American Samoa Senate | |
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| American Samoa Fono | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | October 26, 1948 (1948-10-26) |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 18 |
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Political groups |
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Length of term | 4 years |
| Salary | $25,000/year |
| Website | |
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TheAmerican Samoa Senate is theupper house of theAmerican Samoa Fono. The Senate, like thelowerHouse of Representatives, is anonpartisan body. It is composed of 18 senators, serving a four-year term.
The first name for the upper house of the legislature wasAtoa o Aliʻi (“Assembly of ParamountAliʻis”) when established in 1948. It was replaced with the current American Samoa Senate in 1953.[1]
American Samoa became aUnited States territory in 1900 and was initially administered by theNavy. From 1905, annual meetings were held with delegates sent from the local communities, as an advisory council to thenaval governor.[2][3]
In 1948, a bicameral legislature was established, still in advisory capacity. The upper house, named the House ofAli‘i, was composed of 12 members, being the seven high chiefs ofTutuila and the five high chiefs ofManu‘a.[2][3][4][5] This legislature was reformed in 1952, after administration of American Samoa had been transferred to theDepartment of the Interior. Members of the House of Ali‘i became advisors to the governor, while a new upper house, named the Senate, was established. There were 15 senators, five from each of the threedistricts of American Samoa (Western,Eastern andManu‘a). Senators were elected in open meetings, according toSamoan custom, and had to be holders of amatai title.[3][6][5]
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.[3][7] In 1967, the revised constitution modified the Senate to 18 members, all elected for four-year terms: two from the combined counties ofTa‘ū island; one from the combined counties ofOfu-Olosega; three fromMa‘oputasi county; two each fromSua,Itu‘au andTualauta counties; and one from each of the six remaining counties. Under both constitutions, senators are elected according to Samoan custom by the county councils and must be holders of a matai title.[3][8]
FanoSolinuu Shimasaki was the first woman to serve in the American Samoa Senate.[9]
As of 2024, the members of the American Samoa Senate are:[10]
The American Samoa Senate is the only legislature of its kind in the entireUnited States, bothstate 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.[12]
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| National | |
14°16′42″S170°41′20″W / 14.2782°S 170.6890°W /-14.2782; -170.6890
