American Samoa, Amendment 9, American Samoa Government Name Measure (2022)
| American Samoa Amendment 9 | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Election date |
|
| Topic Constitutional wording changes |
|
| Status |
|
| Type Constitutional convention referral |
Origin |
American Samoa Amendment 9 was on the ballot as a constitutional convention referral in American Samoa on November 8, 2022. It was approved.
A "yes" vote supported changing the territorial government's name from the Government of American Samoa to the American Samoa Government. |
A "no" vote opposed this constitutional amendment, thus keeping the territorial government's name as the Government of American Samoa. |
Election results
|
American Samoa Amendment 9 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
3,926 | 57.86% | ||
| No | 2,859 | 42.14% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Amendment 9 was as follows:
| “ | This amendment shall change the name Government of American Samoa to American Samoa Government. | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: American Samoa Constitution
The measure amended section 3 of Article I of the American Samoa Constitution. The following underlined text was added, and struck-through text was deleted:[1]
It shall be the policy of the Government of American Samoa Government to protect persons of American Samoan ancestry against alienation of their lands and the destruction of the Samoan way of life and language, contrary to their best interests. Such legislation as may be necessary may be enacted to protect the lands, customs, culture, and traditional Samoan family organization of persons of American Samoan ancestry, and to encourage business enterprises by such persons. [2]
Background
American Samoa constitutional conventions
As of 2022, the American Samoa Constitution authorized the governor to appoint a Constitutional Committee to propose amendments to a constitutional convention. Delegates to the constitutional convention were selected by their respective county councils. The number of delegates per county was calculated by dividing the population of the county by 400, and every county was guaranteed at least one delegate. Amendments proposed needed to receive a simple majority vote by voters and be approved by the U.S. Secretary of Interior.
The 2022 convention was the 6th convention since 1966. The last convention occurred in 2010. The 2010 referendum asked voters one question: "Do you approve the 2010 amendments to the Revised Constitution of American Samoa?" The question was rejected by a margin of 70.1% opposing the amendments to 29.9% supporting.[3][4][5]
Path to the ballot
The American Samoa Constitution authorized the governor to call a constitutional convention consisting of delegates appointed by county councils. The 6th Constitutional Convention of American Samoa convened on August 29, 2022, and adjourned on September 2, 2022. The number of delegates appointed was 129. The convention voted to refer 11 constitutional amendments to the ballot.[6][3]
The amendments needed a simple majority vote for approval. If approved, the amendments also needed to be approved by the U.S. Secretary of Interior.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ American Samoa, "Amendment Texts," accessed October 3, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 American Samoa, "Office of the Governor of Samoa," June 20, 2022
- ↑ Samoa News, "ELECTION UPDATE: Sample ballot for referendum released," accessed October 3, 2022
- ↑ Samoa News, "Voters strongly reject constitutional revisions," November 3, 2010
- ↑ Talanei.com, "11 proposed constitutional changes on the ballot," September 9, 2022
| ||||||||||||||||||||
