Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua,
Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea,
Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN
trusteeship)

National holiday: Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note
- 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New
Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that
independence is celebrated

Constitution: 1 January 1962

Legal system: based on English common law and local customs;
judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental
rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili
II (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief
of state 5 April 1963)

head of government: Prime Minister TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi
(since 24 November 1998); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime
minister since 1992; he assumed the prime ministership in November
1998 when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor
health; the post of deputy prime minister is currently vacant

cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of
state with the prime minister's advice

elections: upon the death of Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II, a
new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the chief of
state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49
seats - 47 elected by Samoans, 2 elected by non-Samoans; only chiefs
(matai) may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year
terms)

elections: last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
HRPP 23, SNDP 13, independents 13

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP
[TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi, chairman]; Samoa All People's Party
or SAPP [Matatumua NAIMOAGA]; Samoan National Development Party or
SNDP [TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman] (opposition); Samoa National
Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary]; Samoan Progressive
Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77