American Samoa Fono

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American Samoa Fono

Seal of American Samoa.svg
General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
Leadership
Senate President:   Gaoteote Tofau
House Speaker:  Savali Talavou Ale
Structure
Members:  18 (Senate), 21 (House)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Salary:   $20,000/year (Swains Island)
$25,000/year (Other members)
$30,000/year (House Speaker/Senate President)
Elections
Meeting place:
AmericanSamoaLegislatureBuilding.jpg

The American Samoa Fono is a bicameral body composed of the American Samoa Senate, with 18 members, and the American Samoa House of Representatives, with 21 members. It is the only legislature among states or territories to be both bicameral and nonpartisan.

The Fono meets in the Fono building in Fagatogo.

Members

Salaries

As of 2020, members of the American Samoa Fono were paid $25,000/year. The delegate from Swains Island was paid $20,000/year and the Senate president and speaker of the House were paid $30,000/year.[1]

Pension

American Samoa does not provide pensions for legislators.

When sworn in

American Samoa's legislators assume office at noon on January 3 following their election.[2]

Sessions

Article II, Section 8 of the American Samoa Constitution contains provisions relating to the timing and length of sessions. There are two regular sessions held each year, both lasting 45 days. The first session starts on the second Monday in January and the second on the second Monday in July.

The governor may call the legislature into special session and set the session's start time and length.[3]

Chambers

Senate

The American Samoa Senate is the upper house of the American Samoa Fono, the legislature of the U.S. territory of American Samoa. The body is composed of 18 members: three from the Manu’a District, six from the Western District, and nine from the Eastern District.[4] Each member represented an average of 3,084 residents as of the 2010 Census.[5] Senators serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits.[2]

Like other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the U.S. Senate, the Senate can confirm or reject gubernatorial appointments to the state cabinet, commissions and boards.

Leadership

The president of the Senate presides over the Senate. The president is elected by a majority of members through a secret ballot at the opening of the Fono. The Senate may not conduct any business until the president is elected.[6]

House of Representatives

The American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Legislature. The House is composed of 21 members representing 17 legislative districts and Swains Island.[4] Each member represented an average of 2,643 residents as of the 2010 Census.[5] Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.[2]

Leadership

The speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The speaker is elected by a majority of members through a secret ballot at the opening of the Fono. The House may not conduct any business until the speaker is elected.[6]

Role in American Samoa Constitution

The American Samoa Fono may begin the following amendment process:

  • If both houses of the American Samoa Fono by a three-fifths (60%) vote agree, then a proposed constitutional amendment shall go on the next general election ballot.
  • If that amendment is approved by a simple majority of those voting in that election, the governor must send the proposed amendment to the secretary of the interior.
  • The secretary of the interior must approve or deny the amendment within four months of its submission.

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Code Annotated," accessed August 22, 2020(Code 2.0102)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed June 17, 2014(Article II Section 6)
  3. ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed June 17, 2014(Article II Section 8)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed June 17, 2014(Article II Section 2)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 U.S. Census Bureau, "U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2010 Census Population Counts for American Samoa," August 24, 2011
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Code Annotated," accessed June 17, 2014(Code 2.0401)
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