American Samoa:
Government

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Other pages in this profile of American Samoa:
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Country name	Definition conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS
Dependency status	Definition unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type	Definition NA
Capital	Definition 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	Definition 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
Independence	Definition none (territory of the US)
National holiday	Definition Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution	Definition ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967
Legal system	Definition NA
Suffrage	Definition 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch	Definition chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) 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 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008) election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
Legislative branch	Definition bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of 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) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in 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 on 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch	Definition High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders	Definition Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders	Definition Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures)
International organization participation	Definition Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US	Definition none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US	Definition none (territory of the US)
Flag description	Definition 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

American Samoa: Government

American Samoa:
Government