 The Singapore Constitution provides safeguards against such behaviour by the majority , and prescribes limits to their powers in the form of , among other things , the fundamental liberties in Part IV of the document . The courts have asserted that the judiciary thus has the power and duty to ensure the observance of constitutional provisions , and is also responsible for declaring invalid any exercise of legislative power exceeding the limits conferred by the Constitution , or contravening any prohibition that the Constitution provides . Supreme Court judges take an oath to defend and protect the Constitution before assuming office . This is done through judicial review , where the judiciary prevents the Parliament from enforcing unconstitutional laws by striking down such laws . Thus , the judiciary essentially upholds the idea of representative democracy that the Constitution embodies when playing its counter @-@ majoritarian role of serving as a check on Parliament and a " Protector of the Individual " . 
