frage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief
of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
1963) head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 24 November 1998); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime
minister from 1992 until 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 Tanumafili
II MALIETOA, 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 or matai
may stand for election to the Fono; members serve five-year terms)
elections: byelection last held NA November 2001 (next byelection to be
held 29 March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party [leader NA];
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA,
chairman]; Samoa All People's Party or SAPP [Matatumua NAIMOAGA];
Samoan National Development Party or SNDP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman]
(opposition); Samoa National Party [FETU Tiatia, party secretary];
Samoan Progressive Conservative Party [LEOTA Ituau Ale]; Samoan United
Independent Party or SUIP [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC,
ITU, OPCW (signatory), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Tuiloma Neroni SLADE FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797 telephone: [1] (212)
599-6196, 6197 chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the Ambassador
to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road,
Apia mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Ap