House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago | |
Session Room: | POS Redhouse.JPG |
Election1: | 23 September 2015 |
Leader2 Type: | Deputy Speaker |
Election2: | 23 September 2015 |
Election3: | 9 September 2015 |
Leader4 Type: | Leader of Government Business |
Leader4: | Camille Robinson-Regis |
Election4: | 23 September 2015 |
Leader5 Type: | Leader of the Opposition |
Election5: | 23 September 2015 |
Leader6 Type: | Opposition Chief Whip |
Leader6: | David A. Lee |
Election6: | 23 September 2015 |
Members: | 41 21 or (20 plus the Speaker of the House of Representatives) for a majority |
Structure1: | File:12th Republican House of Representaitves of Trinidad and Tobago (2020).svg |
Structure1 Res: | 250px |
Political Groups1: | Government |
Next Election1: | 2025 |
Constitution: | Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago |
The House of Representatives is the elected lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, along with the President and Senate of Trinidad and Tobago. The House of Representatives sits at the Red House. It has 41 members, each elected to represent single-seat constituencies. The Parliament is elected with a five-year term, but may be dissolved earlier by the President if so advised by the Prime Minister.
After an election, the person commanding the support of the most members of the House is appointed Prime Minister and asked to form a government.
Five constituencies were added in the 2007 election; there were only 36 constituencies prior to 2007. There are now 41 constituencies.
The Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House, who can either be one of the elected 41 members, or come from outside. This has implications for the calculation of special majority votes (42 members instead of 41).
As of 20 April 2021, there are only 12 female members (28.6%),[1] and three members born in Tobago (7.3%).
See main article: 2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election.
See main article: 12th Republican Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaker of the House of Representatives | The Honourable Bridgid Annisette-George | PNM | 9 September 2015 |