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Government and Politics of American Samoa
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of American Samoa.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- NA
- Administrative Divisions
- 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
- Legal System
- NA
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- see United States Note: in accordance with US Code Title 8, Section 1408, persons born in American Samoa are US nationals but not US citizens
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP of the US (since 20 January 2025) and Vice President JD VANCE (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Lemanu Peleti MAUGA (since 3 January 2021) cabinet: Cabinet made up of department directors appointed by the governor elections: Under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories such as American Samoa do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 5 and 19 November 2024 (next to be held in November 2028) election results: Lemanu Peleti MAUGA reelected governor in 2024; percent of vote - Lemanu Peleti MAUGA 54.0%, Aliimalemanu Fonoti FALEOLO 46.0%
- Legislative Branch
- bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008) 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 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate
- Judicial Branch
- High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
- Political Parties
- Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
- Head of State
- President Barack Obama
- Head of Government
- Governor Togiola TULAFONO
- 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%
- Constitution
- ratified 1966, in effect 1967
- Independence
- none (territory of the US)
- National Holiday
- Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
- International Organization Participation
- Interpol (subbureau), IOC
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- none (territory of the US)
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- none (territory of the US)
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Pago Pago (pronounced pahn-go pahn-go)
- Location
- 14 16 S, 170 42 W
- Time Difference
- UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
