The Cabinet of Singapore forms the executive branch of the Government of Singapore together with the President. It is led by the Prime Minister who is the head of government. The Prime Minister is a Member of Parliament (MP) appointed by the president who in the president's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the Members of Parliament (MPs). The other ministers in the Cabinet are Members of Parliament appointed by the president acting in accordance with the advice of the prime minister. Ministers are prohibited from holding any office of profit and from actively engaging in any commercial enterprise.
The Cabinet has the general direction and control of the Government and is collectively responsible to Parliament. It also has significant influence over lawmaking. Ministers may be designated by the prime minister to be in charge of particular ministries, or as ministers in the Prime Minister's Office. Singapore's ministers are the highest paid in the world. Prior to a salary review in 2011, the prime minister's annual salary was S$3.07 million, while the pay of ministerial-level officers ranged between S$1.58 million and S$2.37 million. On 21 May 2011, a committee was appointed by the prime minister to review the salaries of the prime minister as well as the president, political appointment holders, and Members of Parliament. Following the recommended wage reductions by the committee which were then debated and subsequently accepted in Parliament, the prime minister's salary was reduced by 36% (includes the removal of his pension) to S$2.2 million. In its latest revision on 8 September 2026, the annum was revised again with ministerial-level officers paying at least S$1.8 million, up to the maximum annum of S$3.6 million for a Prime Minister. Despite the changes, the Prime Minister currently holds the most expensive salary for a political leader worldwide.
The earliest predecessor of the Cabinet was the Executive Council of the Straits Settlements, introduced in 1877 to advise the governor of the Straits Settlements. It wielded no executive power. In 1955, a Council of Ministers was created, made up of three ex officio Official Members and six Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore, appointed by the governor on the recommendation of the leader of the house. Following the general elections that year, David Saul Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. Constitutional talks between Legislative Assembly representatives and the Colonial Office were held from 1956 to 1958, and Singapore gained full internal self-government in 1959. The governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, who had power to appoint to the post of prime minister the person most likely to command the authority of the Assembly, and other ministers of the Cabinet on the prime minister's advice. In the 1959 general elections, the People's Action Party (PAP) swept to power with 43 out of the 51 seats in the Assembly, and Lee Kuan Yew became the first prime minister of Singapore. The executive branch of the Government of Singapore remained unchanged following Singapore's merger with Malaysia in 1963, and subsequent independence in 1965.
History Up to the outbreak of World War II, Singapore was part of the Crown colony known as the Straits Settlements together with Malacca and Penang. The earliest predecessor of the Cabinet was arguably the Executive Council of the Straits Settlements that was introduced in 1877 by letters patent issued by the Crown,Letters patent dated 17 November 1877. though its function was very different from that of today's Cabinet. The council, which was composed of "such persons and constituted in such manner as may be directed" by royal instructions,1877 letters patent, Art. II. existed to advise the Governor of the Straits Settlements and wielded no executive power (including the Colonial Secretary). The Governor was required to consult the Executive Council on all affairs of importance unless they were too urgent to be laid before it, or if reference to it would prejudice the public service. In such urgent cases, the Governor had to inform the Council of the measures he had taken...
Following the Second World War, the Straits Settlements were disbanded and Singapore became a Crown colony in its own right.By the Straits Settlements (Repeal) Act 1946 (9 & 10 Geo. 4. c. 37) and the Singapore Order-in-Council 1946, S. R. & O., 1946, No. 462 (UK), dated 27 March 1946. The reconstituted Executive Council consisted of six officials and four nominated "unofficials".Tan, "A Short Legal and Constitutional History of Singapore", p. 41. In February 1954, the Rendel Constitutional Commission under the chairmanship of Sir George William Rendel, which had been appointed to comprehensively review the constitution of the Colony of Singapore, rendered its report. Among other things, it recommended that a Council of Ministers be created, composed of three ex officio Official Members and six Elected Members of the Legislative Assembly of Singapore appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Leader of the House, who would be the leader of the largest political party or coalition of parties having majority support in the legislature. The recommendation was implemented in 1955.By the Singapore Colony Order-in-Council 1955, S.I. 1955, No. 187 (UK). In the general election held that year, the Labour Front took a majority of the seats in the Assembly, and David Saul Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore. Major problems with the Rendel Constitution were that the Chief Minister and ministers' powers were ill-defined, and that the Official Members retained control of the finance, administration, and internal security and law portfolios. This led to confrontation between Marshall, who saw himself as a prime minister governing the country, and the Governor, Sir John Fearns Nicoll, who felt that important decisions and policies should remain with himself and the Official Members..Tan, "A Short Legal and Constitutional History of Singapore", pp. 42–43.
In 1956, members of the Legislative Assembly held constitutional talks with the Colonial Office in London. The talks broke down as Marshall did not agree to the British Government's proposal for the casting vote on a proposed Defence Council to be held by the British High Commissioner to Singapore, who would only exercise it in an emergency. Marshall resigned as Chief Minister in June 1956, and was replaced by Lim Yew Hock.. The following year, Lim led another delegation to the UK for further talks on self-government. This time, agreement was reached on the composition of an Internal Security Council.Turnbull, p. 264. Other constitutional arrangements were swiftly settled in 1958, and on 1 August the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the State of Singapore Act 1958 (6 & 7 Eliz. 2. c. 59 (UK)) granting the colony full internal self-government. Under Singapore's new constitution which came into force on 3 June 1959,Singapore (Constitution) Order-in-Council 1958, S.I. 1958, No. 156 (UK). the Governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (Head of State), who had power to appoint as prime minister the person most likely to command the authority of the Legislative Assembly, and other ministers of the Cabinet on the prime minister's advice.Singapore (Constitution) Order-in-Council 1958 (UK), Art. 21. The Constitution also created the post of the British High Commissioner,Singapore (Constitution) Order-in-Council 1958 (UK), Arts. 15–19. who was entitled to receive the agenda of each Cabinet meeting and to see all Cabinet papers. In the 1959 general elections, the People's Action Party (PAP) swept to power with 43 out of the 51 seats in the Assembly, and Lee Kuan Yew became the first prime minister of Singapore. Nine other ministers were appointed to the Cabinet.Tan, "A Short Legal and Constitutional History of Singapore", pp. 44–45.
The British High Commissioner's role became that of an ambassador following Singapore's independence from Britain and merger with Malaysia in 1963. Apart from that the executive branch of the Singapore Government remained largely unchanged,Tan, "A Short Legal and Constitutional History of Singapore", p. 46. although now it governed a state within a larger federation. However, with effect from 9 August 1965, Singapore left the Federation of Malaysia and became a fully independent republic. On separation from Malaysia, the Singapore Government retained its executive authority, and the executive authority of the Parliament of Malaysia ceased to extend to Singapore and vested in the Singapore Government.Constitution and Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act 1965 (No. 53 of 1965) (Malaysia), ss. 4 and 5. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Supreme Head of State of Malaysia, also ceased to be the Supreme Head of Singapore and relinquished his sovereignty, jurisdiction, power and authority, executive or otherwise in respect of Singapore, which revested in the Yang di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore.Constitution and Malaysia (Singapore Amendment) Act 1965 (Malaysia), s. 6. The Republic of Singapore Independence Act 1965, s. 4. then vested the executive authority of Singapore in the newly created post of president, and made it exercisable by him or by the Cabinet or by any minister authorized by the Cabinet.
Structure of government Singapore inherited a Westminster system of government from the British. In such systems, there is an overlap between the executive and legislative branches of government. The head of state, who is the president of Singapore, is a member of both the executive Government of Singapore and the Parliament of Singapore but plays a minimal role in them. Executive power lies in the hands of the Cabinet, which is made up of the prime minister of Singapore (the head of government) and other ministers., Art. 24(1). At the same time, the prime minister and ministers are also Members of Parliament (MPs).
Following constitutional reforms in 1991, the office of president was transformed from an appointed to an elected post. Thus, both the president and MPs are elected to their posts by the citizens of Singapore in separate elections.Constitution, Arts. 17(2) ("The President shall be elected by the citizens of Singapore in accordance with any law made by the Legislature.") and 39(1) ("Parliament shall consist of – (a) such number of elected Members as is required to be returned at a general election by the constituencies prescribed by or under any law made by the Legislature; (b) such other members ... who shall be known as non-constituency Members ...; and (c) such other Members ... who shall be known as nominated Members ..." The procedure for elections is governed by the and the .
Appointment of Cabinet
The president appoints as prime minister an MP who is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the MPs.Singapore Constitution, Art. 25(1). In practice, the prime minister is usually the leader of the political party holding the majority of the seats in Parliament..