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Trinidad and Tobago

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Common lawUnitary parliamentary republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Port of Spain
Population
1,530,000
Languages
English
Currency
TTD

Trinidad and Tobago · Constitution

Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

The Constitution Act 1976 replaced the 1962 independence constitution and made the country a republic on 1 August 1976. Chapter 1 contains the fundamental rights, but section 6 saves all law in force before 1976 from rights challenge, which has insulated colonial-era offences from invalidation. Amendments generally need two-thirds of both Houses, and some provisions three-quarters of the House.

The constitutional text

The Constitution Act 1976 replaced the 1962 independence constitution and made the country a republic on 1 August 1976. Chapter 1 contains the fundamental rights, but section 6 saves all law in force before 1976 from rights challenge, which has insulated colonial-era offences from invalidation. Amendments generally need two-thirds of both Houses, and some provisions three-quarters of the House.

Separation of powers

Unitary, with a statutory measure of internal self-government for Tobago through the Tobago House of Assembly under the Tobago House of Assembly Act 1996. Proposals to entrench Tobago autonomy in the Constitution have not yet been enacted.

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