Capital: Singapore
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence
State of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993)
was elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held
28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999); results - ONG Teng
Cheong was elected with 59% of the vote in the country's first
popular election for president
head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November
1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November
1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995) were appointed by
the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president, responsible to
Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament: elections last held 31 August 1991 (next to be held by 31 August 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (81 total) PAP 77, SDP 3, WP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice