its people.

Watch the video on "The practice of good governance" before reading on!

Have you ever wondered what a government does?

Recall in Chapter 1, where you learnt about the challenges a state faces.

The government is thus responsible for meeting these challenges.

Look at the figure to see 4 of these functions.

So, how does the government work in Singapore?

Singapore practises representative democracy. This means that the people have the power and responsibility to choose the right leaders for Singapore.

When the government makes important decisions, the needs and wants of the people have to be considered. Hence, there is a need to create communication channels.

Based on a parliamentary system, the government in Singapore comprises 3 branches, each with its own set of powers and responsibilities.

Can you remember how laws are made and carried out in Singapore? Try to think of an example!

Conclusion

In this section, you have learnt that the government's duty is to meet the needs of its people and the nation. Specifically, you have seen how the Singapore government is organised and how it works.