General elections were held in American Samoa in November 1970, alongside a multi-question referendum. Voters elected members of the eleventh Fono, and for the first time, an unofficial American Samoan delegate to the United States House of Representatives. A. U. Fuimaono, a high chief and Director of Agriculture, was elected as the islands' delegate. [1]
Politics of American Samoa takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic dependency, whereby the governor is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. Its constitution was ratified in 1966 and came into effect in 1967. Executive power is discharged by the governor and the lieutenant governor. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the legislature. The party system is based on the United States party system. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega Jr. was an American Samoan politician and attorney who served as the territory's third lieutenant governor, from 1985 to 1989 and non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives, from 1989 to 2015. As a delegate, Faleomavaega served on committees and spoke on the House floor; however, he was not permitted to vote on the final passage of any legislation. He also was the father-in-law of former professional American football fullback Fui Vakapuna.
Fofó Iosefa Fiti Sunia was the first non-voting Delegate from American Samoa to the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Fagasā, Pago Pago, and attended the University of Hawaiʻi.
Aifili Paulo Lauvao, was twice governor of American Samoa. The founder of the U.S territory's Democratic Party, he had a long career in the legislature and the judiciary in American Samoa.
Non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives are representatives of their territory in the House of Representatives, who do not have a right to vote on proposed legislation in the full House but nevertheless have floor privileges and are able to participate in certain other House functions. Non-voting members may vote in a House committee of which they are a member and introduce legislation.
The American Samoan Legislature or Fono has two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which has a directly elected head of government, the Governor of American Samoa.
The American Samoa Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most states and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The legislature is located in Fagatogo along Pago Pago harbor.
The American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono. The House consists of 21 members serving two-year terms, with 20 popularly elected representatives, and one delegate from Swains Island elected in a public meeting.
The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.
General elections were held in American Samoa on 4 November 2008 to elect a governor, members of the House of Representative, and a delegate to the United States House of Representatives, as well as a referendum on a legislative override of the governor's veto. The elections were held as part of the wider 2008 United States general election.
The government of American Samoa is defined under the Constitution of American Samoa.
General elections were held in American Samoa on November 2, 2010. The deadline to register as a candidate for the election was September 1, 2010.
Amata Catherine Coleman Radewagen, commonly called Aumua Amata, is an American Samoan politician who is the current delegate for the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa. Radewagen, a Republican, was elected on November 4, 2014, after defeating Democratic incumbent Eni Faleomavaega; she was the first ever Republican delegate since the office had been created in 1970 and began her tenure on January 3, 2015. She also serves as the national committee woman for the Republican Party of American Samoa. Amata is the first woman to represent American Samoa in the U.S. Congress.
General elections were held in American Samoa on 4 November 2014, alongside a constitutional referendum. Voters elected members of the Fono and the American Samoan delegate to the United States Congress.
An election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, to elect the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including the larger American Samoa general election, as well as the nationwide 2016 United States House of Representatives elections and the 2016 United States general elections.
An election was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the midterm elections for other federal and territorial offices, including the larger American Samoa general election, as well as the nationwide 2018 United States House of Representatives elections and the 2018 United States general elections.
An election was held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, to elect the non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with races for other federal and American Samoan territorial offices, including the larger American Samoa general election, as well as the nationwide 2020 United States House of Representatives elections and the 2020 United States general elections.
General elections were held in American Samoa on 3 November 2020. Voters elected members of the Fono and the American Samoan delegate to the United States Congress.
An election was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, to elect the non-voting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from American Samoa's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with races for other federal and American Samoan territorial offices, including the larger American Samoa general election, as well as the nationwide 2022 United States House of Representatives elections and the 2022 United States general elections.