House of Representatives (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.

House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago
12th Republican Parliament
Flag         Coat of Arms
Type
Type	Lower house of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago
Leadership
Speaker	Bridgid Annisette-George[lower-alpha 1] since 23 September 2015
Deputy Speaker	Esmond Forde, PNM since 23 September 2015
Prime Minister	Keith Rowley, PNM since 9 September 2015
Leader of Government Business	Camille Robinson-Regis, PNM since 23 September 2015
Leader of the Opposition	Kamla Persad-Bissessar, UNC since 23 September 2015
Opposition Chief Whip	David A. Lee, UNC since 23 September 2015
Structure
Seats	41 21 or (20 plus the Speaker of the House of Representatives) for a majority
Political groups	Government   People's National Movement (22) Official Opposition   United National Congress (19)
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	10 August 2020
Next election	2025
Meeting place
The Red House, Abercromby Street, Downtown, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Website
www.ttparliament.org
Constitution
Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago

Politics of Trinidad and Tobago
Government President (list) Christine Kangaloo Prime Minister Keith Rowley
Parliament Senate President Nigel de Freitas House of Representatives Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Judiciary Supreme Court Chief Justice: Ivor Archie Court of Appeal High Court Magistracy Family Court Privy Council committee (UK)
Elections Recent elections Presidential: 2013 2018 2023 General: 2015 2020 Next Local (Trinidad): 2013 2016 2019 Local (Tobago): 2017 Jan 2021 Dec 2021 Political parties
Local government Administrative divisions Former counties Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Chavez Augustine
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Amery Browne Diplomatic missions of / in Trinidad and Tobago Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Trinidad and Tobago portal Other countries

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%),[2] and three members born in Tobago (7.3%).