The Chief Secretary is almost always the leader of the largest party, or the leader of the senior partner in any majority
coalition. There is no term of office for a Chief Secretary. In practice, they hold office as long as they retain the confidence of the chamber; indeed, they are required to either resign or seek a parliamentary dissolution (and with it, new elections) if his or her government "no longer enjoys the confidence of the Parliament." Whenever the office of Chief Secretary falls vacant, the President is responsible for appointing the new incumbent; the appointment is formalised at a meeting between the President and the Chief Secretary designate. If an incumbent Chief Secretary is defeated in a general election, they do not immediately vacate office. The Chief Secretary only leaves office when the
Tobago House of Assembly nominates a successor individual. The period in office of a Chief Secretary is not linked to the term of
members of the Tobago House of Assembly. A maximum four-year term is set for each session of Parliament. Parliament can be dissolved and an extraordinary general election held, before the expiration of the four-year term. The Chief Secretary, once appointed continues in office as the head of the devolved Tobago House of Assembly until either resignation, dismissal, or death. Resignation can be triggered off by the passage of a
Motion of No Confidence in the Chief Secretary or the Tobagonian Government or by rejecting a
Motion of Confidence in the Tobago House of Assembly. In those situations, the Chief Secretary must tender their resignation and the resignation of their government to the president. In such circumstances, the
Presiding Officer appoints an interim Chief Secretary, until the Tobago House of Assembly determines on a new nominee to be presented to the President for formal appointment. == Nomination and appointment ==