Singaporean politics have been dominated by the People's Action Party (PAP) since self-government in 1959. Foreign political analysts and several opposition parties including the Workers' Party of Singapore, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) have argued that Singapore is a de facto one-party state. Many consider the form of government in Singapore to be closer to authoritarianism such as illiberal democracy or procedural democracy rather than true democracy.
現有的議會共有94名議員,其中包括84名選區議員(Constituency Member of Parliament)、1名非選區議員(Non-Constituency Member of Parliament)以及9名官委議員(Nominated Member of Parliament)。由於長期以來人民行動黨主宰了議會,1991年修正後的憲法規定,議會內必須有至少3名反對黨議員,如反對黨議員未達法定人數,必須由政府委任得票最高的反對黨議員進入議會(見下)。
"Citizens of Singapore cannot democratically change their government." Freedom House Annual Report 2004
"State control of the media in Singapore is so complete that few dare to challenge the system and there is no longer much need to arrest or even harass journalists." Committee to Protect Journalists, 2004