History
By the Treaty of Berlin of 1899, the United Kingdom and Germany renounced in favor of the United States all their rights and claims over the eastern islands of Samoa. This treaty went into effect on February 16, 1900. On April 17, 1900, the matai (chiefs) of Tutuila formally ceded the islands of Tutuila and Aunu'u to the United States. On July 16, 1904, the king and matai of Manu'a ceded the islands of Ta'u, Ofu, Olosega, and Rose Atoll to the United States. Congress formally ratified the 1900 and 1904 deeds of cession retroactively in 1929. Swains Island became part of American Samoa by joint resolution of Congress in 1925.

Political Status
American Samoa, an unincorporated and unorganized territory of the United States, is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is "unincorporated" because not all provisions of the U.S. Constitution apply to the territory. The Congress has not provided the territory with an organic act, which organizes the government much like a constitution would. Instead, the Congress gave plenary authority over the territory to the Secretary of the Interior, who in turn allowed American Samoans to draft their own constitution under which their government functions.

Government

The American Samoa Constitution provides for an elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected for four years. Up until 1951, the Governor of American Samoa was appointed by the U.S. Department of the Navy. In 1956, the Secretary of the Interior appointed the first native Samoan Governor, the Honorable Peter Tali Coleman.

In 1977 American Samoa, for the first time, elected their own governor and lieutenant governor by popular vote. The current Governor of American Samoa elected in November 1996 is the Honorable Tauese P. Sunia. (Note: On March 26, 2003, Lieutenant Governor Togiola Tulafono assumed the Governor's seat with the passing of Governor Tauese Tuailemafua Pita Fiti Sunia.)

The bicameral legislature of American Samoa, known as the Fono, is comprised of a Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate consists of 18 members who are chosen according to Samoan custom in each of the 14 political counties. Senators hold office for a four-year term, and representatives, for a two-year term. The House of Representatives consists of 20 members who are elected by popular vote. Swains Island has one non-voting member who is elected in an open meeting of the island residents. The legislature convenes for 45-day sessions twice yearly.

The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices, who head the High Court of American Samoa, are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior from recommendations of the local Governor. The judiciary also consists of district and village courts. The judges for these courts are appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The United States civil and criminal cases, augmented by such local laws and regulations as enacted by Samoa legislature, constitute the body of law adjudicated in the courts. The current Chief Justice is Michael Kruse, the first native Samoan to be appointed to the position. Unlike other U.S. territories, American Samoa does not have a Federal district court.

The Member of Congress from American Samoa (currently the Honorable Eni F.H. Faleomavaega), possesses in the standing Committees of the House, the same powers and privileges as Representatives from the several States, with the exception of voting on the House floor. The first delegate to the House of Representatives was Fofo I. F. Sunia, elected in November 1979.

Geography
American Samoa consists principally of five volcanic islands and two coral atolls (a total of 76.2 square miles). It is located approximately 2,300 miles southwest of Hawaii and about 2,700 miles northeast of Australia. The largest and most populated island in American Samoa is Tutuila, on which are located the territory's historic capital (Pago Pago), the seat of its legislature and judiciary (Fagatogo) and the office of the Governor (Utulei).

Population
The people of American Samoa are United States nationals, who, like United States citizens, owe allegiance to the United States. Many have become naturalized American citizens. In 1995, the territory's population was approximately 59,600, primarily ethnic Samoan. The population has increased despite a large out-migration of Samoans to the United States (a continuous out-migration trend of about 382 migrants per year since 1974). It is estimated that 15,000 Samoans reside in Hawaii and 32,000 in California and 4,000 in Washington (1990).

Culture
The American Samoans, together with the Hawaiians, Maoris, Tongans, and Tahitians are among the last remaining true Polynesians. Despite the strong influence of western industrial culture, the American Samoans, more than other Pacific Islanders, seem to hold more tenaciously to their ancient tradition.

Fa'a Samoa, meaning the Samoan way of life, is often heard in American Samoa. Fa'a Samoa has kept Samoans conscious of their ethnic traditions and cautious about changes that might threaten the traditional structure of their society. However, fa'a Samoa has inherent flexibility which has allowed its people to withstand and absorb the ways of foreign traders, missionaries, and military forces.

Samoan tradition revolves around the aiga, the extended family. For the aiga to exist and function, every member plays a part in contributing to the welfare of the group. At the head of each aiga is the matai, a position which connotes authority. The matai is responsible for the well-being of the family as well as for its representation in the village and district councils. Several matai ranks are intertwined throughout the village systems which result in complex traditional and political hierarchies.

Samoan and English are both spoken in American Samoa; most people are bi-lingual. Samoan is related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.

Economy
In Fiscal Year 1996, American Samoa's government revenues were $121 million, of which $45 million came from local revenues, and $76 million from Federal grants, including $23 million from OIA.

In spite of its distant location and pronounced cultural differences, American Samoa's economic development is firmly linked to that of the United States. Seventy-eight percent of all imports to the territory originated in the United States in 1996. Total imports in 1996 were $471 million, with $313 million in exports.

Tuna canning is the main economic activity in American Samoa. In 1994, American Samoa generated approximately $295 million worth in exports, almost exclusively by the tuna canneries located in Pago Pago -- Star Kist and Chicken of the Sea. The canneries are the second largest employer in American Samoa after the Government (28 percent of the total work force of about 4,325 workers).

The total labor force of American Samoa consists of approximately 14,800 workers, roughly one-third of the total population. About one-third of the labor force are aliens, mostly from Western Samoa. The largest employer, with approximately 4,282 employees is the American Samoa Government. The economy is supplemented by tourism and a few other modest enterprises.

In comparison to the U.S., Samoan cost of living in general, is significantly lower due to the culture and lifestyle. Households spend most of their income on imported food (40 percent) and less on housing (20 percent) due to access to family on communal lands. The average growth rate is 11 percent. The per capita income in 1989 was $3,039. As reported in the 1990 Census, 56.5 percent of the population was below the poverty level.

The income tax laws in American Samoa are a "mirror image" of those enforced in the United States. This means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code is applied as a local territorial tax code with the word "American Samoa" substituted for the word "U.S." wherever it appears in the U.S. Code.

Communications
American Samoa has a modern telecommunications system with a network of 9,500 telephones. A cellular phone network is also in operation. It has one AM radio station, one FM station, and one television station. Two newspapers are printed in Pago Pago. American Samoa is within the U.S. postal system.

Transportation
Hawaiian Airlines is the only airline providing commercial air transportation connecting American Samoa with Honolulu. Samoa Air provides services within American and Western Samoa and to Fiji, Niue and Tonga. Polynesian Airlines provides service to American Samoa, Western Samoa, and the Cook Islands. Air Nauru services American Samoa, Western Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands. Shipping agencies provide containerized cargo transportation to and from American Samoa.

Education
In 1996, American Samoa had 102 educational institutions, including private and public institutions and pre-schools. In the same year, 18,497 students were enrolled in grades l-l2). American Samoa Community College (1,463 enrollees as of fall term l994) is a two-year institution which also provides a four-year program leading to a bachelor of science degree in education.

Health Services
LBJ Medical Center, a 140-bed hospital on the island of Tutuila, provides dental, general medical, and emergency care services to the residents of American Samoa. Persons requiring extensive special health care are transferred to Hawaii or New Zealand.

Land Ownership
About 90 percent of the land is communally owned by aiga. The existing tenure law on communal lands prohibits alienation of any real property except freehold land to any person whose blood is less that one-half Samoan. Unless the Governor approves the transfer in writing, it is unlawful for any matai of a Samoan family to alienate any family lands to any person or lease it for any term more than 55 years. ASG estimates that 1.5625 square miles of American Samoa's total area of 76.1 square miles are freehold land.

Travel Requirements
The Immigration and Naturalization Service of the U.S. Department of Justice does not exercise jurisdiction in American Samoa. No one may enter American Samoa unless he or she complies with certain entry requirements of the American Samoa Government. To enter the territory, a U.S. citizen or national must have in his or her possession: (1) a valid U.S. passport or certified birth certificate demonstrating his or her U.S. nationality and (2) a ticket for onward passage out of American Samoa or proof of employment in American Samoa.

The requirements for an alien's entry into American Samoa mirror those for a U.S. citizen or national. In addition to a ticket for onward passage out of American Samoa, an alien must have in his or her possession a valid passport containing a photograph or fingerprint of the holder and authorizing him or her (1) to return to the country from where he or she came or (2) to enter some other country.

Whether a U.S. citizen or national or an alien, once lawfully admitted, a tourist or business person may stay in American Samoa for up to thirty days. With the approval of the Attorney General of American Samoa, a tourist or business person may stay in American Samoa for thirty days beyond the initial thirty-day period.

At the present time, the American Samoa Government does not require any vaccinations for entry into the territory.

Pet Quarantine
Contact the Office of Public Health at 011 (684) 633-4006.

Emergency Contact
For missing persons, contact the Department of Public Safety at 011 (684) 633-1111 or via fax at 011 (684) 633-7296.

Weather
American Samoa has a tropical climate with an average year-round temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Average annual rainfall is 200 inches. The heaviest rainfall occurs during the period from December to March. Typhoons and tropical storms are common during that time.

American Samoa Bar Association
http://www.asbar.org/

American Samoan Governor's Office
http://www.asg-gov.com/