View source for President of Singapore

{{short description|Head of state of Singapore}}{{For|a list of the officeholders|List of presidents of Singapore}}{{about|the office|the incumbent officeholder|Tharman Shanmugaratnam}}{{Use Singapore English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = President
| body = the {{nowrap|Republic of Singapore}}
| native_name = <!--{{native name||}} -->
| insignia = Crest of the President of Singapore, Istana, Singapore - 20060131.jpg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = Presidential coat of arms
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of the President of Singapore.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = [[Flag of Singapore#Variant flags|Presidential standard]]
| image = Tharman Shanmugaratnam Official photo 2023.tif
| alt = 
| imagecaption = 
| incumbent = [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]]
| acting = 
| incumbentsince = 14 September 2023
| department = [[Politics of Singapore|Head of state of the Republic of Singapore]]
| style = {{plainlist|
* [[Mr. President (title)|Mister President]]<br />(informal)
* [[Excellency|His Excellency]]<br />(diplomatic)
}}
| type = [[Head of state]]
| status = 
| abbreviation = 
| member_of = 
| reports_to = 
| residence = [[The Istana]]
| seat = 
| nominator = 
| appointer = [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]]<br />(1965–1991)<br />[[Presidential elections in Singapore|Direct election]]<br />(1991–present)
| appointer_qualified = 
| termlength = Six years,
| termlength_qualified = renewable
| constituting_instrument = [[Constitution of Singapore]] (1965)
| precursor = [[Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore]]
| formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1965|8|9}}
| first = [[Yusof Ishak]]
| last = 
| abolished = 
| superseded_by = 
| succession = 
| unofficial_names = 
| deputy = [[Powers of the president of Singapore#Powers|Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers]]
| salary = [[Singapore dollar|S$]]1,540,000 annually ($1,133,598 USD)
| website = {{URL|istana.gov.sg|Official website}}
| footnotes = 
}}
{{Politics of Singapore}}

The '''president of Singapore''', officially the '''President of the Republic of Singapore''',{{Efn|{{langx|ms|Presiden Republik Singapura}}; {{lang-zh|t=新加坡共和國總統|p=Xīnjiāpō Gònghéguó Zǒngtǒng}}; {{langx|ta|சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு குடியரசுத் தலைவர்|Ciṅkappūr Kuṭiyaracu Kuṭiyaracut Talaivar|translit-std=ISO}}}} is the [[head of state]] of [[Singapore]]. The president represents the country in official [[diplomat]]ic functions and possesses certain executive powers over the [[government of Singapore]], including the control of the [[Reserves of the Government of Singapore|national reserves]] and the ability to revoke and appoint public service appointments. 
 
After Singapore achieved [[Self-governance of Singapore#Full internal self-government (1959–1963)|full internal self-governance]] from the [[British Empire]] in 1959, the ceremonial office of the [[Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore|Yang di-Pertuan Negara]] ({{Literal translation|Lord of the State}}) was created, where it was first held by the [[governor of Singapore]] [[William Goode (colonial administrator)|William Goode]]. The office was later succeeded by the president of Singapore following Singapore's [[Independence of Singapore Agreement 1965|independence from Malaysia in 1965]]. The initial role of the president was predominantly a [[figurehead|ceremonial]] institution, serving as the representative of the Singaporean state both at home and abroad. It carried limited residual powers, and prior to 1991, the president was solely appointed by the [[parliament of Singapore]]. Singapore follows a [[Head of state#Non-executive model|non-executive model]] of the [[Westminster system|Westminster]] [[parliamentary system]] whereby the president is not the [[head of government]] but rather the head of state; these powers are instead vested in the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]], which is led by the [[Prime Minister of Singapore|prime minister]]. 

A [[constitutional amendment]] in 1991 introduced the [[Direct election|direct election]] of the president by popular vote, first implemented in the [[1993 Singaporean presidential election|1993 election]]. Since then, the elected president has held significant custodial powers, including the [[reserve power]] to [[veto]] any [[government budget]] that, in their judgement and after mandatory consultation with the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA), would draw on the country's past financial reserves that was accrued under previous governments as part of a [[check and balance]] framework. The president also has the power to veto the removal or appointment of key public service, statutory board and government office holders listed in the Fifth Schedule of the [[Constitution of Singapore|Constitution]]. 

Another amendment in 2016 introduced reserved presidential elections for an [[Demographics of Singapore|ethnic community in Singapore]] if no member of that community had served as president in the preceding five terms.{{efn|In [[Singapore]], citizens are classified under the [[Demographics of Singapore|CMIO]] ([[Chinese Singaporeans|Chinese]]–[[Malay Singaporeans|Malay]]–[[Indian Singaporeans|Indian]]–Others) framework.}} The office has no term limits. The president has far-reaching formal obligations and duty to act above party politics. Under the [[Constitution of Singapore|Constitution]], the president must be a [[Singaporean nationality law|Singaporean citizen]], [[Non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] and elected by a popular vote. The incumbent president is [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]], who took office on 14 September 2023 after being duly elected in the [[2023 Singaporean presidential election|2023 presidential election]] with 70.41% of the vote.

==History==
The office of the President of the Republic of Singapore was created on 22 December 1965, retrospective to 9 August 1965, on which Singapore achieved independence from [[Malaysia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/RSIA1965|title=Republic of Singapore Independence Act 1965 - Singapore Statutes Online|website=sso.agc.gov.sg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.istana.gov.sg/The-President/President-In-Office|title=The Istana &#124; President in Office|website=www.istana.gov.sg}}</ref> It succeeded the office of [[Yang di-Pertuan Negara]] ({{Literal translation|Lord of the State}}) which was created when Singapore attained [[Self-governance of Singapore##Full internal self-government (1959–1963)|full internal self-government]] from the [[British Empire]] in 1959. The last Yang di-Pertuan Negara, [[Yusof Ishak]], became the first President. After his death in 1970, he was succeeded by [[Benjamin Sheares]] in 1971 who was appointed by Parliament and served until his death in 1981.

Sheares was succeeded by [[Devan Nair]], who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Anson SMC]] from 1979 to 1981, prior to his presidency, who then resigned in 1985. Whilst the apparent reason for Nair's resignation was to seek recovery from his alcoholism, Nair disputes the account, claiming that he was forced out of office by former Prime Minister [[Goh Chok Tong]]. Nair was succeeded by [[Wee Kim Wee]], who served as the Ambassador of South Korea and Japan from 1980 to 1984 prior to his presidency until 1993 and was the first president to exercise custodial powers pursuant to the constitutional amendments in 1991.

===Elected presidency===
In the early 1980s, the ruling [[People's Action Party]] (PAP), which had held every parliamentary seat in Singapore since the 1960s, suffered its first electoral setback in almost two decades when [[J. B. Jeyaretnam]] of the [[Workers' Party (Singapore)|Workers' Party]] (WP) won the [[1981 Anson by-election]]. Following this loss, then-Prime Minister [[Lee Kuan Yew]] expressed concern about the possibility of a "freak election result" in which the PAP might lose its parliamentary majority, allowing opposition parties what he described as "unfettered access" to the nation's reserves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singapore |first=Prime Minister's Office |date=2018-12-24 |title=PMO {{!}} PM Lee Hsien Loong at the Parliamentary Debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill |url=https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/pm-lee-hsien-loong-parliamentary-debate-constitution-amendment-bill |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Prime Minister's Office Singapore |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Tan |first=Kevin |title=Constitution of Singapore: A Contextual Analysis |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2015}}</ref> 

As such, in January 1991, a [[Constitution of Singapore|constitutional]]{{efn|Now the {{Singapore legislation|title=Constitution|ed=1985|rep=1999}}.}} amendment was passed by Parliament to redefine the role of the president. The amendment provided that the president would be [[Presidential elections in Singapore|elected by a popular vote]], subject to strict eligibility requirements. The president was also empowered by the amendment to [[veto]] the use of the country's [[Reserves of the Government of Singapore|reserves]] and revoke or appoint public service appointments. The president can also examine the government's usage of the [[Internal Security Act (Singapore)|Internal Security Act]]<ref name="ISA">{{Singapore legislation|title=Internal Security Act|titlelink=Internal Security Act (Singapore)|cap=143|ed=1985}}.</ref> and [[Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act]],<ref name="MRHA">{{Singapore legislation|title=Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act|titlelink=Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act|cap=167A|ed=2001}} ("MRHA").</ref> and concur with the director of the [[Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau]] (CPIB) to investigate persons for corrupt practices, even if the prime minister refuses consent.

The first elected president was [[Ong Teng Cheong]], who served as [[Deputy Prime Minister (Singapore)|Deputy Prime Minister]] from 1985 to 1993 prior to his presidency, won the [[1993 Singaporean presidential election|1993 presidential election]]. He served as president from 1993 to 1999. The [[Government of Singapore|Singapore Government]] officially regarded Ong's predecessor [[Wee Kim Wee]] as the first elected president on the basis that he held and exercised the powers of the elected president.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kotwani |first1=Monica |date=6 July 2017 |title=Tan Cheng Bock's legal challenge on the reserved presidential election explained |work=Channel NewsAsia |agency=ChannelNewsAsia |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tan-cheng-bock-s-legal-challenge-on-the-reserved-presidential-9010250 |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731214013/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tan-cheng-bock-s-legal-challenge-on-the-reserved-presidential-9010250 |archive-date=31 July 2017}}</ref> This was a result of transitional provisions in the Constitution of Singapore in 2017,<ref>Constitution, Art. 163(1).</ref> which were affirmed by the [[High Court (Singapore)|High Court]] following a legal challenge by then-presidential candidate [[Tan Cheng Bock]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg/docs/default-source/module-document/judgement/tcb-final-12072017-with-all-amendments-pdf.pdf|title=TAN CHENG BOCK v ATTORNEY GENERAL [2017] SGHC 160 DECISION DATE: 07 Jul 2017 HC/OS 495/2017|last1=Loh|first1=Quentin|date=29 June 2017|publisher=High Court of the Republic of Singapore|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227182227/https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg/docs/default-source/module-document/judgement/tcb-final-12072017-with-all-amendments-pdf.pdf|archive-date=27 February 2019|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news|title=Law allows Parliament to count Wee Kim Wee's term in triggering reserved presidential election: High Court|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/law-allows-parliament-to-count-wee-kim-wees-term-in-triggering-reserved-presidential|access-date=8 July 2017|date=7 Jul 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708094621/http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/law-allows-parliament-to-count-wee-kim-wees-term-in-triggering-reserved-presidential|archive-date=8 July 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news|title=Tan Cheng Bock's constitutional challenge dismissed by High Court|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tan-cheng-bock-s-constitutional-challenge-dismissed-by-high-9012246|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|date=7 Jul 2017|access-date=8 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709035013/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tan-cheng-bock-s-constitutional-challenge-dismissed-by-high-9012246|archive-date=9 July 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
</ref> Tan appealed against this decision, but the appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.<ref>
{{cite news|title=Perpetual presidential hopeful Tan Cheng Bock bows out gracefully|url=https://mothership.sg/2017/08/perpetual-presidential-hopeful-tan-cheng-bock-bows-out-gracefully/|publisher=Mothership.sg|date=23 Aug 2017|access-date=27 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827213946/https://mothership.sg/2017/08/perpetual-presidential-hopeful-tan-cheng-bock-bows-out-gracefully/|archive-date=27 August 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
</ref>

The sixth and the oldest to become president was [[S. R. Nathan]], who served as the Ambassador of the United States from 1990 to 1996 prior to his presidency. He ran unopposed, and became president by virtue of being the sole candidate deemed qualified by the [[Presidential Elections Committee]] (PEC). He served his first term of office from 1999 to 2005 before being re-elected unopposed again for a second term, and he served until 2011.

After S. R. Nathan stepped down, [[Tony Tan]], who served as [[Deputy Prime Minister (Singapore)|Deputy Prime Minister]] from 1995 to 2005 prior to his presidency, won the [[2011 Singaporean presidential election|2011 presidential election]] by a narrow margin in a four-cornered fight. He was sworn in as the seventh president of Singapore on 1 September 2011. [[Ong Teng Cheong]], [[Tony Tan]], and [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]] are the only [[Deputy Prime Minister (Singapore)|Deputy Prime Ministers]] who became presidents.

In 2016, further amendments to the Constitution were passed providing for "reserved elections" for a particular ethnic community, if that community has not provided a president in the past five presidential terms. The eighth president, [[Halimah Yacob]], who served as [[Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore|Speaker of Parliament]] from 2013 to 2017, prior to her presidency, took office on 14 September 2017. She was the sole eligible candidate under the new reform terms which took effect earlier that year. Yacob was also the first [[Malay Singaporeans|Malay]] head of state in 47 years since the death of the first president of Singapore, Yusof, and the first female president.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Singaporeans-miffed-by-reserved-presidential-election|title=Singaporeans miffed by 'reserved' presidential election – Nikkei Asian Review|last=Lee|first=Justina|date=2017-09-12|work=Nikkei Asian Review|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205215836/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Singaporeans-miffed-by-reserved-presidential-election|archive-date=5 December 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Halimah Yacob set to be Singapore's first female president: A timeline of her career|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/halimah-yacob-set-to-be-singapores-first-female-president-a-timeline-of-her-career|access-date=28 January 2018|work=The Straits Times|date=11 September 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127203216/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/halimah-yacob-set-to-be-singapores-first-female-president-a-timeline-of-her-career|archive-date=27 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 1 September 2023, [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]], who served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019, and [[Senior Minister of Singapore|Senior Minister]] from 2019 to 2023, prior to his presidency, won the [[2023 Singaporean presidential election|2023 presidential election]] and was elected the ninth president of Singapore after receiving 70.41% of the votes cast.<ref>{{cite news
|title=Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be Singapore's 9th President after 70.4% landslide win
|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/presidential-election-tharman-elected-70-cent-landslide-win-ng-kok-song-tan-kin-lian-3740526
|url-status=live
|work=Channel News Asia
|date=1 September 2023
|language=en
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902005259/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/presidential-election-tharman-elected-70-cent-landslide-win-ng-kok-song-tan-kin-lian-3740526
|archive-date=2 September 2023
}}</ref> In November 2023, the parliament of Singapore passed a bill to amend the constitution to allow the President of Singapore to hold international positions in their private capacity, only if the position is of national interest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goh |first=Yan Han |date=2023-11-22 |title=Constitution amended to let president take global roles in private capacity if in national interest |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/constitution-amended-to-let-president-take-global-roles-in-private-capacity-if-in-national-interest |access-date=2024-01-16 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

==Constitutional role==
The president is the [[head of state]] of Singapore.<ref>Constitution, Art. 17(1).</ref> In addition to being the head of state, it is also the function of the president to safeguard the national reserves and the integrity of the public service of Singapore.<ref>Constitution, Art. 17(2).</ref> The executive authority of Singapore is vested in the president and exercisable by them or by the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] or any minister authorised by the Cabinet.<ref>Constitution, Art. 23(1).</ref> However, the Constitution vests "general direction and control of the [[Government of Singapore|Government]]" in the Cabinet.<ref>Constitution, Art. 24(2).</ref> In most cases, the president is bound to exercise their powers in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or of a minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet.<ref>Constitution, Art. 21(1).</ref>

However, the president is able to exercise some powers in their personal discretion<ref>Constitution, Art. 21(2).</ref> such as preventing the government of the day from drawing on the reserves which were not accumulated during its current term of office; revoking or appointing any of the public offices under Article 22 of the Constitution such as [[Chief Justice of Singapore|Chief Justice]], [[Attorney-General of Singapore|Attorney-General]], [[Chief of Defence Force (Singapore)|Chief of Defence Force]], and [[Commissioner of Police (Singapore)|Commissioner of Police]], amongst others;<ref>Constitution, Art. 22.</ref> exercising oversight over the [[Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau]] (CPIB); and decisions of the Executive under the Internal Security Act<ref name=ISA/> and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.<ref name=MRHA/>

[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in Singapore 15-16 November 2009-4.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[President of the Russian Federation|Russian president]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] speaking to president [[S. R. Nathan]] during the former's visit in 2009]]

As a component of the legislature together with the [[Parliament of Singapore|parliament]], the president is also jointly vested with legislative authority.<ref>Constitution, Art. 38.</ref> The president's primary role in the exercise of legislative power to make laws is assenting to bills passed by Parliament.<ref>Constitution, Art. 58(1).</ref>

As the president exercises this constitutional function in accordance with the Cabinet's advice and not in their personal discretion except in [[Parliament of Singapore#Assent to bills by the President|certain circumstances]],<ref>Constitution, Art. 21(2)(c).</ref> they may not refuse to assent to bills that Parliament has validly passed. The words of enactment in [[Sources of Singapore law#Statutes|Singapore Statutes]] are: "Be it enacted by the president with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:".<ref>Constitution, Art. 60.</ref> The president usually opens each [[Parliament of Singapore#Sessions|parliamentary session]] with an address drafted by the Cabinet setting out the government's agenda for the session,<ref>{{citation|title=Standing Orders of Parliament (as amended on 19 October 2004)|url=http://www.parliament.gov.sg/Publications/SO-merge%20with%20SO%20notes.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509010912/http://www.parliament.gov.sg/Publications/SO-merge%20with%20SO%20notes.pdf|archive-date=9 May 2010|publisher=Parliament of Singapore|date=19 October 2004|access-date=2 November 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}, Standing Order 15(1).</ref> and may address Parliament and send messages to it.<ref>Constitution, Art. 62.</ref>

The president has been called "Singapore's No. 1 diplomat".<ref name="Tommy Koh">{{citation|author=Tommy Koh|author-link=Tommy Koh|title=Demystifying the presidential office|url=http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/pub/pa_tk_ST_Demystifying%20the%20presidential%20office_150611.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608061319/http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/pub/pa_tk_ST_Demystifying%20the%20presidential%20office_150611.pdf|archive-date=8 June 2012|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=15 June 2011|page=A21}}.</ref> [[Ambassador]]s and [[High Commissioner (Commonwealth)|high commissioners]] accredited to Singapore present their credentials to the president, and the president is called upon by visiting foreign dignitaries. In addition, the president contributes to the nation's external relations by undertaking overseas trips on Cabinet's advice. The president also serves as the ''[[ex officio]]'' [[Chancellor (education)|chancellor]] of both the [[National University of Singapore]] and the [[Nanyang Technological University]].

Presidents have also used the office to champion charitable causes. Wee Kim Wee promoted sports and volunteerism; Ong Teng Cheong promoted culture and the arts, particularly music; and S. R. Nathan established the [[President's Challenge]] with the [[Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports]] and its statutory board, the [[National Council of Social Service]]. As of 2011, the endeavour had raised more than [[Singapore dollar|S$]]100 million for charities supporting disabled and needy people.<ref name="Tommy Koh"/>
{{clear}}

==Powers==
{{main|Powers of the president of Singapore}}
[[File:MASBuilding-Singapore-20090914.jpg|thumb|upright|The president has personal discretion as to whether to approve budgets or financial transactions of specified [[Government of Singapore#Statutory boards|statutory boards]] and state-owned companies that are likely to draw on past reserves. The [[Monetary Authority of Singapore]], photographed here in September 2009, is one such statutory board.]]

The powers of the president are divided into those which the president may exercise in their own discretion, and those which must be exercised in accordance with the advice of the [[Cabinet of Singapore|Cabinet]] or of a minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet.<ref>Constitution, Arts. 21(1) and (2).</ref> In addition, the president is required to consult the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) when performing some of their functions. In other cases, they may consult the CPA if they wish to but is not bound to do so.<ref>Constitution, Arts. 22(3) and (4). The Legislature can pass a law requiring the President to act after consultation with, or on the recommendation of, any person or body of persons other than the Cabinet in the exercise of their functions other than those exercisable in his personal discretion or in respect of the Constitution has made other provision: Art. 21(5).</ref>

The Constitution confers on the president certain executive functions to block attempts by the [[Government of Singapore|government]] of the day to draw down reserves that it did not accumulate. Thus, a guarantee may only be given or a loan raised by the government if the president concurs,<ref>Constitution, Art. 144(1).</ref> and their approval is also needed for budgets of specified [[Government of Singapore#Statutory boards|statutory boards]] and state-owned companies that draw on their past reserves.<ref>Constitution, Arts. 21(2)(e), 21(2)(f), 22B and 22D.</ref>

The president also possesses personal discretion to withhold assent to any bill in Parliament providing directly or indirectly for the direct or indirect variation, changing or increase in powers of the [[Central Provident Fund Board]] to invest moneys belonging to it;<ref>Constitution, Art. 22E.</ref> and the borrowing of money, the giving of any guarantee or the raising of any loan by the government if in the president's opinion the bill is likely to draw on reserves not accumulated by the Government during its current term of office.<ref>Constitution, Art. 144(2).</ref> In addition, the president may withhold assent to any Supply Bill, Supplementary Supply Bill or Final Supply Bill for any financial year if in their opinion the estimates of revenue and expenditure, supplementary estimates or statement of excess are likely to lead to a drawing on past reserves.<ref>Constitution, Arts. 148A and 148D.</ref>

The president is also empowered to approve changes to key political appointments, such as the [[Chief Justice of Singapore|chief justice]], [[Attorney-General of Singapore|attorney-general]], chairman and members of the [[Public Service Commission (Singapore)|Public Service Commission]], [[Chief of Defence Force (Singapore)|Chief of Defence Force]] and the [[Commissioner of Police (Singapore)|Commissioner of Police]].<ref>Constitution, Art. 22(1).</ref> They also appoint the [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]], a [[Parliament of Singapore|Member of Parliament]] (MP) who, in their opinion, is likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.<ref>Constitution, Art. 25(1).</ref> The president has certain powers of oversight over the [[Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau]]<ref>Constitution, Art. 22G. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau's powers of investigation derive from the {{Singapore legislation|title=Prevention of Corruption Act|cap=241|ed=1993}}.</ref> and decisions of the Executive under the Internal Security Act<ref>Constitution, Arts. 21(2)(g) and 151(4); {{Singapore legislation|title=Internal Security Act|titlelink=Internal Security Act (Singapore)|cap=143|ed=1985}}, s. 13A.</ref> and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.<ref>Constitution, Arts. 21(2)(h), 22I; MRHA, s. 12.</ref>

Under the Singapore Armed Forces Act, the president has the authority to raise and maintain the [[Singapore Armed Forces]] (SAF). The president also has the power to form, disband or amalgamate units within the SAF.

The term of office of the first elected president, [[Ong Teng Cheong]], was marked by the differences between the government and him, concerning the extent of his discretionary fiscal powers.<ref>[[Hu Tsu Tau Richard|Hu, Richard Tsu Tau]] ([[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister for Finance]]), Ministerial Statement, "Issues Raised by President Ong Teng Cheong at his Press Conference on 16th July 1999", ''Singapore Parliamentary Debates, Official Report'' (17 August 1999), vol. 70, cols. 2018–2029; {{citation|author=Roger Mitton|title='I had a job to do' whether the Government liked it or not, says ex-President Ong – extended interview with Roger Mitton|date=10 March 2000|url=http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0310/nat.singapore.ongiv.html|magazine=[[Asiaweek]]|volume=26|issue=9|pages=28–29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210092142/http://www.asiaweek.com/asiaweek/magazine/2000/0310/nat.singapore.ongiv.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 February 2001}}.</ref> Discussions culminated in the government issuing a non-binding [[white paper#Government white papers|white paper]] entitled ''The Principles for Determining and Safeguarding the Accumulated Reserves of the Government and the Fifth Schedule Statutory Boards and Government Companies'' (1999).<ref>{{citation|title=The Principles for Determining and Safeguarding the Accumulated Reserves of the Government and the Fifth Schedule Statutory Boards and Government Companies [Cmd. 5 of 1999]|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed for the Government of Singapore by the Government Printers|year=1999|oclc=226180358}}.</ref>

In 2009, the government had to request for the approval from president [[S. R. Nathan]] to draw $4.9 billion from past financial reserves to meet current budget expenditure, the first time it had done so. The sum was used to fund the government's Resilience Package consisting of two schemes aimed at preserving jobs and businesses during the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{citation|author=Zakir Hussain|title=A Budget first: Govt to draw $4.9b from past reserves|date=23 January 2009 | url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes20090123-1.2.5.2.2|newspaper=The Straits Times|pages=4|via=NewspaperSG}}; {{citation|title=Concerns about economy go back to mid-2008: President makes public for first time his decision to allow use of reserves|date=18 February 2009|newspaper=The Straits Times}}; {{citation|author=Chua Mui Hoong|title=Turning of the second key went smoothly|date=20 February 2009|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/turning-of-the-second-key-went-smoothly|newspaper=The Straits Times}}.</ref>

==Election==
{{main|Presidential elections in Singapore}}

===Qualifications===
A person who wishes to run for the office of president has to fulfil stringent qualifications set out in the Constitution, which are as follows:
*The president must be a [[Singaporean nationality law|citizen of Singapore]].<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(2)(a).</ref>
*The president must not be less than 45 years of age.<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(2)(b).</ref>
*The president's name must appear in a current register of electors.<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(2)(c) read with Art. 44(2)(c).</ref>
*The president must be resident in Singapore at the date of their nomination for election, and must have been so resident for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than ten years prior to that date.<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(2)(c) read with Art. 44(2)(d).</ref>
*The president must not be subject to any of the following disqualifications:<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(2)(d) read with Art. 45.</ref>
::(a) being and having been found or declared to be of unsound mind;
::(b) being an undischarged bankrupt;
::(c) holding an office of profit;
::(d) having been nominated for election to Parliament or the office of President or having acted as election agent to a person so nominated, failing to lodge any return of election expenses required by law within the time and in the manner so required;
::(e) having been convicted of an offence by a court of law (whether in Singapore or not) and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than [[Singapore dollar|S$]]10,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) and having not received a free pardon. The person if convicted by a foreign court of law shall not be disqualified unless the offence is also one which, had it been committed in Singapore, would have been punishable by a court of law in Singapore;<ref>The disqualification of a person under clauses (d) and (e) may be removed by the President and shall, if not so removed, cease at the end of five years beginning from the date on which the return mentioned in clause (d) was required to be lodged or, as the case may be, the date on which the person convicted as mentioned in clause (e) was released from custody or the date on which the fine mentioned in clause (1) (e) was imposed on such person: Constitution, Art. 45(2).</ref>
::(f) having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of, or exercised rights of citizenship in, a foreign country, or having made a declaration of allegiance to a foreign country;<ref>A person shall not be disqualified under this clause by reason only of anything done by him before he became a citizen of Singapore: Constitution, Art. 45(2). In clause (f), "foreign country" does not include any part of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] or the [[Republic of Ireland]]: Art. 45(3).</ref>
::(g) being disqualified under any law relating to offences in connection with elections to Parliament or the office of President by reason of having been convicted of such an offence or having in proceedings relating to such an election been proved guilty of an act constituting such an offence.
*The president must be a person of integrity, good character and reputation.<ref name="Art 19(2)(e)">Constitution, Art. 19(2)(e).</ref>
*The president must not be a member of any [[list of political parties in Singapore|political party]] on the date of their nomination for election.<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(2)(f).</ref>
*The president must have for a period of not less than three years held office —
**as [[Cabinet of Singapore#Responsibilities of Ministers|Minister]], [[Chief Justice of Singapore|Chief Justice]], [[Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore|Speaker]], [[Attorney-General of Singapore|Attorney-General]], Chairman of the [[Public Service Commission (Singapore)|Public Service Commission]], Auditor-General, Accountant-General, or [[Permanent Secretary]];<ref>Constitution, Art. 19(3)(a).</ref>
**as [[chief executive officer]] (CEO) of a key statutory board or government company: the [[Central Provident Fund Board]], the [[Housing and Development Board]], the [[JTC Corporation|Jurong Town Corporation]], the [[Monetary Authority of Singapore]], [[Temasek (company)|Temasek Holdings]], or [[GIC (sovereign wealth fund)|GIC Private Limited]] (formerly known as the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation);<ref name="Cons193bFifth">Constitution, Art. 19(3)(b) read with the Fifth Schedule.</ref>
**as the most senior executive of a [[List of legal entity types by country#Singapore|company incorporated in Singapore]] with an average of $500 million in [[Equity (finance)#Legal foundations|shareholders' equity]] for the most recent three years in that office, and which is profitable after [[Corporate tax|taxes]];<ref name="Cons194197">Constitution, Art. 19(4), read with Art. 19(7).</ref> or
**in any other similar or comparable position of seniority and responsibility in any other organisation or department of equivalent size or complexity in the [[public sector|public]] or [[private sector]] which has given him such experience and ability in administering and managing financial affairs as to enable him to carry out effectively the functions and duties of the office of president.<ref name="Cons1934">Constitution, Art. 19(3)(c) and Art 19(4)(b).</ref>

The strictness of these qualifications led to the [[1999 Singaporean presidential election|1999]], [[2005 Singaporean presidential election|2005]], and [[2017 Singaporean presidential election|2017 elections]] being walkovers as only one candidate had qualified on nomination day.<ref>{{citation|author=Chua Mui Hoong|title=See you in six years' time|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=21 August 1999|page=6}}; {{citation|title=Why only President Nathan qualifies|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=14 August 2005|page=4}}.</ref><ref>
{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/asia/singapore-race-presidential-election/index.html|title=How Singapore elected a president without a vote|last=Han|first=Kirsten|date=2017-09-12|work=CNN|access-date=2017-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215054027/http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/11/asia/singapore-race-presidential-election/index.html|archive-date=15 December 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
</ref>

In November 2016, further amendments provide for "reserved elections" for a particular racial group ([[Demographics of Singapore|Chinese, Malay, and Indian/other minority]]) — if that community has not been represented for five presidential terms.<ref>
{{cite act|url=http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=Id%3A6a6a2578-4806-4cd4-823d-9c2e4fe5a0e6%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Apublished%20Published%3A03%2F01%2F2017;rec=0;resUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fstatutes.agc.gov.sg%2Faol%2Fsearch%2Fsummary%2Fresults.w3p%3Bpage%3D0%3Bquery%3DId%253A6a6a2578-4806-4cd4-823d-9c2e4fe5a0e6%2520Depth%253A0%2520Status%253Apublished%2520Published%253A03%252F01%252F2017;whole=no#legis|title=Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 2016|date=21 December 2016|access-date=5 August 2017|number=28/2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805181418/http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;page=0;query=Id%3A6a6a2578-4806-4cd4-823d-9c2e4fe5a0e6%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Apublished%20Published%3A03%2F01%2F2017;rec=0;resUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fstatutes.agc.gov.sg%2Faol%2Fsearch%2Fsummary%2Fresults.w3p%3Bpage%3D0%3Bquery%3DId%253A6a6a2578-4806-4cd4-823d-9c2e4fe5a0e6%2520Depth%253A0%2520Status%253Apublished%2520Published%253A03%252F01%252F2017;whole=no#legis|archive-date=5 August 2017}}
</ref><ref>Constitution, Art. 19B.</ref> Other amendments were made to expand the list of key government companies eligible for the candidacy,<ref name="Cons193bFifth"/> and, for candidates using their private sector experience, the use of $500 million of shareholder equity instead of $100 million in paid-up capital.<ref name="Cons194197"/> The changes went into effect in April 2017.<ref name="auto">
{{cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/elected-presidency-amendments-to-constitution-passed-in/3271856.html|title=Elected Presidency: Amendments to Constitution passed in Parliament|date=9 Nov 2016|work=Channel NewsAsia|access-date=15 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116021038/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/elected-presidency-amendments-to-constitution-passed-in/3271856.html|archive-date=16 November 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
</ref> Prime minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]] later explained that while he expected the "reserved election" policy to be unpopular among the population, he believed it was "the right thing to do".<ref>
{{Cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pm-lee-spells-out-why-he-pushed-for-reserved-election|title=PM Lee spells out why he pushed for reserved election|last=Yuen-C|first=Tham|date=2017-09-30|work=The Straits Times|access-date=2017-12-14|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215060809/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/pm-lee-spells-out-why-he-pushed-for-reserved-election|archive-date=15 December 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}
</ref>

===Election procedure===
[[File:Entrance to Elections Department, Singapore 20250524 134054.jpg|thumb|The [[Elections Department]], which oversees [[elections in Singapore]]]]

The president holds office for a term of six years from the date on which they assume office.<ref>Constitution, Art. 20(1).</ref> The office falls vacant upon the expiry of the [[incumbent]]'s term or if the president is for some reason unable to complete their term; for example, due to death, resignation, or removal from office for misconduct or mental or physical infirmity.<ref>Constitution, Arts. 22L(1)(a) to (c). The office of President also becomes vacant if it is determined that the election of the President was void and no other person was duly elected as President, or if on the expiration of the incumbent's term the person declared elected as President fails to take office: Arts. 22L(1)(d) and (e).</ref> If the office of president becomes vacant before the incumbent's term expires, a poll for an election must be held within six months.<ref>Assuming a writ for a presidential election has not yet been issued before the vacation of office or, if it has been issued, has been [[wikt:countermand#Verb|countermanded]]: Constitution, Art. 17(3)(a).</ref> In other cases, an election can take place any time from three months before the expiry of the incumbent's term of office.<ref>Constitution, Art. 17(3); {{Singapore legislation|title=Presidential Elections Act|cap=240A|ed=2007}} ("PEA"), s. 6(1).</ref>

The procedure for elections is laid out in the Presidential Elections Act.<ref>{{Singapore legislation|title=Presidential Elections Act|cap=240A|ed=2007}}.</ref> The process begins when the [[Prime Minister of Singapore|prime minister]] issues a [[writ of election]] to the [[returning officer]] specifying the date and place of nomination day.<ref>PEA, ss. 6(2) and (3).</ref> Potential candidates must obtain certificates of eligibility from the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), the function of which is to ensure that such persons have the necessary qualifications to be nominated as a candidate for the election.<ref>Constitution, Art. 18(1).</ref> In particular, the PEC must be satisfied that the potential candidates are persons of integrity, good character and reputation;<ref name="Art 19(2)(e)"/> and if they have not previously held certain key government offices or acted as chairman of the board of directors or CEO of a company incorporated or registered under the Companies Act with shareholders' equity of at least $500 million, that they held a position of comparable seniority and responsibility in the public or private sector that has given them experience and ability in administering and managing financial affairs.<ref name="Cons1934"/> The PEC consists of the chairman of the [[Public Service Commission (Singapore)|Public Service Commission]], who is also the chairman of the PEC,<ref>Constitution, Art. 18(3).</ref> the chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, and a member of the [[Presidential Council for Minority Rights]].<ref>Constitution, Arts. 18(2)(a) to (c).</ref> For the [[2017 Singaporean presidential election|2017 presidential election]], the members of the PEC were [[Eddie Teo]] (chairman), [[Lim Soo Hoon]], [[Chan Heng Chee]], Po'ad Shaik Abu Bakar Mattar, [[Tay Yong Kwang]], and Peter Seah.<ref>{{cite web|title=Presidential Elections Committee|url=http://www.eld.gov.sg/gazette/G_PreP2017/Presidential%20Elections%20Committee.pdf|website=Elections Department Singapore|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606123525/http://www.eld.gov.sg/gazette/G_PreP2017/Presidential%20Elections%20Committee.pdf|archive-date=6 June 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In addition, candidates must obtain political donation certificates from the registrar of political donations stating that they have complied with the Political Donations Act,<ref>{{Singapore legislation|title=Political Donations Act|cap=236|ed=2001}}.</ref> and file their nomination papers with the returning officer on nomination day.<ref>PEA, ss. 9(4)(ba) and 11(1).</ref> A deposit must also be paid.<ref>PEA, s. 10(1) read with the {{Singapore legislation|Parliamentary Elections Act|cap=218|ed=2007}}, s. 28(1).</ref> The candidate is declared to have been elected president if only one candidate is nominated.<ref>PEA, s. 15.</ref> Otherwise, the returning officer issues a notice of contested election specifying when polling day will be.<ref>PEA, s. 16(5).</ref>

During the election period, a candidate may not spend more than $600,000 or 30 cents for each person on the [[electoral roll|electoral register]], whichever is greater.<ref>PEA, s. 50(1).</ref> Permits must be obtained to hold election meetings<ref>PEA, s. 62A(2), inserted by the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Act 2010 (No. 11 of 2010) ("PEAA").</ref> and display posters and banners,<ref>Presidential Elections (Posters and Banners) Regulations ([https://web.archive.org/web/20110616155219/http://www.elections.gov.sg/agc/presidentialSubLeg3.htm Cap. 240A, Rg 3, 2000 Rev. Ed.]), archived from [http://www.elections.gov.sg/agc/presidentialSubLeg3.htm the original] on 2 September 2010, regs. 2 and 3(1).</ref> and a number of acts are unlawful, including [[bribery]],<ref>PEA, s. 41.</ref> dissuading electors from voting,<ref>PEA, s. 63.</ref> making false statements about candidates,<ref>PEA, ss. 42(1)(d) and (e).</ref> [[treating]]<ref>PEA, s. 39.</ref> and undue influence.<ref>PEA, s. 40.</ref> Legal changes introduced in 2010 made the eve of polling day a "cooling-off day" – campaigning must not take place on that day and on polling day itself.<ref>PEA, ss. 59, 60A, 62 and 62A.</ref>

Polling day is a public holiday,<ref>PEA, s. 17.</ref> and voting is compulsory.<ref>PEA, s. 26(1).</ref> Voters must go to the [[polling place|polling stations]] assigned to them.<ref>PEA, s. 22(1).</ref> After the poll closes, the presiding officer of each polling station seals the [[ballot box]]es without opening them. Candidates or their polling agents may also affix their own seals to the ballot boxes.<ref>PEA, s. 31(2).</ref> The ballot boxes are then taken to counting centres to be opened and the ballots counted.<ref>PEA, s. 31(3).</ref> A candidate or his or her [[counting agent]] may ask the returning officer for a recount of votes if the difference between the number of votes for the candidate with the most votes and any other candidate's number of votes is 2% or less.<ref>PEA, ss. 32B(1) and (4). Rejected and tendered votes are excluded. A ''tendered vote'' is a vote that is permitted to be cast by a person claiming to be a voter named in the electoral register who turns up at a polling station after someone also claiming to be that voter has already voted: s. 29.</ref> After all counts, and recounts if any, have been completed, the returning officer ascertains whether the total number of electors registered to vote overseas is less than the difference between the number of votes for the two candidates with the highest number of votes. If so, the returning officer declares the candidate with the highest number of votes to be elected as president. If not, the overseas votes may be decisive. The returning officer then states the number of votes cast for each candidate and the date and location where the overseas votes will be counted.<ref>PEA, s. 32(8).</ref>

===Last contested election===
The 2023 presidential election was the first election with a ballot since the [[2011 Singaporean presidential election|2011 election]]. The election was won by [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]] with 1,746,427 (70.40%) of valid votes.

{{#section-h:2023 Singaporean presidential election|Results}}

==Assumption of office and disabilities==
The person elected to the office of president assumes office on the day his predecessor ceases to hold office or, if the office is vacant, on the day following the election. Upon assumption of office, the president is required to take and subscribe in the presence of the chief justice or of another justice of the Supreme Court the Oath of Office, which states:<ref>Constitution, Arts. 20(1) to (3) and the 1st Sch.</ref>

{{blockquote|I, [''name''], having been elected '''President of the Republic of Singapore''', do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge my duties as such to the best of my ability without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without regard to any previous affiliation with any political party, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic, and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore.}}

If the President is a [[Christian]], They may utter the phrase in the last sentence, "So help me God".

Once elected, the president shall:<ref>Constitution, Arts. 19(3)(a) to (d).</ref>
* not hold any other office created or recognised by the Constitution;
* not actively engage in any commercial enterprise;
* not be a member of any political party; and
* not serve in [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]].

==Succession==
In the case when the president is unable to perform their duties, their powers are temporarily transferred to the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA). If the chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisers is not available, the [[Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore|speaker of the Parliament]] performs the duties of the president. If both are unavailable the presidential functions are performed by an individual appointed by the [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]].

==Salary and entitlements==
[[File:Ong Teng Cheong with Carlos Menem.jpg|thumb|left| President Ong Teng Cheong received by [[Carlos Menem]].]]

The Parliament of Singapore is required to provide a [[civil list]] for the maintenance of the president,<ref>Constitution, Art. 22J(1).</ref> and it does so by way of the Civil List and Gratuity Act.<ref>{{Singapore legislation|title=Civil List and Gratuity Act|cap=44|ed=2002}}.</ref> With effect from 17 February 2012, the sum under Class I of the list, which includes the president's personal pay ($1,568,900, known by the British term the "[[Privy Purse|privy purse]]"), an entertainment allowance ($73,000) and an allowance for an acting president ($4,500), is $1,646,400. The privy purse was reduced from $4,267,500 after the president accepted the Ministerial Salaries Review Committee's recommendations on the matter.<ref name="Hansard 20120217">{{Singapore Hansard|mp=Josephine Teo|mplink=Josephine Teo|office=[[w:Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister of State for Finance]]|title=Civil List (Motion)|url=https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00076927-WA|date=17 February 2012|volume=88|columns=1202–1203}}.</ref>

The salaries for the president's personal staff (Class II) amount to $4,532,400. Speaking in Parliament on 10 March 2011, [[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|finance minister]] [[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]] explained that this sum was to cater for the salaries of an additional staff officer to support the work of the Council of Presidential Advisers, and a butler manager; and to meet higher variable staff salary payments due to the nation's strong economic growth.<ref>{{Singapore Hansard|mp=Tharman Shanmugaratnam|mplink=Tharman Shanmugaratnam|office=[[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister for Finance]]|title=Civil List (Motion)|url=https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/topic.jsp?currentTopicID=00074934-ZZ|date=10 March 2011|volume=87|column=4699}}.</ref><ref name="ST 20110311">{{citation|author=Zakir Hussain|title=President's pay approved|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=11 March 2011|page=A12}}; {{citation|title=Parliament approves increase in President's salary, expenditure|url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110311-0000251/Parliament-approves-increase-in-Presidents-salary,-expenditure|newspaper=[[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]]|date=11 March 2011|page=4|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518214055/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110311-0000251/Parliament-approves-increase-in-Presidents-salary,-expenditure|archive-date=18 May 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The allowance for the Istana's household expenses (Class III) is $2,762,308, an increase from $694,000. This allowance is used to cover the maintenance of the Istana, vehicles, utilities and other supplies, as well as for ceremonies and celebrations. The increase was to cater for higher expenses for maintaining computer systems, buildings and land, and to account for inflation.<ref name="Hansard 20120217"/>

Class IV expenses for "special services" are $550,000. In previous years, this sum was used to cover various expenses such as the cost of replacing state cars and installing a new document repository.<ref>{{citation|title=Funds approved for Office of the President|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=23 January 2009|page=C6}}.</ref> Overall, the current civil list of $9,491,100 represents a decrease of about 18% from the sum for the past fiscal year of $11,605,000.<ref>
{{Singapore legislation|title=Civil List and Pension Act: Resolution Passed at Parliament Meeting|url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/CLGA1970-S137-2012?DocDate=20120402&ViewType=Pdf&_=20170224213721|sltype=S|no=137|year=2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831130014/https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/CLGA1970-S137-2012?DocDate=20120402&ViewType=Pdf&_=20170224213721|archivedate=31 August 2017|dateformat=dmy-all}}.
</ref>
{{Clear}}

==List of presidents==
{{Main|List of presidents of Singapore}}

== See also ==
* [[Spouse of the president of Singapore|Spouse of the President of Singapore]]
* [[Chief Justice of Singapore]]
* [[Prime Minister of Singapore]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|33em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |first = Tommy |last = Koh |author-link = Tommy Koh |title = Demystifying the presidential office |url = http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/pub/pa_tk_ST_Demystifying%20the%20presidential%20office_150611.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120608061319/http://www.spp.nus.edu.sg/ips/docs/pub/pa_tk_ST_Demystifying%20the%20presidential%20office_150611.pdf |archive-date = 8 June 2012 |newspaper = [[The Straits Times]] |date = 15 June 2011 |page = A21 }}.
{{refend}}

==== Legislation ====
* {{Singapore legislation|title=Constitution|ed=1985|rep=1999}}.
* {{Singapore legislation|title=Presidential Elections Act|cap=240A|ed=2007}} ("PEA").

==Further reading==
===Articles===
*{{citation|last=Lee|first=Yvonne C.L.|title=Under Lock and Key: The Evolving Role of the Elected President as a Fiscal Guardian|ssrn=1139305|journal=Singapore Journal of Legal Studies|year=2007|pages=290–322}}.
*{{citation|last=Wan|first=Wai Yee|title=Recent Changes to the Westminster System of Government and Government Accountability|journal=Singapore Law Review|year=1994|volume=15|pages=297–332}}.

===Books===
*{{citation|last=Chan|first=Helena H[ui-]M[eng]|chapter=The Executive|title=The Legal System of Singapore|location=Singapore|publisher=[[LexisNexis Butterworths|Butterworths Asia]]|year=1995|pages=22–29|isbn=978-0-409-99789-7}}.
*{{citation|last=Ho|first=Khai Leong|title=Shared Responsibilities, Unshared Power: The Politics of Policy-making in Singapore|location=Singapore|publisher=Eastern Universities Press|year=2003|isbn=978-981-210-218-8}}.
*{{citation|last1=Low|first1=Linda|last2=Toh|first2=Mun Heng|title=The Elected Presidency as a Safeguard for Official Reserves: What is at Stake? [IPS occasional paper; no. 1]|location=Singapore|publisher=Times Academic Press in association with the [[Institute of Policy Studies (Singapore)|Institute of Policy Studies]]|year=1989|isbn=978-981-00-1014-0}}.
*{{citation|title=Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No. 3) Bill (Bill No. 23/90) [Parl. 9 of 1990]|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed for the [[Government of Singapore]] by Singapore National Printers|year=1990|oclc=212400288}}.
*{{citation|title=Safeguarding Financial Assets and the Integrity of the Public Services: The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No. 3) Bill &#91;[[Command paper|Cmd.]] 11 of 1990&#93;|location=Singapore|publisher=Printed for the Government of Singapore by Singapore National Printers|year=1990|oclc=39716236}}.
*{{citation|last1=Tan|first1=Kevin [Yew Lee]|last2=Lam|first2=Peng Er|title=Managing Political Change in Singapore: The Elected Presidency|location=Singapore|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=1997|isbn=978-0-415-15632-5}}.
*{{citation|last=Tan|first=Kevin Y[ew] L[ee]|chapter=State and Institution Building through the Singapore Constitution 1965–2005|editor-last=Thio|editor-first=Li-ann|editor-link=Thio Li-ann|editor2-last=Tan|editor2-first=Kevin Y L|title=Evolution of a Revolution: Forty Years of the Singapore Constitution|location=London; New York, N.Y.|publisher=[[Routledge|Routledge-Cavendish]]|year=2009|pages=50–78 at 68–71|isbn=978-0-415-43862-9}}.

===News reports===
*{{citation|last=Ho|first=Kwon Ping|author-link=Ho Kwon Ping|title=Soft powers of a president|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=7 July 2011|page=A27}}.
*{{citation|last=Wan|first=Wai Yee|title=Don't politicise role of President|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=21 July 2011|page=A25}}.
*{{citation|last=Ho|first=Kwon Ping|title=Elected presidency: Navigating uncharted waters [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=23 July 2011}}.
*{{citation|last=Tan|first=Kin Lian|author-link=Tan Kin Lian|title=Elected president can be voice of the people [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=25 July 2011|page=A21}}.
*{{citation|last=Goh|first=Richard|title=Be clear about president's role [online letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=28 July 2011}}.
*{{citation|last=Gwee|first=Kim Leng|title=People's voice: 'If Mr Tan wanted it his way, he should have stood in the GE' [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=28 July 2011|page=A28}}.
*{{citation|last=Liew|first=Shiau Min|title=Hard to confine an elected president to his custodial role [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=28 July 2011|page=A28}}.
*{{citation|last=Ng|first=Ya Ken|title=Stick to Constitution: 'State what contributions they would render in the purview, if elected' [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=28 July 2011|page=A28}}.
*{{citation|last=Tin|first=Eric|title=Presidential hopeful's contradictions [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=28 July 2011|page=A28}}.
*{{citation|last=Chia|first=Daniel|title=Accept EP's role or don't stand [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=30 July 2011|page=A45}}.
*{{citation|last=Foo|first=Stephanie|title=Why a campaign promise may ring hollow [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=30 July 2011|page=A45}}.
*{{citation|last=Tan|first=Cheng Bock|author-link=Tan Cheng Bock|title=Why elected president must be the people's voice [letter]|newspaper=The Straits Times|date=1 August 2011|page=A27}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Presidents of Singapore}}

*{{Official website|http://www.istana.gov.sg}}

{{Singapore Presidents}}
{{Constitution of Singapore}}
{{Law of Singapore}}
{{Singapore topics}}
{{Southeast Asian leaders}}

[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Singapore]]
[[Category:Presidents by country|Singapore]]
[[Category:Presidents of Singapore|Presidents of Singapore]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Singapore]]