| Government | American Samoa |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS |
Dependency status:
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unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior |
Government type:
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NA |
Capital:
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name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western |
Dependent areas:
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void |
Independence:
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none (territory of the US) |
National holiday:
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Flag Day, 17 April (1900) |
Constitution:
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ratified 2 June 1966; effective 1 July 1967 |
Legal system:
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NA |
Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 4 and 18 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO reelected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 56.5%, Afoa Moega LUTU 43.5% |
Legislative branch:
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bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)and the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2010); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate |
Judicial branch:
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High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior) |
Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO] |
Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures) |
International organization participation:
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Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU |
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of the US) |
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of the US) |
Flag description:
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blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa |
Government - note:
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void |
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