Constitution of the Republic of Singapore
—(1) Every Member of Parliament shall cease to be a Member
- Jurisdiction
- Singapore
- Provision
- 46
- Source language
- English
- Recorded status
- in force
More details
- Recorded status
- in force
Provision text
Official source46.—(1) Every Member of Parliament shall cease to be a Member
at the next dissolution of Parliament after he has been elected or
appointed, or previously thereto if his seat becomes vacant, under the
provisions of this Constitution.
(2) The seat of a Member of Parliament shall become vacant —
(a) if he ceases to be a citizen of Singapore;
(b) if he ceases to be a member of, or is expelled or resigns
from, the political party for which he stood in the election;
(c) if, by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker, he
resigns his seat in Parliament;
(d) if during 2 consecutive months in each of which sittings of
Parliament (or any committee of Parliament to which he
has been appointed) are held, he is absent from all such
sittings without having obtained from the Speaker before
the termination of any such sitting permission to be or to
remain absent therefrom;
(e) if he becomes subject to any of the disqualifications
specified in Article 45;
(f) if he is expelled from Parliament in the exercise of its
power of expulsion; or
(g) if being a nominated Member, his term of service as such a
Member expires.
(2A) A non-constituency Member of Parliament shall vacate his
seat as such a Member if he is subsequently elected as a Member of
Parliament for any constituency.
(2B) A nominated Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat as
such a Member —
(a) if he stands as a candidate for any political party in an
election; or
(b) if, not being a candidate referred to in paragraph (a), he is
elected as a Member of Parliament for any constituency.
(3) Any person whose seat in Parliament has become vacant may, if
qualified, again be elected or appointed as a Member of Parliament
from time to time.
(4) If any Member of Parliament becomes subject to any
disqualification specified in Article 45(1)(a), (b), (e) or (g) because
he is —
(a) adjudged or otherwise declared a bankrupt;
(b) adjudged or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind;
(c) convicted of an offence by a court in Singapore or
elsewhere and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of
not less than one year or to a fine of not less than $10,000
(or its equivalent in a foreign currency when sentenced); or
[Act 19 of 2022 wef 27/05/2022]
(d) convicted or is proven guilty of an act constituting any
offence in connection with elections to Parliament,
and it is open to the Member to appeal against the decision (either
with the permission of the court or other authority or without such
permission), the Member shall immediately cease to be entitled to sit
or vote in Parliament or any committee thereof but, subject to
clauses (6) and (7), he shall not vacate his seat until the end of a
period of 180 days beginning with the date of the adjudication,
declaration or conviction, as the case may be.
[24/2002]
[Act 13 of 2023 wef 24/04/2023]
(5) A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat if, at the end of the
period of 180 days referred to in clause (4), he continues to be subject
to any disqualification specified in Article 45(1)(a), (b), (e) or (g).
[24/2002]
(6) Notwithstanding clause (5), where on the determination of any
such appeal the Member of Parliament continues to be subject to any
disqualification specified in Article 45(1)(a) or (b) and —
(a) no further appeal is open to him; or
(b) by reason of the expiration of any period for entering an
appeal or notice thereof or the refusal of permission to
appeal or for any other reason it ceases to be open for the
Member to appeal,
[Act 13 of 2023 wef 24/04/2023]
the Member shall then immediately vacate his seat even if the period
of 180 days has not lapsed.
[24/2002]
(7) Where, at any time before the end of the period of 180 days
referred to in clause (4), the Member of Parliament ceases to be
subject to any disqualification specified in Article 45(1)(a), (b), (e) or
(g) by reason of any pardon, any final determination of an appeal or
otherwise, he shall be entitled to resume sitting or voting in
Parliament or any committee thereof on the day immediately after
he ceases to be so disqualified.
[24/2002]
(8) For the avoidance of doubt, clauses (4) to (7) —
(a) shall not apply for the purpose of any nomination, election
or appointment to be a Member of Parliament, and any
disqualifying event referred to in Article 45 shall take
effect immediately on the occurrence of the event for the
purposes of such nomination, election or appointment; and
(b) shall not operate to extend the term of service of a
nominated Member beyond the period prescribed in the
[24/2002]
Provision against double membership
Source record
Source and verification
Constitution of the Republic of Singapore · sso.agc.gov.sg · Retrieved 18 August 2026.
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