Legislative Assembly of Samoa
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| Legislative Assembly of Samoa Fono |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Seats | 49 members |
| Elections | |
| single-seat constituency | |
| Meeting place | |
| Apia | |
| Website | |
| www |
|
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The Legislative Assembly is the Parliament of Samoa based in the capital Apia where the country's central administration is situated.
In the Samoan language, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa is sometimes referred to as the Samoan Fono while the government of the country is referred to as the Malo.
The word fono is a Samoan and Polynesian term for councils or meetings great and small and applies to national assemblies and legislatures, as well as local village councils.
The modern government of Samoa exists on a national level alongside the country's fa'amatai indigenous chiefly system of governance and social organisation.[1]
Contents
History
The Samoan Fono is descended from the Western Samoa Legislative Assembly established under New Zealand rule in the early 1900s. On the country's political independence in 1962, the 5th Legislative Assembly became the 1st Samoan Parliament.[2]
Members of Parliament
The Samoan Fono has 49 Members of Parliament. 47 members are matai (traditional heads of families), elected in six two-seat and 35 single-seat constituencies. The other 2 Members are elected by, and represent, individual voters, i.e. "Samoan citizens descended from non-Samoans".[3]
Members of Parliament in Samoa are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a five-year term.
Head of State
The Head of State or O le Ao o le Malo is elected for a five-year term by the Fono.
Elections
Elections are held under a simple plurality system. Samoan electors are divided into six two-seat and 35 single-seat constituencies. In addition, two seats are reserved for "individual voters", non-indigenous citizens who may not hold a chiefly title or any customary interest in Samoan land.
Electors must be Samoan citizens and aged over 21.[4] Candidates must be qualified as electors, and in addition those for territorial seats must hold a matai title.[5]
Last election results
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| Parties | Seats |
|---|---|
| Human Rights Protection Party | 35 |
| Samoan Democratic United Party | 10 |
| Independents | 4 |
| Samoa Party | 0 |
| Samoa Progressive Political Party | 0 |
| The Christian Party | 0 |
| Total | 49 |
| Source: Fono web site. The numbers for HRPP include five independents who joined HRPP after the election. Adam Carr, Zee and Pacific Magazine give various different results. According to Adam Carr because in double-member seats voters cast two votes, it is not possible to give national aggregate votes by party. | |
Legislative Procedures
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Other functions
The Fono is responsible for electing the O le Ao o le Malo, the Samoan head of state.
Terms of the Fono
The Fono is currently in its 14th term.
Building
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The Fono is housed in a bee-hive shaped building based on the traditional Samoan fale.
See also
- Electoral Constituencies of Samoa
- List of Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa
- Politics of Samoa
- List of legislatures by country
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Parliament of Samoa: general information[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Electoral Act 1963, s16[dead link]
- ↑ Electoral Act 1963, s5[dead link]
