What exactly is the Rule of Law?
Stripped of its legal jargon, the Rule of Law is a set of enduring principles. That no one – not even the government – is above the law.
That laws are clear, applied consistently and enforced by independent courts. And that, every person, whatever their status or means, is equal before the law and is entitled to a fair hearing.
The Rule of Law is not an abstract ideal. It is what gives every citizen confidence that he or she will be treated fairly in court. It is what gives every business the assurance that a contract will be honoured. And it is what gives every investor certainty that the rules will not change overnight.
For a small city-state with no natural resources, trust is everything.
The foundations of Singapore’s legal system
Singapore inherited its modern legal system from the British. In 1826, the Second Charter of Justice established Singapore’s modern legal and judicial system and, for the first time, a common body of law applied to everyone on the island – regardless of race, language or religion. It was a significant moment.
But for much of the colonial era, the law was wielded less for the benefit of ordinary inhabitants than to advance the interests of empire and trade.
Click here to explore early milestones that helped lay the foundations of Singapore’s legal system.
The legal systems gave merchants the legal certainty they needed to do business, and it helped grow revenue for the British colonial power – including through the licensing of opium sale for profit.
The courts were largely the preserve of the wealthy. Social services were thin, and the police had limited ability to enforce laws and maintain stability for the population.
The focus of the legal system only began to change after independence.
Building trust, stability and prosperity
When Singapore became a sovereign nation in 1965, its founding leaders – including Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who was a lawyer – recognised the Rule of Law as one of the most valuable legacies the British had left behind, even as they saw how it had to be reshaped to serve a new purpose: the pillar for Singapore’s nation-building.
Click here to explore key milestones that show how the law supported Singapore’s nation-building.
To deliver on that promise, the young nation invested in strong legal institutions – the Judiciary, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and the Police – each tasked with applying the law firmly and fairly.
The powers of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau were also enhanced through the Prevention of Corruption Act in 1960, to stamp out corruption.
Clear and predictable rules, reliably enforced, gave businesses and investors the confidence to put down roots in an untested country.
The results were dramatic. In 1965, the average income per person was around US$500 (S$633). By 2024, it had climbed to more than US$75,000.
Just as important was safety and security. The Singapore of the 1950s and 1960s was crime-ridden and uneasy – plagued by secret societies and gang violence, and scarred by the racial riots of 1964 and 1969. The Rule of Law became the instrument for restoring order and binding a divided society together.
To safeguard racial and religious harmony, equality was written into our Constitution, and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights was established in 1970.
The Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act later provided further safeguards against conduct that could fracture the peace between faiths.
To reduce crime, tough measures were introduced. The Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act gave the authorities powers to clamp down on secret societies, while drug laws were tightened – including the introduction of the death penalty for serious drug trafficking in 1975.
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