<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The politics of Trinidad and Tobago function within the framework of a unitary state regulated by a parliamentary democracy modelled on that of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, from which the country gained its independence in 1962 . Under the 1976 republican Constitution, the British monarch was replaced as head of state by a President chosen by an electoral college composed of the members of the bicameral Parliament, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives . </P> <P> The country has remained a member of the Commonwealth, and has retained the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London as its highest court of appeal . The view of Ernest TC - Singh is that the general direction and control of the government rests with the Cabinet, led by a Prime Minister . The Prime Minister and Cabinet are answerable (at least in theory) to the House of Representatives . The 41 members of the House are elected to terms of at least five years . Elections may be called earlier by the president at the request of the prime minister or after a vote of no confidence in the House of Representatives . In 1976, the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 . The Senate's 31 members are appointed by the President: 16 on the advice of the prime minister, six on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and nine independents selected by the President from among outstanding members of the community . Local government is through nine Regional Corporations and five municipalities . Tobago was given a measure of self - government in 1980 and is governed by the Tobago House of Assembly . In 1996, Parliament passed legislation which gave Tobago greater self - government . In 2005 Parliament approved a proposal by the independent Elections and Boundaries Commission to increase the number of seats in the House of Representatives from 36 to 41 . </P>

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