Legislative Assembly of Samoa

Legislative Assembly of Samoa

*Fono Aoao Faitulafono o Samoa*
Legislative Assembly of Samoa ; Fono Aoao Faitulafono o Samoa
17th Parliament
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Speaker	Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau, FAST ; since 24 May 2021
Deputy Speaker	Auapaau Mulipola Aloitafua, FAST ; since 24 May 2021
Prime Minister	Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, FAST ; since 24 May 2021
Deputy Prime Minister	Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio, FAST ; since 24 May 2021
Leader of the Opposition	Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, HRPP ; since 27 July 2021
Structure
Seats	51
Political groups	Government (26) FAST (26) SNDP (4); ; Opposition party (18) Human Rights Protection Party (18); Vacant (7) Vacant (7);
Length of term	Up to 5 years
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	9 April 2021
Next election	On or before April 2026
Meeting place
	Maota, Tiafau, Apia
Website
	www.palemene.ws

The Legislative Assembly (Samoan: Fono Aoao Faitulafono a Samoa), also known as Parliament of Samoa (Samoan: Palemene o Samoa), is the national legislature of Samoa, seated at Apia, where the country's central administration is situated. Samoan Parliament is composed of two parts: the O le Ao o le Malo (head of state) and the Legislative Assembly.

In the Samoan language, the Legislative Assembly of Samoa is sometimes referred to as the Samoan Fono while the government of the country is referred to as the Malo. The word fono is a Samoan and Polynesian term for councils or meetings great and small and applies to national assemblies and legislatures, as well as local village councils.

The modern government of Samoa exists on a national level alongside the country's fa'amatai indigenous chiefly system of governance and social organisation.^[3] In his or her own right, the O le Ao o le Malo can summon and call together the Legislative Assembly, and can prorogue or dissolve Parliament, in order to either end a parliamentary session or call a general election on behalf of the Prime Minister of Samoa.

History[]

Members of the First Legislative Assembly of Samoa under New Zealand administration, circa 1921.

The Samoan Fono is descended from the Western Samoan Legislative Assembly established under New Zealand rule in the early 1900s. On the country's political independence in 1962, the 5th Legislative Assembly became the .^[4]

Powers and procedures[]

The Samoan Constitution provides the Legislative Assembly to make laws for the whole or any part of Samoa and laws having effect outside as well as within Samoa. Any Member of Parliament may introduce any bill or propose any motion for debate in the Assembly or present any petition to the Assembly, and the same shall be considered and disposed of under the provisions of the Standing Orders.

Members of Parliament posessess parliamentary privilege and immunities.

The Legislative Assembly can be dissolved or prorogue by the O le Ao o le Malo, with the advice of the Prime Minister.

Members of Parliament[]

Prior to a 2019 constitutional amendment, the Samoan Fono had 49 Members of Parliament. These were elected in six two-seat and 35 single-seat constituencies. Of these 49 seats, 47 were legally reserved for traditional heads of families (matai) and two for special constituencies: These two seats were first reserved for Samoan citizens descended from non-Samoans (so-called 'individual constituencies') and elected on a non-territorial basis until the 2015 constitutional amendment after which these were replaced with specific 'urban constituencies'.^[5] These 'urban constituencies' were only in place for the 2016 general election and were then abolished by the 2019 amendment ahead of the next general election. Following this amendment, each electoral constituency elects one member, totalling 51 members of parliament.^[6]^[7]

An extra Member of Parliament was added after the 2016 election in order to meet the quota of 10% female MPs.^[8]

Members of Parliament in Samoa are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a five-year term.

Current composition[]

Affiliation		Leader in Parliament	Status	Seats

Affiliation		Leader in Parliament	Status	2021 election	Current
	Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi	Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa	Majority	25	26
	Human Rights Protection Party	Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi	Opposition	25	18
	Independent	N/A	Crossbench	1	0
	Vacant	N/A	Vacant	0	7
Total				51	51

Head of State[]

The ceremonial Head of State or O le Ao o le Malo is elected for a five-year term by the Fono. He or she is limited to a maximum of 2 terms.

Elections[]

Elections are held under a simple plurality system. Samoan electors are divided into six two-seat and 35 single-seat constituencies. In addition, two seats are reserved for "individual voters", non-indigenous citizens who may not hold a chiefly title or any customary interest in Samoan land.

Electors must be Samoan citizens and aged over 21.^[9] Candidates must be qualified as electors, and in addition those for territorial seats must hold a matai title.^[10]

Last election results[]


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–

	Human Rights Protection Party	49,237	55.38	25	–10
	Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi	32,510	36.57	25	New
	Tautua Samoa Party	2,900	3.26	0	–2
	Samoa First Party	207	0.23	0	New
	Sovereign Independent Samoa Party	30	0.03	0	New
	Independents	4,025	4.53	1	–12
Total		88,909	100.00	51	+1

Valid votes		88,909	99.32
Invalid/blank votes		605	0.68
Total votes		89,514	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		128,848	69.47
Source: Government of Samoa, Seat counts, Registered voters; Candidate affiliations of all except Vaa o Fonoti, Anoamaa 1 and Aleipata Itupa i Luga

Terms of the Fono[]

The Fono is currently not in session, having not been convened since the 2021 Samoan general election was held, due to the current constitutional crisis.

Term	Elected in	Government
	1948 election	No parties
		No parties
		No parties
	1957 election	No parties
	1961 election	No parties
	1964 election	No parties
	1967 election	No parties
	1970 election	No parties
	1973 election	No parties
	1976 election	No parties
	1979 election	No parties
	1982 election	Human Rights Protection Party
	1985 election	Human Rights Protection Party / Christian Democratic Party (Samoa)
	1988 election	Human Rights Protection Party
	1991 election	Human Rights Protection Party
	1996 election	Human Rights Protection Party
	2001 election	Human Rights Protection Party
14th Parliament	2006 election	Human Rights Protection Party
15th Parliament	2011 election	Human Rights Protection Party
16th Parliament	2016 election	Human Rights Protection Party
17th Parliament	2021 election	Faʻatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi

Building[]

The Fono is housed in a beehive shaped building based on the traditional Samoan fale.

Notes[]

References[]

^ "Tuilaepa accepts defeat, opposition leadership". Samoa Observer. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^ http://www.palemene.ws/new/wp-content/uploads//Infosheet/Infosheet-01-Legislative-Assembly-of-Samoa.pdf
^ Fana'afi Le Tagaloa, Aiono (1986). Western Samoa the Sacred Covenant. Land rights of Pacific women. University of the South Pacific;Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 103. ISBN 982-02-0012-1. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
^ Parliament of Samoa: general information Archived June 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Constitution Amendment 2015 (English)" (PDF). Parliament of Samoa. 3 June 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
^ "Constitution Amendment Act (No. 3)" (PDF). Parliament of Samoa. 31 January 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
^ "Samoa to bring about changes to parliament". RNZ. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
^ "Fa'aulusau Rosa Duffy-Stowers secures 5th Parliamentary seat for women". Talamua Online. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
^ Electoral Act 1963, s16 Archived March 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^ Electoral Act 1963, s5 Archived October 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

External links[]

Official website

[1] "Tuilaepa accepts defeat, opposition leadership". Samoa Observer. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.

[2] ttp://www.palemene.ws/new/wp-content/uploads//Infosheet/Infosheet-01-Legislative-Assembly-of-Samoa.pdf

[af-3] Fana'afi Le Tagaloa, Aiono (1986). Western Samoa the Sacred Covenant. Land rights of Pacific women. University of the South Pacific;Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 103. ISBN 982-02-0012-1. Retrieved 2 March 2010.

[4] Parliament of Samoa: general information Archived June 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

[5] "Constitution Amendment 2015 (English)" (PDF). Parliament of Samoa. 3 June 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.

[6] "Constitution Amendment Act (No. 3)" (PDF). Parliament of Samoa. 31 January 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.

[7] "Samoa to bring about changes to parliament". RNZ. 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2021-05-22.

[8] "Fa'aulusau Rosa Duffy-Stowers secures 5th Parliamentary seat for women". Talamua Online. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.

[9] Electoral Act 1963, s16 Archived March 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

[10] Electoral Act 1963, s5 Archived October 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine

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