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American Samoa House of Representatives
| American Samoa House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State house |
| Term limits: | None |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Savali Talavou Ale |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 21 |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Salary: | $20,000/year (Swains Island) $25,000/year (Other members) $30,000/year (House Speaker) |
| Elections | |
Meeting place: | |
The American Samoa House of Representatives is the lower house of the American Samoa Fono. There are 21 members representing 17 legislative districts and Swains Island.[1] Each member represented an average of 2,367 residents as of the 2020 Census.[2] Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits.[3] The chamber is nonpartisan.
Members
Leadership and members
- House speaker: Savali Talavou Ale
Salaries
As of 2023, members of the American Samoa House of Representatives were paid $25,000/year. The delegate from Swains Island was paid $20,000/year and the speaker of the House was paid $30,000/year.[4]
When sworn in
American Samoa's legislators assume office at noon on January 3 following their election.[3]
Qualifications
Article II, Section 3 of the American Samoa Constitution states that a representative shall:
- be a United States National;
- be at least 25 years of age at the time of his election; and
- have lived in American Samoa for a total of at least 5 years and have been a bona fide resident of the representative district from which he is elected for at least 1 year next preceding his election.
A delegate from Swains Island shall have the qualifications of a Representative except that in lieu of residence in a representative district, he shall have been a bona fide resident of Swains Island for at least one year next preceding his election.[5]
Elections
Elections by year
American Samoa's territorial representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years.
2026
Elections for the American Samoa House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026.
2024
Elections for the office of American Samoa House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was held on November 5, 2024. The filing deadline was September 3, 2024.
2022
Elections for the office of American Samoa House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was held on November 8, 2022. The filing deadline was September 1, 2022.
2020
Elections for the American Samoa House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. The candidate filing deadline was September 1, 2020.
Vacancies
Under Article II, Section 3 of the American Samoa Constitution, if there is a vacancy in the House of Representatives, the governor of American Samoa must call a special election to fill the vacancy unless it occurs within three months of the next regularly-scheduled election. In that case, the governor will appoint a replacement. Prior to the appointment of a replacement, the governor must consult with the county chief or chiefs whose counties comprise the district. A replacement representative serves the remainder of the previous member's term.
Sessions
Article II, Section 8 of the American Samoa Constitution contains provisions relating to the timing and length of sessions. There are two regular sessions held each year, both lasting 45 days. The first session starts on the second Monday in January and the second on the second Monday in July.
The governor may call the legislature into special session and set the session's start time and length.[6]
See also
- U.S. Territories
- Legislatures of United States territories
- American Samoa Fono
- American Samoa Senate
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed August 9, 2023(Article II Section 2)
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Population of American Samoa: 2010 and 2020," August 8, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed August 9, 2023(Article II Section 6)
- ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Code Annotated," accessed August 9, 2023(Code 2.0102)
- ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed August 9, 2023(Article II Section 3)
- ↑ American Samoa Bar Association, "American Samoa Constitution," accessed August 9, 2023(Article II Section 8)
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