Western Samoa Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Independent State of Western Samoa

Type: constitutional monarchy under native chief; special treaty relationship with New Zealand

Capital: Apia

Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; constitution came into effect upon independence in 1962; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January

Branches: Head of State and Executive Council; unicameral legislature (47-member Legislative Assembly); Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Land and Titles Court, village courts

Government leaders: MAL1ETOA Tanumafili II, Head of State (since 1962); Va’ai KOLONE, Prime Minister (since December 1985)

Suffrage: 45 members of Legislative Assembly are elected by holders of matai (heads of family) titles (about 12,000 persons); two members are elected by universal adult suffrage of persons lacking traditional family ties

Elections: held triennially; last held in February 1982

Political parties and leaders: no clearly defined political party structure

Communists: unknown

Member of: ADB, Commonwealth, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, South Pacific Commission, SPF, UN, UNESCO, WHO

NOTE: The information regarding Western Samoa on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Western Samoa 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Western Samoa 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.