ot 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 26 April 1996 (next to be held by NA April 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party--HRPP 45.17%, SNDP 27.1%,
independents 23.7%; seats by party--HRPP 25, SNDP 13, independents 11

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800D, New York, NY 10017

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New
Zealand and Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia

Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper
hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars
representing the Southern Cross constellation

Economy

Economy--overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been
dependent on development aid, private family remittances from