<P> The Government took the view that the safeguards could be achieved by providing the direct election of the President, thus making the President directly accountable to the people, and enabling him to serve as a check against the Government by increasing his discretionary powers . The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 1991 granted the President certain executive functions to block attempts by the government of the day to draw down past reserves that it had not accumulated, and to approve changes to key civil service positions . He also had certain powers of oversight over the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and decisions of the Executive under the Internal Security Act and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act . </P> <P> The office of the President is one of Singapore's most heavily altered institutions, and it is still being re-made today . As of 2007, almost one - third of all the constitutional amendments since Singapore became independent in 1965 consisted of changes to the President's office . Approximately half of the amendments implemented were to alter the President's fiscal powers . </P> <P> The powers of the President are divided into those he may exercise in his own discretion, and those he must exercise in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or of a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet . In addition, the President is required to consult the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) when performing some of his functions . In other cases, he may consult the CPA if he wishes to but is not bound to do so . </P> <P> The CPA consists of six persons, two appointed at the personal discretion of the President, two on the advice of the Prime Minister, one on the advice of the Chief Justice, and one on the advice of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission . The President also has discretion to appoint one of the members of the Council as chairman . As of 8 January 2013, the Chairman of the CPA was J.Y. Pillay, Chairman of the Singapore Exchange, and the other members were Po'ad bin Shaik Abu Bakar Mattar, former senior partner of Deloitte & Touche; former Government minister and Temasek Holdings chairman S. Dhanabalan; former Supreme Court judge Goh Joon Seng; former Singapore Totalisator Board chairman Bobby Chin Yoke Choong; and chairman of the Shell companies in Singapore . There are two alternate members: former Government minister and Keppel Corporation chairman Lim Chee Onn, and Singapore Airlines chairman Stephen Lee . The CPA conducts proceedings in private, and its members are required to take an oath of secrecy . </P>

Who has power to take decision on monetary bill at the time of financial emergency