Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
e . Elected by electoral college or committee
Comments: Although all members of the Senate and House of Representatives must assemble as one single Electoral College, ten Senators, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (who convenes the Electoral College) and twelve other members of the House of Representatives shall constitute a quorum. They all vote by secret ballot for the President, and the candidate with the greatest number of votes is declared elected.
Source: Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 28, 29 & 31: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/
Verified: 2020/08/22
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: The person appointed by the President as Prime Minister can be either the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives or, if there is no majoritarian party, the member of the House who is most likely to command the support of the majority of members of that House.
Source: Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 76: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/
Verified: 2020/08/22
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The President is voted for by an Electoral College made up of all the members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Source: Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 22: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/
Verified: 2020/08/22
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
b . Two chambers
Comments: The Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 31 members appointed by the President (16 in accordance with the advice of Prime Minister, 6 in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and 9 in the discretion of the President from outstanding persons from economic, social or community organizations and other major fields of endeavour), and the House of Representatives is composed of 41 elected members.
Source: Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 46: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/
Verified: 2020/08/22
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
a . Plurality (FPTP)
Comments:
Source: Constitution: “Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago”, Section 73: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/TT/trinidad-and-tobago-constitution-2016/
Verified: 2020/08/22
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