IV.

Government and Politics

The islands are administered by the US Department of the Interior. Under their constitution of 1967, executive authority lies with the governor, who has been elected by popular vote every four years since 1977. Samoans are US nationals, and their constitution contains most of the guarantees of the US Bill of Rights. Legislative authority is vested in the Samoan legislature, or Fono, which consists of a senate and house of representatives. The senate has 18 members, who are elected, according to Samoan custom, from the local chiefs for four-year terms, and the house has 20 members, elected by popular vote for two-year terms, and one appointed, non-voting delegate from Swains Island. Samoa is represented in the Congress of the United States by a non-voting candidate, appointed for two-year terms. The islands are divided into three districts, each having a Samoan governor, and two second-order island areas. Local administrative matters are conducted by village, county, and district councils composed of hereditary chiefs and their advisers.