politcs Essays - Government Of Trinidad And Tobago,

Long before Columbus came to Trinidad in 1498, Trinidad was habited and governed by Caribs and Arawaks. From its discovery until 1797 Trinidad was a colony of Spain, when the British took over it with fore. Five years later the Franco ? British Treaty gave Great Britain formal control over Trinidad, while the neighboring island Tobago, which today is the under the same nation, was ruled by the French until the British took over in 1814 with the Treaty of Paris. In 1888 the two islands became one colony. Even thou just eighteen miles apart and one colony, it wasn?t until 1958 that these two islands decided to join forces and joined the Federation of the West. Trinidad and Tobago became politically independent in August 31, 1962. Until then Great Britain influenced them in financial and many other affairs. Patrick Stanisclaus Castagne wrote the national anthem of Trinidad to reflect the celebration of freedom. Today this nation is known as The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and it had a parliamentary democracy government which is sililart to that of the Great Britain. In September 24th of 1976 the electorall collage elected a president as the head of the nation to take over the job of the British monarchy. On the constitution of 1976, along with other changes that were made, the voting age was chenged from 21 to 18. The current president of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is Prof. Geore Maxwell Richards. President Richards worked his way from getting a PhD at Cambridge, to Professor of Chemical Engineering, to Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor, to Chairman of many local companies, to Chairman of the Salaries Review commission, to receiving a gold medal for public service, to becoming the president of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2003. Other members of the Executive branch are the head of government: Prime Minister Patrick Manning (since December 2000) cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the Members of Parliament which constitutes elected Members of the House of Representatives and appointed Members of the Senate Elections: President elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term; election last held 2001 (next to be held by 2006); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister Election Results: Maxwell Richards elected president ( Politics of Trinidad and Tobago ) Their legal system is based on theEnglish comman law also known as the law of England and Wales.