The Origins:

The Tobago House of Assembly was created and first met in 1768 in George Town, now called Studley Park, which was the designated capital of the island at the time.

By the following year, 1769, the capital of the island was moved to Scarborough and so were the offices of the thirteen (13) member elected House of Assembly (Lower House) as well as the appointed Legislative Council (Upper House).

In 1877, representative government was abolished with the imposition of Crown Colony administration on the island.

Act No. 37 of 1980:

The present Tobago House of Assembly was established by Act No. 37 of 1980, assented to on September 23rd, 1980, for the purpose of “making better provision for the administration of the island of Tobago and for matters therewith”.

This Act was incorporated into the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago as Chap. 25:03.

The Assembly comprised twelve (12) elected Assembly-men and three (3) nominated Councillors, and was headed by a Chairman chosen from among members.

Tobago House of Assembly Standing Orders, 1990

These Standing Orders constituted the guidelines for the conduct of the business of the Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of the Tobago House of Assembly Act, 1980.

Act No. 40 of 1996
Act No. 40 repealed and replaced Act No. 37 of 1980 and was established “to provide for the membership, powers, and functions of the Tobago House of Assembly and its Executive Council and matters incidental thereto.”

This Act makes provision for twelve (12) elected Assemblymen, four (4) Councillors and a Presiding Officer who may or may not be an Assemblyman or a Councillor.

Tobago House of Assembly Standing Orders, 1997

These Standing Orders, 1997 constitute the guidelines for the conduct of the business of the Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of the Tobago House of Assembly Act, 1996.

The Assembly shall continue for four years, from the date of its first sitting after any primary election, and shall then stand dissolved unless the Assembly, by resolution, dissolves itself at an earlier date.

The President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Chief Secretary, shall fix the date of a primary election, which date shall not be earlier that the expiration of two months after the dissolution of the Assembly no later than three months after that dissolution.

There are twelve (12) electoral districts in Tobago, each represented by an Assemblyman.
There are four Councillors, three (3) appointed on the advice of the Chief Secretary and one (1) on the advice of the Minority Leader.

There is also a Presiding Officer who may or may not be an Assemblyman or a Councillor. He/She presides at all meetings of the Assembly.

These officers constitute the membership of the Tobago House of Assembly.
The Executive Council is responsible for carrying out the functions of the Assembly and is headed by the Chief Secretary.

Membership of the Executive Council is limited to the Chief Secretary, Deputy Chief Secretary and not more than five (5) other Secretaries.

The Minority Leader is the Assemblyman who in the opinion of the country’s President, commands the support of the largest number of Assemblymen who do not support the Chief Secretary.