Note July.10 2013: The quorum is based on 99 parliamentarians (i.e. 87 elected, 3 NCMPs, and 9 NMPs), not 87 as we stated earlier. This is based on Article 56 of the Singapore Constitution, which is read with Parliament's Standing Order No. 6. 

Parliament sitting was interrupted twice on July 7, 2014, because there weren't enough members present in the House to pass two Bills, The Straits Times reported.

For a Bill to be passed, as specified under the Singapore Constitution, a quorum of one-quarter of the total of 99 MPs, excluding the Speaker, is needed.

A quorum, for the uninitiated, is defined as "the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid."

In Singapore's case, a quarter of all MPs is roughly 25 of them.

Nominated MP Eugene Tan, a constitutional and administrative law professor, noticed the House did not have a quorum at 5.30pm and at 7.10pm.

He said:

"I think, in order for this Bill not to be challenged on the basis that it's not constitutionally passed, can I just clarify that we do have a quorum?"

The first time he asked for a head count was shortly after a 20-minute break and during the debate on an amendment to the Radiation Protection Act.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Charles Chong then noted that, hey, the House was indeed one member short of a quorum.

The other MPs were summoned into the Chamber to take their seats after a few minutes. The Bill was passed by a voice vote, with a quorum.

The second time it happened again was before an amendment to the Copyright Act was to be passed.

The House was again one short of a quorum.

This time, Parliament was adjourned 20 minutes early at the request of Ng Eng Hen, who is Leader of the House.

The Copyright (Amendment) Bill will be put to the vote when Parliament sits today.

Prof Tan has a knack for counting, apparently. He had previously pointed out the lack of a quorum twice in 2012.

Top photo from here

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