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Government Stats: compare key data on American Samoa & French Polynesia

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Definitions

  • Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.
  • Capital city > Geographic coordinates: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital city > Name: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Constitution: The dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments to a nation's constitution
  • Executive branch > Cabinet: Cabinet includes the official name for any body of high-ranking advisers roughly comparable to a U.S. Cabinet. Also notes the method for selection of members.
  • Executive branch > Chief of state: The name and title of any person or role roughly equivalent to a U.S. Chief of State. This means the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government
  • Executive branch > Head of government: Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government.
  • Government type: A description of the basic form of government (e.g., republic, constitutional monarchy, federal republic, parliamentary democracy, military dictatorship).
  • International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  • Judicial branch: The name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.
  • Legal system: A brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.
  • Legislative branch: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Political parties and leaders: Significant political organizations and their leaders.
  • Political pressure groups and leaders: Organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
  • Suffrage: The age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted
  • Country name > Conventional long form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Executive branch > Elections: Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election
  • Flag description: A written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  • Country name > Conventional short form: This entry is derived from Government > Country name, which includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  • Transnational Issues > Disputes > International: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.
  • National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  • Legislative branch > Election results: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Legislative branch > Elections: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. "
  • Judicial branch > Subordinate courts: This entry is derived from Government > Judicial branch, which includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing judges, and a brief description of the process. The selection process can be indicative of the independence of a country's court system from other branches of its government. Also included in this subfield are judges' tenures, which can range from a few years, to a specified retirement age, to lifelong appointments. The subordinate courts subfield lists the courts lower in the hierarchy of a country's court system. A few countries with federal-style governments, such as Brazil, Canada, and the US, in addition to their federal court, have separate state- or province-level court systems, though generally the two systems interact.
  • National holiday: The primary national day of celebration - often independence day.
  • Capital > Geographic coordinates: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital city: The location of the seat of government.
  • Capital > Name: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Capital > Time difference: This entry is derived from Government > Capital, which gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Diplomatic representation from the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Diplomatic representation in the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  • Capital city > Time difference: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  • Legislative branch > Note: This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.
  • Dependency status: This entry describes the formal relationship between a particular nonindependent entity and an independent state.
STAT American Samoa French Polynesia HISTORY
Administrative divisions 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 none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are five second order administrative units named Iles Australes, Iles du Vent, Iles Marquises, Iles Sous le Vent, Iles Tuamotu et Gambier
Capital city > Geographic coordinates 14 16 S, 170 42 W 17 32 S, 149 34 W
Capital city > Name Pago Pago Papeete
Constitution ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet made up of 12 department directors Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
Executive branch > Chief of state President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) President Francois HOLLANDE (since 15 May 2012), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Lionel BEFFRE (since 16 September 2013)
Executive branch > Head of government Governor Lolo Matalasi MOLIGA (since 3 January 2013) President of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSS (since 17 May 2013); President of the Assembly of French Polynesia Jacqui DROLLET (since 14 April 2011)
Government type NA parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity
International organization participation AOSIS, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU
Judicial branch High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)(or Supreme Court) is the highest court in America Samoa; there is no U.S. federal court there Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Legal system mixed legal system of US common law and customary law the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]<br />Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO] A Tia Porinetia [Teva ROHFRITSCH]<br />Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN (includes the parties The New Star and This Country is Yours)<br />New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile Vernaudon]<br />Our Home alliance<br />People's Servant Party (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]<br />Popular Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]<br />Union for Democracy alliance or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders Population Pressure LAS (addresses the growing population pressures) NA
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Country name > Conventional long form Territory of American Samoa Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
Executive branch > Elections under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2012 with a runoff election held on 20 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the French Polynesia government and the president of the Assembly of French Polynesia elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits)
Flag description blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the fly 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 war club known as a "Fa'alaufa'i" (upper; left talon), and a coconut fiber fly whisk known as a "Fue" (lower; right talon); the combination of symbols broadly mimics that seen on the US Great Seal and reflects the relationship between the United States and American Samoa two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a Polynesian canoe rides on the wave pattern; the canoe has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors
Country name > Conventional short form American Samoa French Polynesia
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution none
National anthem <strong>name: </strong>"Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Mariota Tiumalu TUIASOSOPO/Napoleon Andrew TUITELELEAPAGA <strong>name: </strong>"Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui)<br /><strong>lyrics/music:</strong> Maeva BOUGES, Irmine TEHEI, Angele TEROROTUA, Johanna NOUVEAU, Patrick AMARU, Louis MAMATUI and Jean-Pierre CELESTIN
Legislative branch > Election results House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 20; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 18 percent of vote by party - Popular Rally 45.1%, Union for Democracy alliance 29.3%, A Tia Porinetia 25.6%, other 15.8%; seats by party - Popular Rally 38, Union for Democracy alliance 11, A Tia Porinetia 8
Legislative branch > Elections House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2014); Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) last held on 21 April 2013 (first round) and 5 May 2013 (second round) (next to be held in 2018)
Independence none (territory of the US) none (overseas lands of France)
Judicial branch > Subordinate courts district and village courts Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
National holiday Flag Day, 17 April Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1789)(1880)
Capital > Geographic coordinates 14 16 S, 170 42 W 17 32 S, 149 34 W
Capital city Pago Pago Papeete
Capital > Name Pago Pago Papeete (located on Tahiti)
Capital > Time difference UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) none (overseas lands of France)
National anthem > Name "Amerika Samoa" (American Samoa) "Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" (Long Live Tahiti Nui)
Legislative branch > A note <a href=/country/aq><a href=/country/aq>American Samoa</a></a> elects one nonvoting representative to the <a href=/country/us>US</a> <a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-House-of-Representatives>House of Representatives</a>; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held <a href=/kp/NA><a href=/encyclopedia/natural-abundance>NA</a></a> November 2002); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (<a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-Democratic-Party>Democrat</a>) reelected as delegate for a sixth term one seat was elected to the <a href=/kp/French><a href=/country/fr>French</a></a> <a href=/encyclopedia/United-States-Senate>Senate</a> on <a href=/kp/NA><a href=/encyclopedia/natural-abundance>NA</a></a> September 1998 (next to be held <a href=/kp/NA><a href=/encyclopedia/natural-abundance>NA</a></a> September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - <a href=/kp/NA>NA</a>%; <a href=/kp/seats+by+party+-+NA>seats by party - NA</a>; two seats were elected to the <a href=/kp/French><a href=/country/fr>French</a></a> <a href=/encyclopedia/National-Assembly-of-the-Republic-of-China>National Assembly</a> on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held <a href=/kp/NA><a href=/encyclopedia/natural-abundance>NA</a></a> 2007); results - percent of vote by party - <a href=/kp/NA>NA</a>%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1
National anthem > Note local anthem adopted 1950; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States) adopted 1993; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Capital city > Time difference UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Legislative branch > Note American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held on 2 November 2010 (next to be held in November 2012); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate two seats were elected to the French Senate on 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1, independent 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
Dependency status unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2003; overseas collectivity of France since 2003, though it is often referred to as an overseas country due to its degree of autonomy

SOURCES: CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; CIA World Factbooks 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; CIA World Factbook, December 2003

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