Trinidad and Tobago

House of RepresentativesSenate

House of Representatives

Oversight

Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities

Oversight tools

Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – Sec. 68
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – Sec. 68
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
0
Number of written questions asked, per year
187 (2020)
See historical data for this field.
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
175 (2020)
See historical data for this field.
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Parliamentary inquires may be carried out by the involvement of Parliamentary Committees, for example Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Public Accounts Enterprise Committee (PA{E}C) and Joint Select Committee (JSC)
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
21 (2020)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
Inquiries are carried out by the Joint Select Committees which includes both chambers of the parliament.

Head of State and/or Government

Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament does not play a role
Notes
Following a general election, the President must appoint as Prime Minister a Member of the House of Representatives who is the leader in the House of the party which commands the support of the majority of members of that House.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Section 76.
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament elects the Head of State
Notes
The Constitution provides for an Electoral College consisting of all the Members of the Senate and all the Members of the House of Representatives assembled together and convened and presided over by the Speaker of the House. The President is elected by the Electoral College voting by secret ballot.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – Sec. 26, 28, 29.

Impeachment and confidence motions

Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – sec 77
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago – sec 77
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No