Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main function of the Executive branch in Singapore?
What is the main function of the Executive branch in Singapore?
Administration of the law and daily administration of the nation
Which arms of government make up the checks and balances system?
Which arms of government make up the checks and balances system?
The Court of Appeal in Singapore has only appellate jurisdiction.
The Court of Appeal in Singapore has only appellate jurisdiction.
True
The President of Singapore has the 'second key' to Singapore's ________.
The President of Singapore has the 'second key' to Singapore's ________.
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Define law.
Define law.
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What are key principles of the Rule of Law?
What are key principles of the Rule of Law?
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Civil Law involves actions considered committed against the State.
Civil Law involves actions considered committed against the State.
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_____ is a body of legal cases decided by the courts over the years.
_____ is a body of legal cases decided by the courts over the years.
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Match the following legal systems with their characteristics:
Match the following legal systems with their characteristics:
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What is the primary function of the Judiciary in Singapore?
What is the primary function of the Judiciary in Singapore?
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Which arms of the Singapore government are involved in the separation of powers?
Which arms of the Singapore government are involved in the separation of powers?
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The Court of Appeal in Singapore has _________ jurisdiction.
The Court of Appeal in Singapore has _________ jurisdiction.
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The President of Singapore has significant powers.
The President of Singapore has significant powers.
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Match the following government branches with their respective functions:
Match the following government branches with their respective functions:
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What is the concept of 'The Rule of Law'?
What is the concept of 'The Rule of Law'?
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What are key principles of The Rule of Law?
What are key principles of The Rule of Law?
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Civil Law deals with acts considered crimes against the State.
Civil Law deals with acts considered crimes against the State.
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_____ Law comprises rules which govern the relationship and dealings between countries.
_____ Law comprises rules which govern the relationship and dealings between countries.
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Match the source of law with its description:
Match the source of law with its description:
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Study Notes
Introduction to Law and Singapore Legal System
- Law: a set of rules, rights, and obligations imposed by the state that must be obeyed
- Regulates social behavior and keeps order in society
- Dynamic, not static, with new laws constantly being made to deal with new situations
- Varies from country to country and changes over time
- Can be disciplined, made, amended, or repealed
Law vs Morality
- Law: a set of rules and obligations with legal consequences if broken
- Morality: a set of values or beliefs that govern an individual's or society's actions, with no legal consequences
- Examples of immoral but legal actions: abortion, adultery, prostitution
- Examples of immoral and illegal actions: murder, rape, bigamy
- Examples of moral and legal actions: education
- Examples of moral but illegal actions: selling chewing gum in Singapore
The Rule of Law
- Key principles:
- No one is above the law
- All are equal under the law
- Laws of the land govern every decision
- Presumption of innocence
- Laws and constitutional rights arise from basic natural rights
Classification of Law
- Legal systems: civil law vs common law
- Scope: domestic vs international, public vs private, criminal vs civil
- Type: statute vs case law, common law vs equity
- Area: contract, company, family, shipping, property, probate, etc.
Criminal Law vs Civil Law
- Criminal Law:
- Deals with actions considered crimes against the state
- Prosecutor vs accused
- No limitation period
- Standard of proof: beyond reasonable doubt
- Examples: theft, murder, outrage of modesty
- Civil Law:
- Deals with wrongs between private parties
- Plaintiff vs defendant
- Limitation period applies
- Standard of proof: balance of probabilities
- Examples: defamation, breach of contract, road accidents
International Law vs Domestic Law
- International Law:
- Rules governing relationships between countries
- Examples: trade agreements
- Domestic Law:
- Rules governing everyone within the country
- Examples: HDB laws, CPF laws
Sources of Law
- The Constitution of Singapore
- Legislation (statutes, Acts of Parliament)
- Subsidiary Legislation
- Common Law (case law, judge-made law)
- International Conventions, Treaties
- English Law (limited)
The Singapore Legal System
- Common Law Legal System
- Developed by custom and continues to be applied by the courts
- Cases are seen as primary sources of law
- Statutes are seen as incursions into the common law
Judicial Precedent
- A legal dispute brought before a court of law, with a decision already handed down by the court
- Used to decide the outcome of future similar cases
- Critical in English Common Law because the common law evolved from judge-made law
- Doctrine of Stare Decisis: the principle of using judicial precedents
3 Arms of Government
- Legislature (Parliament and President): makes the law
- Judiciary (Supreme Court Judges): interprets the law
- Executive (President, Prime Minister, Cabinet, Civil Service, Police, AGC): administers/enforces the law
Separation of Powers
-
Aims to:
- Prevent any part of government from becoming too powerful
- Protect rights and liberties of people
- Ensure decisions are made properly and publicly
- Accountability for decisions### Court of Appeal (CA)
-
Consists of the Chief Justice and the Justices of the Court of Appeal
-
An appeal before the CA is usually heard by 3 judges, but some cases may have a different number of judges
-
Decisions are made by the majority opinion of the judges hearing the case
Jurisdiction of the CA
- The CA has only appellate jurisdiction, meaning it does not have original jurisdiction
- The CA has jurisdiction to hear:
- All Criminal matters, except those tried at the District or Magistrates' Court, which can only be appealed to the High Court
- Prescribed categories of Civil appeals set out in the Sixth Schedule to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, but only if the subject matter of the Civil case is of a sufficient 'size' (minimum of $250,000)
Introduction to Law and Singapore Legal System
- Law: a set of rules, rights, and obligations imposed by the state that must be obeyed
- Regulates social behavior and keeps order in society
- Dynamic, not static, with new laws constantly being made to deal with new situations
- Varies from country to country and changes over time
- Can be disciplined, made, amended, or repealed
Law vs Morality
- Law: a set of rules and obligations with legal consequences if broken
- Morality: a set of values or beliefs that govern an individual's or society's actions, with no legal consequences
- Examples of immoral but legal actions: abortion, adultery, prostitution
- Examples of immoral and illegal actions: murder, rape, bigamy
- Examples of moral and legal actions: education
- Examples of moral but illegal actions: selling chewing gum in Singapore
The Rule of Law
- Key principles:
- No one is above the law
- All are equal under the law
- Laws of the land govern every decision
- Presumption of innocence
- Laws and constitutional rights arise from basic natural rights
Classification of Law
- Legal systems: civil law vs common law
- Scope: domestic vs international, public vs private, criminal vs civil
- Type: statute vs case law, common law vs equity
- Area: contract, company, family, shipping, property, probate, etc.
Criminal Law vs Civil Law
- Criminal Law:
- Deals with actions considered crimes against the state
- Prosecutor vs accused
- No limitation period
- Standard of proof: beyond reasonable doubt
- Examples: theft, murder, outrage of modesty
- Civil Law:
- Deals with wrongs between private parties
- Plaintiff vs defendant
- Limitation period applies
- Standard of proof: balance of probabilities
- Examples: defamation, breach of contract, road accidents
International Law vs Domestic Law
- International Law:
- Rules governing relationships between countries
- Examples: trade agreements
- Domestic Law:
- Rules governing everyone within the country
- Examples: HDB laws, CPF laws
Sources of Law
- The Constitution of Singapore
- Legislation (statutes, Acts of Parliament)
- Subsidiary Legislation
- Common Law (case law, judge-made law)
- International Conventions, Treaties
- English Law (limited)
The Singapore Legal System
- Common Law Legal System
- Developed by custom and continues to be applied by the courts
- Cases are seen as primary sources of law
- Statutes are seen as incursions into the common law
Judicial Precedent
- A legal dispute brought before a court of law, with a decision already handed down by the court
- Used to decide the outcome of future similar cases
- Critical in English Common Law because the common law evolved from judge-made law
- Doctrine of Stare Decisis: the principle of using judicial precedents
3 Arms of Government
- Legislature (Parliament and President): makes the law
- Judiciary (Supreme Court Judges): interprets the law
- Executive (President, Prime Minister, Cabinet, Civil Service, Police, AGC): administers/enforces the law
Separation of Powers
-
Aims to:
- Prevent any part of government from becoming too powerful
- Protect rights and liberties of people
- Ensure decisions are made properly and publicly
- Accountability for decisions### Court of Appeal (CA)
-
Consists of the Chief Justice and the Justices of the Court of Appeal
-
An appeal before the CA is usually heard by 3 judges, but some cases may have a different number of judges
-
Decisions are made by the majority opinion of the judges hearing the case
Jurisdiction of the CA
- The CA has only appellate jurisdiction, meaning it does not have original jurisdiction
- The CA has jurisdiction to hear:
- All Criminal matters, except those tried at the District or Magistrates' Court, which can only be appealed to the High Court
- Prescribed categories of Civil appeals set out in the Sixth Schedule to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act, but only if the subject matter of the Civil case is of a sufficient 'size' (minimum of $250,000)
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Description
This quiz covers the basics of law and the Singapore legal system, including the definition of law and its role in regulating society. Learn about the dynamic nature of law and how it's made, administered, and enforced by the state.
