Statute Details
- Title: Proclamation under Article 64(2)
- Act Code: CONS1963-S689-2020
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL) / Constitutional Proclamation
- Legislative Instrument No.: S 689/2020
- Enacting Authority: President of the Republic of Singapore (Halimah Yacob)
- Authorising Provision: Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, Article 64(2) (and related Article 64A)
- Date of Proclamation: 14 August 2020
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
- Commencement / Operational Effect: Appointment of place(s) and time(s) for the First Session of the Fourteenth Parliament (for the specified period)
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is a Proclamation made by the President under Article 64(2) of the Singapore Constitution. In plain terms, it is the formal legal mechanism that tells Parliament where it will sit and when it will begin its sessions.
Unlike an Act of Parliament that creates new policy or substantive law, this Proclamation performs a constitutional “administrative” function: it appoints the place(s) and commencement time for a particular parliamentary session. Here, it relates specifically to the First Session of the Fourteenth Parliament.
The Proclamation also reflects constitutional developments allowing Parliament to operate in a multi-location and contemporaneous communication setting. This is linked to Article 64A, which permits arrangements for Parliament and its committees to sit and despatch business with Members present at two or more places while communicating in real time.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Constitutional basis: Article 64(2) (and Article 64A context)
The Proclamation begins by stating its constitutional authority. Under Article 64(2), the President appoints, by Proclamation in the Gazette, the place where parliamentary sessions are held and the time they commence. This ensures that the timing and location of parliamentary business are formally fixed at the constitutional level.
It further notes that under Article 64A(1) and (2), arrangements may be made for Parliament and its committees to sit with Members present at two or more places and in contemporaneous communication. This matters because the Proclamation does not only designate a single location; it also designates additional places where the session may be held during a defined period.
2. Appointment of the principal place and commencement time
The Proclamation’s operative content is divided into two main parts:
- (a) Main appointment: It appoints Parliament House, 1 Parliament Place, Singapore 178880 as the place where the First Session of the Fourteenth Parliament shall be held, and 24 August 2020, 5.30 p.m. as the time it shall commence.
For practitioners, the significance is that the commencement time is not merely ceremonial; it is the legally appointed time at which the session begins. This can be relevant for procedural questions (for example, when parliamentary proceedings are deemed to have started, and how records are aligned with the session’s official commencement).
3. Appointment of additional places for the session (multi-location sitting)
The Proclamation also appoints additional places where the First Session may be held during a specified period. Under (b), it designates four additional locations:
- (i) The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
- (ii) NTUC Centre, 1 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989
- (iii) The Treasury, 100 High Street, Singapore 179434
- (iv) Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road, Singapore 275983
Crucially, these additional places are appointed for the period from 24 August 2020 to 20 November 2020 (both dates inclusive). The wording “may be held” indicates that these locations are authorised options; the actual use of one or more of them would depend on the operational arrangements for that session.
4. Legal formality: Gazette proclamation and presidential signature
The Proclamation is made “By Article 64(2) … in the Gazette” and is signed by the President “Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Republic of Singapore at the Istana” and dated 14 August 2020. This formal structure is important: it signals that the instrument is not an internal administrative notice, but a constitutionally authorised legal instrument.
For legal work, the formality also supports reliance. Courts and practitioners generally treat Gazette proclamations as authoritative for the matters they appoint—particularly where the Constitution itself requires a Gazette Proclamation for the relevant constitutional step.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a short constitutional Proclamation rather than a long statute with multiple parts. The document contains:
- Title and status information (including the portal’s “current version” note)
- Enacting formula identifying the constitutional provisions relied upon
- Operative clauses (here, clauses (a) and (b)) appointing the place(s) and time(s)
- Signature and dating by the President, with reference to the Seal and the Istana
There are no “sections” in the typical statutory sense. Instead, the Proclamation uses a concise constitutional format consistent with Gazette proclamations under the Constitution.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Proclamation applies primarily to Parliament and its procedural operations—specifically, the holding of the First Session of the Fourteenth Parliament. It authorises the relevant parliamentary session to commence at the appointed time and to be held at the appointed location(s).
While the Proclamation is not directed at private parties, its effect is felt by those involved in parliamentary proceedings: Members of Parliament, parliamentary committees, parliamentary staff, and any stakeholders whose participation or attendance depends on the session’s location and timing. The inclusion of multiple venues also implies that operational arrangements (including contemporaneous communication) may be used to facilitate parliamentary business across sites.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Proclamation is brief, it is constitutionally significant. Under Singapore’s constitutional framework, Parliament cannot simply decide on its own to sit at a particular time and place without the constitutional mechanism being followed. By requiring a presidential Proclamation under Article 64(2), the Constitution ensures that the commencement and location of parliamentary sessions are anchored in formal constitutional authority.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the instrument is important for procedural certainty. Parliamentary proceedings are highly structured, and legal questions can arise about the validity of proceedings, the timing of votes, the commencement of a session, and the legitimacy of arrangements for Members’ participation. A Gazette Proclamation provides an authoritative record that the constitutional requirements for location and commencement were satisfied.
The Proclamation is also a practical example of how Article 64A enables Parliament to function in a multi-location setting. Even though the Proclamation itself does not detail the technical or procedural rules for contemporaneous communication, it authorises the legal “permission space” for Parliament to use additional venues during the specified period. This can be relevant in contexts such as parliamentary reporting, administrative planning, and any legal analysis of how constitutional provisions accommodate operational needs.
Related Legislation
- Constitution of the Republic of Singapore — Article 64(2) (President’s power to appoint place and time of parliamentary sessions by Proclamation in the Gazette)
- Constitution of the Republic of Singapore — Article 64A (arrangements for Parliament and committees to sit with Members present at two or more places in contemporaneous communication)
- Constitution of the Republic of Singapore — Article 64 (general constitutional framework for parliamentary sessions)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Proclamation under Article 64(2) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.