Government Of Trinidad Article

The Trinidad and Tobago government has been very active since they twin island republic gained independence in 1962 and subsequently Trinidad and Tobago became a republic in 1976. Trinidad and Tobago government has prospered and in 1990 led to an almost coup against the ruling party by Muslim forces. The Trinidad and Tobago government is very resolute.

Politics of Trinidad and Tobago takes place in a framework of a unitary state, with a parliamentary democracy modeled on that of the UK, from which Trinidad gained independence in 1962. Under the 1976 Trinidad republican Constitution, the British monarch was replaced as head of state by a President chosen by an electoral college composed of the members of the bicameral Trinidad Parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Trinidad and Tobago has remained a member of the Commonwealth, and has retained the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as Trinidad’s highest court of appeal.

The general direction and control of the Trinidad government rests with the Cabinet, led by a Prime Minister. The Trinidad Prime Minister and Cabinet are answerable (at least in theory) to the House of Representatives. The 36 members of the Trinidad House of Rep are elected to terms of at least 5 years. Elections may be called earlier by the president at the request of the Trinidad Prime Minister or after a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives. In 1976, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18. The Senate's 31 members are appointed by the Trinidad’s President: 16 on the advice of the prime minister, six on the advice of the leader of the Trinidad opposition, and nine independents selected by the President from among outstanding members of the community. Local government is through nine Regional Corporations and five municipalities. Tobago was given a measure of self-government in 1980 and is governed by the Tobago House of Assembly. In 1996, Trinidad Parliament passed legislation which gave Tobago greater self-government. In 2005 Parliament approved a proposal by the independent Elections and Boundaries Commission to increase the number of seats in the Trinidad House of Representatives from 36 to 41.

Trinidad party politics have generally run along ethnic lines, with most Afro-Trinidadians supporting the People's National Movement (PNM) and most Indo-Trinidadians supporting various Indian-majority parties, such as the United National Congress (UNC) or its predecessors. Most political parties, however, have sought to broaden their purview.

The Trinidad President is elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term. The Trinidad Prime Minister is appointed by the President from among the members of Trinidad Parliament; following legislative elections, the person with the most support among the elected members of the House of Representatives is usually appointed Trinidad Prime Minister. The cabinet appointed from among the Members of Parliament which constitutes elected Members of the Trinidad House of Representatives and appointed Members of the Senate.

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