Trinidad and Tobago - Political and electoral system
Political and administrative structure
Trinidad y Tobago es una República Parlamentaria unitaria. El Presidente es electo indirectamente por un colegio electoral de miembros de la Cámara de Representantes y del Senado; este designa el Primer Ministro, generalmente, el Líder del partido de situación en la Cámara de Representantes.
Trinidad y Tobago está dividida en nueve (9) corporaciones regionales, dos (2) corporaciones de ciudades, tres (3) corporaciones municipales y un (1) distrito.
National parliament
Bicameral (Senate and House of Representatives).
Municipal government
There is no provincial level of government in Trinidad and Tobago. Instead there are 14 Municipal Corporations (2 City, 3 Borough, and 9 Regional Corporations) that form the local administration. These Municipal Corporations each have an elected Council made up of Councilors and an Alderman. Councilors are directly elected by voters at Local Government elections. Aldermen are elected by the Councilors.
Duration of terms
President: 5 years;
Prime Minister, Senate and House of Representatives: Maximum of 5 years from formation of government;
Alderman and Councilors: 3 years.
Representation system
House of Representatives: Majority: Single member plurality systems ("first past the post")
Vacancies arising within the first four years of Parliament's term are filled through by-elections held within 90 days. Voting is not compulsory.
Senate: Appointed by President. 16 Senators are chosen onhe advice of the Prime Minister, 6 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and 9 are chosen from among individuals prominent in economic and social affairs, under the President's discretion.
Type of list
No aplica.
Electoral constituency
House of Representatives: 41 single-member constituencies.
Quota and parity laws
No.
Legal instruments applicable to municipalities
Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Chapter 11A; Municipal Corporations Act 1990; Tobago House of Assembly Act 1996.