American Samoa House of Representatives | |
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| American Samoa Fono | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | October 26, 1948 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 21 |
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Political groups |
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Length of term | 2 years |
| Salary | $25,000/year |
| Website | |
| www | |
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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.
American Samoa became a United States territory in 1900 and was initially administered by the Navy. From 1905, annual meetings were held with delegates sent from the local communities, as an advisory council to the naval governor. [1] [2]
In 1948, a bicameral legislature was established, still in advisory capacity. The lower house, named the House of Representatives, was composed of 54 members: 52 (one from each village) were elected in open meetings according to Samoan custom, and two were elected by secret ballot by residents not living under the matai system. [1] [2] [3] [4] The first session of the legislature was called to order by Attorney General John D. Maroney at 9:30 am on 26 October 1948, and high orator Mariota Tiumalu Tuiasosopo was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. [5]
The legislature was reformed in 1952, after administration of American Samoa had been transferred to the Department of the Interior. The number of representatives was reduced to 18, all elected by secret ballot: five from each of the three districts of American Samoa (Western, Eastern and Manu‘a), one from Swains Island, and two elected by residents not living under the matai system. [2] [6] [4]
In 1960, the first constitution of American Samoa was adopted. The House of Representatives remained with 18 members, but under a slightly different composition: one from each of three districts in Ma‘oputasi county, one from each of two districts in Lealataua/Fofo county, and one from each of the then remaining 12 counties, all elected by secret ballot for two-year terms; and one non-voting delegate from Swains Island, elected in an open meeting, also for a two-year term. [2] [7]
In 1967, the revised constitution modified the composition to 21 members: two from the combined counties of Ta‘ū island, one from the combined counties of Ofu-Olosega, one from each of five districts in Ma‘oputasi county, one from each of two districts in Sua county, two each from Itu‘au and Tualauta counties, and one from each of the six remaining counties, all elected by secret ballot for two-year terms; and one non-voting delegate from Swains Island, elected in an open meeting, also for a two-year term. [2] [8]
| District [9] | Representatives [10] [11] |
|---|---|
| 1: Taʻū, Faleasao, Fitiuta | Fetu Fetui Jr. |
| Faauifono Vaitautolu | |
| 2: Ofu, Olosega | Tiaoalii Fauagiga Sai |
| 3: Vaifanua | Shaun Onosa'i Vaa |
| 4: Saʻole | Titialiʻi Kitara Vaiau |
| 5: Sua 1 (Faga‘itua, Amaua, Auto, Avaio, Alega, Aumi, Lauliʻi) | Luaitaua Gene Pan |
| 6: Sua 2 (Saʻilele, Masausi, Masefau, Afono) | Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava |
| 7: Maʻoputasi 1 (Fatumafuti, Fagaʻalu, Utulei) | Vailoata Eteuati Amituanaʻi |
| 8: Ma‘oputasi 2 (Fagatogo) | Malaeoletalu Melesio Gurr |
| 9: Ma‘oputasi 3 (Pago Pago) | Vesiai Poyer S. Samuelu |
| 10: Ma‘oputasi 4 (Satala, Atuʻu, Leloaloa) | Tapai Alailepule Benjamin Vaivao |
| 11: Ma‘oputasi 5 (Aua) | Faimealelei Anthony Fuʻe Allen |
| 12: Ituʻau | Tautoloitua Sauasetoa Ho Ching |
| Manumaua Wayne C. Wilson | |
| 13: Fofo | Fiu Saelua |
| 14: Lealataua | Savali Talavou Ale, Speaker |
| 15: Tuālāuta | Samuel Ioka Ale Meleisea |
| Larry Simou Sanitoa | |
| 16: Tualatai | Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase |
| 17: Leasina | Ape Mike Asifoa |
| Swains Island | Suʻa Alexander Eli Jennings |
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.
Peter Tali Coleman was an American Samoan politician and lawyer. Coleman was the first and only person of Samoan descent to be appointed governor of American Samoa between 1956 and 1961 and later became the territory's first and third popularly elected governor from 1978 to 1985 and 1989 to 1993, serving a total of three elected terms. In between, he had served in different administrative positions for Pacific islands.
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 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 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.
The Eastern District is one of the primary districts of American Samoa. It consists of the eastern portion of Tutuila, American Samoa's largest island, plus the island of Aunu'u. The district has a land area of 67.027 km2 and a 2010 census population of 23,030. It contains 34 villages plus a portion of Nuʻuuli village. Among these are Pago Pago, Fagatogo, and Utulei.
American Samoa is administratively divided into three districts and two unorganized atolls. The districts are subdivided into 15 counties, which are composed of 76 villages.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to American Samoa:
The government of American Samoa is defined under the Constitution of American Samoa.
Tuanaitau Fa'atamala Tuia was an American Samoan politician and the longest-serving member of the American Samoan territorial legislature, the Fono, in history. Tuia served a combined 49 years in the Fono, including thirty years in the American Samoa House of Representatives and seventeen years in the Senate.
A constitutional referendum was held in American Samoa on November 2, 2010, on the same day of the United States House of Representatives election and American Samoan general election.
Vailoatai is a village in southwestern Tutuila, the main island of American Samoa. It is located on the eastern end of Leone Bay. The village is known for its beautiful malae, nested along the island's rugged southern coast and lined by the fale tali mālō of its village chiefs.
Maʻopūtasi County is located in the Eastern District of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. Maʻopūtasi County comprises the capital of Pago Pago and its harbor, as well as surrounding villages. It was home to 11,695 residents as of 2000. Maʻopūtasi County is 6.69 square miles (17.3 km2) The county has a 7.42-mile (11.94 km) shoreline which includes Pago Pago Bay.
The Fono of Faipule was a legislature in Western Samoa during the colonial era. It consisted of representatives (faipule) from each district.
Tuālā-tai County is one of the five counties that make up the Western District of American Samoa.
Aumoeualogo Te’o J. Fuavai was a former American Samoa politician who represented the Republican Party of American Samoa and served as a member of the American Samoa House of Representatives, as a territorial Senator, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. He has also been the Commissioner of Public Safety, Director of Public Works, President of the American Samoa Rugby Union (1976-2019), Chairman of the Catholic Diocesan Council, and Chairman of the Republican Party of American Samoa.
Mabel Coleman Reid, also known by the Samoan name Sinaitaaga, was an American Samoan politician. In 1953 she was one of the first two women elected to the Fono, when she won a seat in the House of Representatives.
Fano Solinuu Shimasaki was an American Samoan traditional chieftess and politician. Shimasaki was the first woman to serve as a Senator in the American Samoa Senate, the upper chamber of the American Samoa Fono. She held the chiefly title of "Fano", from the family's home village of Fagaʻalu.
Suʻa Alexander Eli Jennings is an American Samoan politician who is the current delegate to the American Samoa House of Representatives from Swains Island.
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