| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form:
Samoa
former:
Western Samoa
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| Government type: |
constitutional monarchy under native chief
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| Administrative divisions: |
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
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| 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, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated
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| Constitution: |
1 January 1962
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| Legal system: |
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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| Suffrage: |
21 years of age; universal
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| Executive branch: |
chief of state:
Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)
head of government:
Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi (since 24 November 1998); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November 1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant
cabinet:
Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state with the prime minister's advice
elections:
upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly
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| Legislative branch: |
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HRPP 23, SNDP 13, independents 13
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| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
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| Political parties and leaders: |
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi, chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua NAIMOAGA]; Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman] (opposition); Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]
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| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
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| International organization participation: |
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
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| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery:
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
[1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
FAX:
[1] (212) 599-0797
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| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Carol MOSELEY BRAUN (Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy:
5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address:
P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone:
[685] 21631
FAX:
[685] 22030
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| Flag description: |
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
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