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Government of American Samoa

Country name:conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
Dependency status:unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Independence:none (territory of the US)
National holiday:Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967
Legal system:NA
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
Legislative branch:bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats; 20 members are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; to serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 7 November 2006 (next to be held in November 2008); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate
Judicial branch:High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
Flag description:blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club

American Samoa Quickstats

  • Population: 57,663 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 199 sq km
  • Density: 353 /km² (33rd)
  • GDP (total):
  • GDP (per capita):
  • Literacy: 97%

Languages of American Samoa

  • Samoan 90.6%
  • English 2.9%
  • Tongan 2.4%
  • Other Pacific islander 2.1%
  • Other 2%

Useful to know

  • Currency: United States dollar (USD)
  • Dial code: +1 684

International Trade

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