constitution tribunal constitution republic singapore tribunal established article constitution republic singapore article provides mechanism president singapore acting advice refer tribunal opinion question effect provision constitution arisen appears likely arise questions referred tribunal concern validity enacted laws bills passed parliament constitutional questions referred tribunal parliament attempts powers conferred president constitution attempt way ordinary bill president exercise personal discretion open cabinet advise president refer tribunal question bill fact powers bill determined tribunal effect president deemed bill day following day tribunal opinion pronounced open court article constitution brought force similar procedure apply attempts president powers constitutional amendment tribunal rules proposed amendment effect restricting powers president prime minister entitled submit bill national referendum approval tribunal consists judges supreme_court opinions binding courts tribunal established date constitutional question referred tribunal determined article force article prevent parliament restricting president powers constitutional amendment unsuccessful attempts persuade cabinet article procedure history constitution republic singapore tribunal hoc tribunal established article constitution republic singapore article introduced constitution constitution republic singapore amendment act passed parliament august president september came force october prior enactment article deputy prime minister noted second reading constitution republic singapore amendment bill provisions referring questions constitutional interpretation courts advisory ruling especially relating new complex provisions constitution article intended address perceived constitution question constitutional interpretation highlighted parliamentary debates article incorrectly inserted constitution constitution amendment act january article provided president acting discretion bill passed parliament bill article applied bill provided powers conferred constitution time article entrenched certain core constitutional provisions article requiring approval electorate national referendum amendment brought force august parliament intended amend article restrict president powers non constitutional bills provided president powers conferred constitution article force question arose president power article bill seeking amend provisions referred article specifically bill seeking amend article president stated interest testing system wished question referred courts ruling accept correct interpretation article given court response request article inserted constitution parliament purpose reference constitutional questions grounds bringing reference constitutional question referred tribunal grounds article president acting advice cabinet refer tribunal opinion question effect provision constitution arisen appears president likely arise parliamentary debates preceding introduction article nominated member parliament associate professor posed following question president refer constitutional question tribunal advice cabinet discretion refer going power president clear constitutional better allow reference sees ambiguity situations cabinet sees ambiguity reply deputy prime minister article drafted following precedent constitution malaysia worked malaysia thought safe singapore follow suit intention legislation concerning elected president initiative refer question tribunal lie government generally president legislation cabinet advise president matter referred tribunal event cabinet wishing ride president views refusing refer particular matter considerable public pressure exerted government refer questions referred tribunal concern validity enacted laws bills passed parliament grounds relate attempts parliament powers conferred president constitution article constitution deals attempts alter president powers introducing ordinary bill occurs president exercise personal discretion bill cabinet wishes advise president refer tribunal question bill fact effect powers tribunal determines bill effect president deemed bill day following day tribunal opinion pronounced open court article brought force president able decline bill seeking amend constitution direct indirect effect powers case cabinet advise president refer tribunal question bill effect tribunal rules bill effect president deemed bill day immediately following day tribunal opinion open court hand tribunal decides contrary prime minister opt submit bill electorate bill supported national referendum thirds total number votes cast president deemed bill day immediately following day results referendum published government gazette procedure reference hand signed president served attorney general attorney general required assist tribunal hearing reference president represented legal counsel tribunal appoint consulting president parties appearing tribunal confined president attorney general tribunal direct hearing reference notified interested person interested class persons representatives class interest affected represented counsel tribunal request counsel argue case interest reference state questions tribunal opinion required form allows far possible answers given negative statement facts documents included necessary enable tribunal decide questions referred hearing reference procedure proceedings court appeal applies president singapore treated parties respondents tribunal bound strict rules evidence proceedings tribunal hearing directions held open court party proceedings ordered pay costs court fees respect proceedings tribunal consider answer question referred days date reference tribunal mandated president information opinion question referred reasons answer tribunal judge differs opinion majority shall similarly opinion reasons opinion majority judges opinion tribunal required pronounced open court composition constitution provides tribunal consist judges supreme_court parliament intended tribunal structure court appeal practice tribunal consists chief justice judges supreme_court chief justice determine reason chief justice unable tribunal member tribunal consist supreme_court judges chief justice president tribunal absence presidency tribunal determined accordance following order precedence vice presidents judges appeal vice presidents judges high court judges category rank according priority appointments bench effect opinions opinions tribunal questioned court includes tribunal view validity law bill subject reference tribunal means tribunal lies outside normal hierarchy courts hear appeals courts opinions binding courts technically open president cabinet advice refer matter tribunal consideration constitutional reference process constitutional reference creation tribunal constitutional reference constitutional reference arose issue application article constitution relation article force matter referred president clarify scope application articles government represented attorney general chambers presidency consisted chief justice judges held article represented parliament taken consideration tribunal concluded president power article bill seeking amend provisions referred article attempted rescue assistance package indonesia instance non governmental attempt issue came member parliament challenged singapore billion loan offer indonesia november basis article constitution states guarantee loan shall given raised government authority resolution parliament president interpreted mean giving loan required parliamentary presidential approval finance minister agree interpretation provision stated attorney general given advice granting loans purchase type prior approval presidents subsequently stated article applied giving guarantees raising loans government giving loans attorney general confirmed reading provision characterized latin referring correct attorney general suggested bring matter tribunal procedure seemingly inconsistent rule reference tribunal shall hand president singapore issue finally abandoned refused pay costs referring matter tribunal found asked bear costs public act january wrote president requesting reference constitutional question tribunal behalf client opposition politician charged giving public talk december licence public act question involved act argued act violated constitution freedom speech assembly president acting advice cabinet turned request reply dated january pronounced request following reasons given jurisdiction tribunal invoked forum available person claims constitutional rights claim tested tribunal court law advisory nature able raise constitutional question trial appeal charged act tribunal come picture court resolve matter constitute improper interference judicial power courts constitutional functions drugs act plea review sought ditch attempt execution drug lawyer contended client right equal protection article constitution referring cases recent offenders similarly convicted drugs act lawyer drew attention fact offenders imported offence attracted death penalty eventually charged possessing resulted jail sentence contrast imported reduced sentenced death plea rejected president day execution date legal status right vote speaking parliament february nominated member parliament posed question right vote constitutional suggested law minister obtain advisory opinion clarify point issue briefly dealt minister simply answered rendering need resolution constitutional tribunal subsequently expressed view desirable ask authoritative opinion courts final questions singapore
Constitution of the Republic of Singapore Tribunal