The American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono. The House consists of 21 members serving two-year terms, with 20 popularly elected representatives, and one delegate from Swains Island elected in a public meeting.
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 lower house, named the House of Representatives, was composed of 54 members: 52 (one from each village) were elected in open meetings according to Samoan custom, and two were elected by secret ballot by residents not living under the matai 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 orator Mariota Tiumalu Tuiasosopo was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.[5]
The legislature was reformed in 1952, after administration of American Samoa had been transferred to the Department of the Interior. The number of representatives was reduced to 18, all elected by secret ballot: five from each of the three districts of American Samoa (Western, Eastern and Manu‘a), one from Swains 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 in Ma‘oputasi county, one from each of two districts in Lealataua/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 of Ta‘ū island, one from the combined counties of Ofu-Olosega, one from each of five districts in Ma‘oputasi county, one from each of two districts in Sua county, two each from Itu‘au and Tualauta 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]
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The American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono The House consists of 21 members serving two year terms with 20 popularly elected representatives and one delegate from Swains Island elected in a public meeting American Samoa House of RepresentativesAmerican Samoa FonoTypeTypeLower houseHistoryFoundedOctober 26 1948 1948 10 26 LeadershipSpeakerSavali Talavou Ale R since January 4 2007StructureSeats21Political groups Non partisan 20 Swains Island delegate 1 Length of term2 yearsSalary 25 000 yearWebsitewww wbr americansamoa wbr gov wbr fono Contents 1 History 2 List of members 3 Past composition of the House of Representatives 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditAmerican 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 lower house named the House of Representatives was composed of 54 members 52 one from each village were elected in open meetings according to Samoan custom and two were elected by secret ballot by residents not living under the matai 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 orator Mariota Tiumalu Tuiasosopo was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives 5 The legislature was reformed in 1952 after administration of American Samoa had been transferred to the Department of the Interior The number of representatives was reduced to 18 all elected by secret ballot five from each of the three districts of American Samoa Western Eastern and Manu a one from Swains 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 in Ma oputasi county one from each of two districts in Lealataua 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 of Ta u island one from the combined counties of Ofu Olosega one from each of five districts in Ma oputasi county one from each of two districts in Sua county two each from Itu au and Tualauta 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 List of members EditDistrict 9 Representatives 10 11 1 Taʻu Faleasao Fitiuta Fetu Fetui Jr Alumamalu Ale Sea Filoialiʻi2 Ofu Olosega Tiaoalii Fauagiga Sai3 Vaifanua Lavea Fatulegaee Palepoi Mauga4 Saʻole Titialiʻi Kitara Vaiau5 Sua 1 Faga itua Amaua Auto Avaio Alega Aumi Lauliʻi Luaitaua Gene Pan6 Sua 2 Saʻilele Masausi Masefau Afono Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava7 Maʻoputasi 1 Fatumafuti Fagaʻalu Utulei Vailoata Eteuati Amituanaʻi8 Ma oputasi 2 Fagatogo Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi9 Ma oputasi 3 Pago Pago Vesiai Poyer S Samuelu10 Ma oputasi 4 Satala Atuʻu Leloaloa Vaetasi Tuumolimoli S Moliga11 Ma oputasi 5 Aua Faimealelei Anthony Fuʻe Allen12 Ituʻau Logoituau Mark AtafuaManumaua Wayne C Wilson13 Fofo Andra Tereise Samoa Sagote14 Lealataua Savali Talavou Ale Speaker15 Tualauta Samuel Ioka Ale MeleiseaLarry Simou Sanitoa16 Tualatai Manavaalofa Tutuila Manase17 Leasina Ape Mike AsifoaSwains Island Suʻa Alexander Eli JenningsPast composition of the House of Representatives EditMain article Political party strength in American SamoaSee also EditList of speakers of the American Samoa House of Representatives Members of the American Samoa House of RepresentativesReferences Edit a b Historical Sketch of the Naval Administration of the Government of American Samoa Capt T F Darden 1952 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 Sunia Fofo I F 2009 A History of American Samoa Amerika Samoa Humanities Council Pages 250 and 261 ISBN 9781573062992 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 2 0302 Districts American Samoa Bar Association American Samoa Legislature Fono American Samoa Government 2020 general election unofficial results American Samoa Election Office Coordinates 14 16 42 S 170 41 20 W 14 2782 S 170 6890 W 14 2782 170 6890 This legislature related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This American Samoa related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Samoa House of Representatives amp oldid 1129218397, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
