The Government in American Samoa

American Samoa is an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States and administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the territory. Instead of providing the territory with an organic act to organize the government, the US Congress gave plenary authority over the territory to the Secretary of the Interior, who allowed American Samoans to draft their own constitution.

The Constitution of American Samoa provides for an elected governor, lieutenant governor—both of whom are elected for four years—and a legislature. American Samoa elected their governor and lieutenant governor by popular vote for the first time in 1977.

The bicameral legislature of American Samoa, known as the Fono, is comprised of a Senate, chosen according to Samoan custom in each of the 14 political counties, and a House of Representatives who are elected by popular vote. The judiciary also consists of district and village courts.

Commoners and women are not permitted to vote.