American Samoa Senate
American Samoa Senate | |
|---|---|
| American Samoa Fono | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | October 26, 1948 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 18 |
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Political groups |
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Length of term | 4 years |
| Salary | $25,000/year |
| Website | |
| www | |
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The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono. The Senate, like the lower House of Representatives, is a nonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.
History
American Samoa became a United States territory in 1900 and was initially administered by the Navy. From 1905, annual meetings were held with delegates sent from the local communities, as an advisory council to the naval governor.[1][2]
In 1948, a bicameral legislature was established, still in advisory capacity. The upper house, named the House of
In 1960, the first constitution of American Samoa was adopted. The Senate became composed of 15 members: one from each of the then 14 counties, elected for four-year terms, and an additional senator rotating from the then four counties of the Western District, elected for two-year terms.
Fano Solinuu Shimasaki was the first woman to serve in the American Samoa Senate.[8]
List of senators
As of 2021, the members of the American Samoa Senate are:[9]
| Districts[10] | Counties[10] | Senators |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fitiuta |
Maʻo Faʻauma Gogo |
| Tauiliili Lauifi | ||
| 2 | Ofu, Olosega | Malaepule Saite Moliga |
| 3 | Saʻole | Utu Sila Poasa |
| 4 | Vaifanua | HC Satele Aliitai Lilio |
| 5 | Sua |
Muagututiʻa Moevasa Tauoa |
| Togiola Tulafono | ||
| 6 | Maʻoputasi |
President
|
| Fano Mitch Shimasaki | ||
| Uti Petelo | ||
| 7 | Ituʻau |
Alo P. Stevenson |
| Soliai T. Fuimaono | ||
| 8 | Tualauta |
Magalei Logovii |
| Fonoti Tafaifa Aufata | ||
| 9 | Leasina | Tuiagamoa T. Tavai |
| 10 | Tualatai | Satele Galu T. Satele |
| 11 | Fofo | Faiivae Iuli Alex Godinet |
| 12 | Lealataua | Ponemafua Tapeni |
Voting
The American Samoa Senate is the only legislature of its kind in the entire United States, both state and territorial, that is not directly elected by the voting population. Instead, the Senate's voting franchise is strictly limited to the various chiefs of the islands.[11]
Past composition of the Senate
References
- ^ a b c d e History of the Fono, AmSamoa.net.
- ^ The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1953, S. H. Steinberg.
- ^ a b Elite Communication in Samoa: A Study of Leadership, Felix M. Keesing and Marie M. Keesing, 1956.
- ^ The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1954, S. H. Steinberg.
- ^ Constitution of American Samoa, 1960.
- ^ Revised Constitution of American Samoa, American Samoa Bar Association.
- Aumua Amata Coleman. Samoa News. 2021-03-05. Archivedfrom the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
- ^ "American Samoa Legislature (Fono)". Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ a b 2.0202 Districts, American Samoa Bar Association.
- ^ "american samoa". american samoa. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
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| National | |
