Southern Cross constellation (five, five-pointed stars); national colors: red, white, blue.
Title | "O le Fu'a o le Sa'olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom) |
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Lyric/music | Sauni Liga KURESA |
Date of Independence | 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship) |
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National holiday | Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June |
Legal system | mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen |
International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
Constitution | |
History | Several previous (preindependence); latest 1 January 1962 |
Amendments | Proposed as an act by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the third reading - provided at least 90 days have elapsed since the second reading, and assent of the chief of state; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles on customary land or constitutional amendment procedures also requires at least two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2020 |
Citizenship | |
Citizenship by birth | no |
Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Samoa |
Dual citizenship recognized | no |
Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
Executive Branch | |
Chief of state | TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi II (since 21 July 2017) |
Head of government | Prime Minister FIAME Naomi Mata’afa (since 24 May 2021) |
Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the chief of state on the advice of the prime minister |
Elections/appointments | chief of state indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a 5-year term (2-term limit); election last held on 23 August 2022 (next to be held in 2026); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state, approved by the Legislative Assembly |
Election results | TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi II (independent) unanimously reelected by the Legislative Assembly |
Legislative branch | |
Description | Unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (54 seats); members from single-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote, with a minimum 10% representation of women in the Assembly required; members serve 5-year terms) |
Elections | Election last held on 9 April 2021 (next election to be held in 2026) |
Election results | Percent of vote by party - HRPP 55%, FAST 37%, TSP 3%, independent 5%; seats by party – 35 FAST, HRPP 18, independent 1; composition - men 47, women 7, percentage women 13% |
Judicial branch | |
Highest court(s) | Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 2 Supreme Court judges and meets once or twice a year); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several judges) |
Judge selection and term of office | Chief justice appointed by the chief of state upon the advice of the prime minister; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general and an appointee of the Minister of Justice; judges normally serve until retirement at age 68 |
Subordinate courts | District Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land and Titles Courts; village fono or village chief councils |
Diplomatic representation in the US | |
Chief of mission | Ambassador Pa’olelei LUTERU (since 7 July 2021); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN |
Chancery | 685 Third Avenue, 44th Street, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017 |
Telephone | [1] (212) 599-6196 |
FAX | [1] (212) 599-0797 |
Email address and website | [email protected] About | Samoa Permanent Mission to the United Nations |
Consulate(s) general | Pago Pago (American Samoa) |
Diplomatic representation from the US | |
Chief of mission | The US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa |
Embassy | 5th Floor, Accident Corporation Building, Matafele Apia |
Mailing address | 4400 Apia Place, Washington DC 20521-4400 |
Telephone | [685] 21-436 |
FAX | [685] 22-030 |
Email address and website | [email protected] https://ws.usembassy.gov/ |
Want to know more about American Samoa? Check all different factbooks for American Samoa below.