Constitution of Singapore - History Timeline

History Timeline

• 1946, following the end of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, the Straits Settlements was dissolved and Singapore became a separate Crown Colony. A new Colonial Constitution was passed.
• 1955, the Rendel Constitution, originally proposed in 1953, came into effect. It gave the local population more power to determine the government but the colonial administration still held most of the authority over internal matters.
• 1958, after Lim Yew Hock's successful negotiation with the British government, the British Parliament passed a State of Singapore Act and Singapore's status was changed from a colony to a state. The Singapore (Constitution) Order-in-Council was enacted and it created the position of a Yang di-Pertuan Negara as the constitutional head of state, a prime minister and a 51-elected member Legislative Assembly.
• 1963, Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia. The Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (State Constitutions) Order-in-Council was enacted.
• 1965, Singapore was separated from Malaysia, effected by three documents: The Constitution of Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act, the Constitution of Singapore (Amendment) Act and the Republic of Singapore Independence Act of 1965.
• 1970, to safeguard the rights of the racial, linguistic and religious minorities, the Presidential Council was established and later renamed the Presidential Council for Minority Rights in 1973.
• 1984, a constitutional amendment was passed to provide for non-constituency members of Parliament.
• 1988, a constitutional amendment was passed to introduce group representation constituencies (GRCs). At least one member of the GRC must be from a minority race.
• 1988, the constitution was amended to provide for nominated members of Parliament.
• 1991, the constitution was amended to provide for a popularly elected president.