chap 2 - function of government

• Diplomacy

  Building strong and friendly ties with another country to promote and protect a country's national interest
• Diplomacy

  1. Describe

  2. Examples

  3. Show how the role of government leads to positive outcome
• Diplomacy- describe

  • Done through building strong and friendly ties with one another and forms mutual interest so it is not likely to disrupt one another
• forging strong bilateral relations

  • Relationship between Malaysia to protect Singapore's water security
  • Relationship between Vietnam to strengthen economic cooperation
• Forging strong multilateral relationship

  • ASEAN = cornerstone of Singapore's foreign policy
  • Agreement such as RCEP deepen economic cooperation in the Asia Pacific region helps to eliminate tariffs for about 90 percent of goods traded among RCEP member which increase profits and revenue, therefore there is economic development
• When government carries out diplomacy, Singapore is friends with other countries so:

  > they will not see Singapore as a threat and attack us, thus making Singapore safe

  > there will be more trade and revenue and thus Singapore will have a higher GDP

  > Singaporeans can travel to more countries which makes our passport stronger and easier visa free travel
• Deterrence

  Intimidate then others scared= wont attack
• Deterrence

  Measures taken to discourage potential aggressors that wish to attack a country
• examples of what will happen if gov. use deterrence

  • SAF build up its capabilities so as to respond to military threats effectively
  • SAF worked with the Defence Science Technology Agency and ST engineering to develop Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle(AFV) so that during times of conflict, AFV can detect enemies more quickly and eliminate them
• show how gov. leads to positive outcome

  strong SAF so other counties will not attack SG, therefor SG safer
• providing goods and services to meet basic needs:

  • meets basic needs for food, water and shelter
  • has the opportunity to pursue their goals + enjoy satisfactory quality of life
• examples of providing goods and services to meet basic needs:

  
  

  • healthcare --> gov. ensures subsidized healthcare for all Singaporeans in polyclinic that are easily assessable

  
  

  • housing needs --> HDB housing schemes for 80 of the population and is made affordable for Singaporeans through multiple grants amounting up to 80k for first time home buyers

  
  

  • setting up CPF --> mandatory ( must be done/is demanded by law) saving schemes with contributions from employee, employer and gov. and these funds are used for medical bills, housing, insurance and retirement
• shows how the role of the gov. leads to positive outcome (goods & services)

  • ensure basic needs are met so that Singaporeans wellbeing is looked after therefor they are happier and healthier
  • there will be a sense of satisfaction and belonging amongst Singaporeans so they will be more rooted to SG and will try their best to contribute
• examples of providing goods and services to help citizens pursue their goals + enjoy satisfactory quality of life

  
  

  -SkillFuture programme that is a national movement to provide Singaporeans with opportunities for continuous learning :

  1. Skills-focused courses to lvl up their skills & support career development

  2. opening skillsfuture credit for Singaporeans to encourage continuous learning

  
  

  3. work-study programme for students to get a head start in workforce

  
  

  4. subsidy of up to 90 percent for Singaporeans above 40
• shows how the role of gov. leads to positive outcome( goals + satisfactory quality of life)

  • through the opportunities presented in the SkillFutures programme, individuals are able to develop their fullest potential through life, regardless of their starting points through mastery and lifelong learning

  
  

  • individuals are allowed to pursue their goals and earn money and thus lead to happier lives

  
  

  • with continuous learning, they learn new skills that may be helpful in the future
• Preserving safety and security (Singapore Police Force)

  • gov. must do this because only they have the resources to protect citizens' lives and properties from harmful acts
• What the SPF does to protect lives & properties

  1. Setting up of road blocks

  2. Patrolling the streets

  3. Awareness campaigns
• Setting up of road blocks


  • They may detect and arrest drunk drivers, therefore less drunk driving and people will be safer on the road
• Patrolling the streets


  • They may notice suspicious characters who are about to commit crimes and stop the crime from happening, therefore people are safer
• Awareness campaigns and talks

  • They can print crime prevention posters and hold talks to make citizens aware about the consequences so they will not commit crimes, thus Singapore safer
• ensuring justice

  • gov. looks into the fair administration of the law.
• examples of ensuring justice

  • case of domestic helper, Parti Liyani:

  -charged in 2017 for stealing from her employer and his family and found guilty in 2019 but was acquitted upon appeal in High Court

  - lesson : no matter who you are, court will treat you equally
• show how the role of gov. leads to positive outcome (safety n security)

  • social --> SPF´s duties can intimidate potential criminals so there will be lesser crimes and the society will be safer
  • political --> there will be more stability since its safer and thus there will greater trust in the system
  • economic --> since SG is safer, gov. can focus on the economic activity and spend lesser resources on protecting themselves so the economic will grow and investors will be attracted, therefor, GDP growth themselves
• how role of gov. leads to positive outcomes

  
  

  The public will observe that the law is applied fairly so people who break the law will be punished regardless and does not favour anyone
• how the gov. leads to positive outcomes (justice)

  
  

  This incites confidence that all persons will be treated fairly by the government and increase public confidence in the legal system thus reducing chances of dissatisfaction and disharmony

  
  

  therefor peaceful society
• When peace and order is protected(justice)

  • Social: happiness and harmony
  • Political: efficient system
  • Economic: people will trust and there will be investments and lead to economic growth
• democracy

  • meaning: people rule themselves
• SG gov. serves 3 main functions

  • Legislature - makes and passes laws
  • executive - enforces and implements law
  • Judiciary - interpret and apply laws
• How does 3 functions gov. work tgt?

  the Judiciary:

  • interpreting and applying laws
  • makes formal judgements on disputes between individuals and those between individual and gov.

  the executive:

  • enforce and implement laws
  • work is supported by ministries and statutory boards

  the legislature:

  • makes and passes laws that are implemented by the executive
  • the bill is debated in parliament and must receive the president´s agreement to become a law
• example of 3 function working tgt

  1. reserved presidency

  - meaning: if a race hasnt been selected at president for a while, the president election is reserved for them

  the legislature:

  • change SG constitutional to allow for reserved elections

  the judiciary:

  • judges whether new law is constitutional
  • judge challenges to new laws

  the executive:

  • elections department runs a reserved presidential elections
• why must there be a separation of powers?

  • separation of powers between the 3 functions to prevent concentration of power
  • each branch can also check to ensure that others do not do act illegally
  • ensures that the gov. remains fair and accountable to people
• Singapore practises representative democracy

  • meaning: somebody (MP- you vote) represent you to make decisions on laws by gathering in a parliament
  • features : citizens elect people from among them to make decisions. they are they social contract between citizens and gov.

  : gov. does not have unlimited power so they must act according to the country´s constitution ( supreme law of the Republic of Singapore)

  • practices : citizens vote for political representatives to govern the country on their behalf, every Singaporean has the rights to vote and it is compulsory