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Country name:
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conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS
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Dependency status:
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unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
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Government type:
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NA
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Capital:
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Pago Pago
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Administrative divisions:
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none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
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Independence:
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none (territory of the US)
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National holiday:
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Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
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Constitution:
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ratified 2 June 1966, in effect 1 July 1967
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Legal system:
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NA
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: cabinet made up of 12 department directors
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate
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Judicial branch:
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High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (territory of the US)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (territory of the US)
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Flag description:
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blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club |
