TheAmerican Samoa House of Representatives is thelower house of theAmerican Samoa Fono. The House consists of 21 members serving two-year terms, with 20 popularly elected representatives, and one delegate fromSwains Island elected in a public meeting.
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.[1][2]
In 1948, a bicameral legislature was established, still in advisory capacity. The lower house, named the House of Representatives, was composed of 54 members: 52 (one from each village) were elected in open meetings according toSamoan custom, and two were elected by secret ballot by residents not living under thematai system.[1][2][3][4] The first session of the legislature was called to order by Attorney General John D. Maroney at 9:30 am on 26 October 1948, and high oratorMariota Tiumalu Tuiasosopo was unanimously elected as theSpeaker of the House of Representatives.[5]
The legislature was reformed in 1952, after administration of American Samoa had been transferred to theDepartment of the Interior. The number of representatives was reduced to 18, all elected by secret ballot: five from each of the threedistricts of American Samoa (Western,Eastern andManu‘a), one fromSwains Island, and two elected by residents not living under the matai system.[2][6][4]
In 1960, the first constitution of American Samoa was adopted. The House of Representatives remained with 18 members, but under a slightly different composition: one from each of three districts inMa‘oputasi county, one from each of two districts inLealataua/Fofo county, and one from each of the then remaining 12 counties, all elected by secret ballot for two-year terms; and one non-voting delegate from Swains Island, elected in an open meeting, also for a two-year term.[2][7]
In 1967, the revised constitution modified the composition to 21 members: two from the combined counties ofTa‘ū island, one from the combined counties ofOfu-Olosega, one from each of five districts in Ma‘oputasi county, one from each of two districts inSua county, two each fromItu‘au andTualauta counties, and one from each of the six remaining counties, all elected by secret ballot for two-year terms; and one non-voting delegate from Swains Island, elected in an open meeting, also for a two-year term.[2][8]
In 2025, the delegate from Swains Island became a voting member of the House of Representatives.[9][10][11]
