Administrative divisions
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano |
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Capital city > Geographic coordinates
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13 50 S, 171 44 W |
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Constitution
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1 January 1962 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address
P. O. Box 3430, Matafele, Apia |
Executive branch > Cabinet
Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice |
Executive branch > Chief of state
TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007) |
Flag description
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation |
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Government type
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parliamentary democracy |
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Independence
1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship) |
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court |
Legal system
based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats, 47 elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve five-year terms) |
National holiday
Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship; it is observed in June |
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Parliamentary seats > Female
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8% |
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[77th of 143]
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Political parties and leaders
Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA]; Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA] |
Status
democracy |
Suffrage
21 years of age; universal |
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Time required to start a business > days
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35 days
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[88th of 171]
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Trademarks, residents
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11
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[54th of 98]
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Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
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none |
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del.icio.us
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