American Samoan general election, 2012

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American Samoa

General elections were held in American Samoa on 6 November 2012, [1] alongside a referendum on giving the Fono veto power over the Governor. Voters chose a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor, twenty members for the American Samoa House of Representatives, and the Delegate to United States House of Representatives. [2] Incumbent Governor Togiola Tulafono was term-limited and could not seek re-election.

American Samoa US territory in the Pacific

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Samoa. Its location is centered around 14.2710° S, 170.1322° W. It is on the eastern border of the International Date Line, while independent Samoa is west of it.

American Samoa Fono

The Legislature of American Samoa or Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most state 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.

Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa

The government of American Samoa consists of a locally elected governor, lieutenant governor and the American Samoa Fono, which consists of an 18-member Senate and a 21-member House of Representatives. The first popular election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor took place in 1977. Candidates for the offices run together on a joint ticket.

Contents

Gubernatorial election

Candidates

American Samoa Community College

American Samoa Community College is a two-year WASC college located in the village of Mapusaga, on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa, an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States. Pago Pago, the capital of the territory and its center of commerce, is approximately 4.75 miles to the northeast of the school.

United States Army Land warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution. As the oldest and most senior branch of the U.S. military in order of precedence, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which was formed to fight the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)—before the United States of America was established as a country. After the Revolutionary War, the Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army on 3 June 1784 to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The United States Army considers itself descended from the Continental Army, and dates its institutional inception from the origin of that armed force in 1775.

Tuika Tuika Jr. is an American Samoan accountant and politician. He has worked for various American Samoan government offices for many years.

Withdrawn candidates

American Samoa Fono

Voters elected twenty members to the American Samoa House of Representatives. [2]

Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives

Voters will also choose American Samoa's delegate to the United States House of Representatives, who holds office for a two-year term. Incumbent Eni Faleomavaega won re-election to a 113th, two-year term.

Referendum

Voters were asked "Should Article II, Sections 9 and 19 of the revised constitution of American Samoa be revised to give the Fono, rather than the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior, the power to override the Governors veto?" [12]

The proposal would involve amending two parts of the constitution:

SectionExisting textProposed text
Chapter II
article 9
section 3
Not later than 14 months after a bill has been vetoed by the Governor, it may be passed over his veto by a two-thirds majority of the entire membership of each House at any session of the Legislature, regular or special. A bill so repassed shall be represented to the Governor for his approval. If he does not approve it within 15 days, he shall send it together with his comment thereon to the Secretary of the Interior. If the Secretary of the Interior approves it within 90 days after its receipt by him, it shall become a law; otherwise it shall not.Not later than 14 months after a bill has been vetoed by the Governor, it may be passed over his veto by a two-thirds majority of the entire membership of each House at any session of the Legislature, regular or special. A bill so repassed shall become law 90 days after the adjournment of the session in which it was repassed.
Chapter II
article 19
An act of the Legislature required to be approved and approved by the Governor only shall take effect no-sooner than 60 days from the end of the session at which the same shall have been passed while an act required to be approved by the Secretary of the Interior only after its veto by the Governor and so approved shall take effect no sooner than 40 days after its return to the Governor by the Secretary of the Interior. The foregoing is subject to the exception that in case of an emergency the act may take effect at an earlier date stated in the act provided that the emergency be declared in the preamble and in the body of the act.An act of the Legislature required to be approved and approved by the Governor only shall take effect no-sooner than 60 days from the end of the session at which the same shall have been passed. The foregoing is subject to the exception that in case of an emergency the act may take effect at an earlier date stated in the act provided that the emergency be declared in the preamble and in the body of the act.

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For5,85244.92
Against7,17755.08
Invalid/blank votes
Total13,029100
Registered voters/turnout17,774
Source: Direct Democracy

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References

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  2. 1 2 "American Samoa officials ready for next week's election". Radio New Zealand International . 2012-10-30. Retrieved 2012-11-01.
  3. Sagapolutele, Fili (February 26, 2012). "Female Educator Enters Race For Am. Samoa Governor". Samoa News. East-West Center . Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  4. Montgomery, Nancy (September 2, 2012). "After 37 years in uniform, Army veteran turns eye to politics". Stars and Stripes . Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  5. Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (September 4, 2012). "Who's on the ballot?". Talanei. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  6. Feagaimaalii-Luamanu, Joyetter (February 22, 2012). "AFOA AND LE'I OFFICIALLY ENTER 2012 GUBERNATORIAL RACE". Samoa News. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  7. "Former President of American Samoa Senate enters gubernatorial race". Radio New Zealand International . October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  8. "American Samoa's Lt Governor vies top job in next year's election". Radio New Zealand International . November 22, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  9. "Save picks woman as American Samoa co-candidate". Radio New Zealand International . January 23, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  10. Deposa, Moneth (August 24, 2011). "CUC to lose its executive director". Saipan Tribune . Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  11. "American Samoa governor candidate withdraws from race". Radio New Zealand International . October 11, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  12. 2012 Amendment to the Revised Constitution Archived 2012-11-12 at the Wayback Machine . American Samoa Government Election Office