<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**; Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 31 August 1962 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 1 August 1976
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Noor Mohammed HASSANALI (since 18 March 1987)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Patrick Augustus Mervyn MANNING (since 17 December 1991)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; responsible to parliament
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> consists of a 31-member body appointed by the president
<item><hi format=bold>House of Representatives:</hi> elections last held 16 December 1991 (next to be held by December 1996); results—PNM 32%, UNC 13%, NAR 2%; seats—(36 total) PNM 21, UNC 13, NAR 2
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> People's National Movement (PNM), Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY; National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Selby WILSON; Movement for Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National Joint Action Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; Republic Party, Nello MITCHELL; National Development Party (NDP), Carson CHARLES