Elections in Samoa
Encyclopedia
At the national level, Samoa elects a legislature
. The Fono
or Legislative Assembly has 49 members elected for a five year term, 47 members out of the matai
(traditional heads of families) in six two-seat, 35 single-seat constituencies
, and 2 members by the non-Samoan nationals. The head of state is elected for a five year term by the parliament.
The voting age in Samoa is 21.
Samoa has a two-party system
, which means that there are two dominant political parties
.
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
. The Fono
Fono
The Legislative Assembly is the Parliament of Samoa based in the capital Apia where the country's central administration is situated.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...
or Legislative Assembly has 49 members elected for a five year term, 47 members out of the matai
Fa'amatai
Fa'amatai is the chiefly system of Samoa, central to the organization of Samoan society.It is the traditional indigenous form of governance in the Samoa Islands, comprising American Samoa and the Independent State of Samoa...
(traditional heads of families) in six two-seat, 35 single-seat constituencies
Electoral Constituencies of Samoa
The Fono Aoao Faitulafono of Samoa has 49 members. Of these, 47 are elected from 41 territorial constituencies based on traditional districts. Two members are elected...
, and 2 members by the non-Samoan nationals. The head of state is elected for a five year term by the parliament.
The voting age in Samoa is 21.
Samoa has a two-party system
Two-party system
A two-party system is a system where two major political parties dominate voting in nearly all elections at every level of government and, as a result, all or nearly all elected offices are members of one of the two major parties...
, which means that there are two dominant political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
.
By-elections
Below is a list of recent by-elections:| Election | Date | Reason | Winner |
| 1998 A'ana Alofi No 1 By-election | 24 July 1998 | Disqualification of Suafo'a Lautusi | Maiava Visekota Peteru (HRRP) |
| 1998 Faleata East By-election | 28 August 1998 | Appointment of Matai'a Visesio Europa to Council of Deputies | Patau'ave Etuale (SNDP) |
| 1999 Fa’asalele’aga No 1 By-election | 21 May 1999 | Death of Tofilau Eti Alesana Tofilau Eti Alesana Tofilau Eti Alesana, AC, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana, was a Samoan politician. He was born in Vaitogi, Tutuila, American Samoa to a Samoan upper-class parents, Reverend James Alesana Fai'ivae and Vaoita Iosefa Mala'itai... |
Seumanu Aita Ah Wa (HRRP) |
| 2002 Faleata East By-election | 2002 | Appointment of Faumuina Anapapa to Council of Deputies | Lepou Petelo II |
| 2002 Alataua West By-election | 30 November 2002 | Death of Alii-male-manu Sasa | Ta’atiti Alofa (SNDP) |
| 2003 Alataua West By-election | 1 August 2003 | Death of Ta’atiti Alofa | Unknown (HRRP) |
| 2004 Fa’asalele’aga No 1 By-election | 19 March 2004 | Death of Seumanu Aita Ah Wa | Unknown |
| 2004 A'ana Alofi No 1 By-election | 26 November 2004 | Aiono Tile Gafa (HRRP) | |
| 2005 Anoama'a East By-election | 2005 | Elevation of Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi to Council of Deputies | Unknown |
| 2005 Anoama'a West By-election | March 2005 | Resignation of Tagaloa Tuala Kerslake | Unknown (HRRP) |
| 2006 Fa’asalele’aga No 2 By-election Fa’asalele’aga No 2 By-election, 2006 A by-election was held in the Fa’asalele’aga No. 2 constituency on 24 September 2006. The by-election was precipitated by the election of Pa’u Sefo Pa’u being declared invalid... |
24 September 2006 | Election of Pa’u Sefo Pa’u declared invalid | Rita Pa’u Letoa (HRRP) |
| 2006 Aleipata Itupa-I-Lalo By-election | 6 October 2006 | Election of Paepae Kapeli Su’a declared invalid | Muagututi’ a Siaosi Meredith (HRRP) |
| 2006 Fa’asalele’aga No 4 By-election | 6 October 2006 | Election of Mulitalo Sealiimalietoa Siafausa Vui declared invalid | Vui Tupe Ioane (HRRP) |
| 2007 Fa’asalele’aga No 2 By-election | 2 February 2007 | Election of Rita Pa’u Letoa declared invalid | Papalii Samuelu Petaia (HRRP) |
| 2007 Faleata East By-election | 23 April 2007 | Death of Manuleleua Lalagofaatasi Falaniko Leleua | Patau'ave Etuale (HRRP) |
| 2007 Vaimauga West By-election Vaimauga West by-election, 2007 The Vaimauga West by-election was a by-election in the Samoan constituency of Vaimauga West. It took place on 6 May 2007, and was precipitated by the death of MP Sililoto Tolo Tuaifaiva.... |
6 May 2007 | Death of Sililoto Tolo Tua'ifaiva | Patu Ativalu Patu Ativalu Patu Ativalu Togi II is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.Ativalu was first elected to Parliament as a member of the Samoan Democratic United Party in the 2001 election, but he lost his seat at the 2006 election He re-entered... (HRRP) |
| 2010 Vaisigano No.1 By-election | 2 May 2010 | Disqualification of Va'ai Papu Vailupe Va'ai Papu Vailupe Va'ai Papu Vailupe is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is the leader of the Tautua Samoa Party.Va'ai was first elected to the Samoan Legislative Assembly at the 1991 election... |
Va'ai Papu Vailupe Va'ai Papu Vailupe Va'ai Papu Vailupe is a Samoan politician and Member of Parliament. He is the leader of the Tautua Samoa Party.Va'ai was first elected to the Samoan Legislative Assembly at the 1991 election... (TSP) |
| 2010 Faleata West By-election Faleata West by-election, 2010 A by-election was held in the Faleata West constituency in Samoa on 14 May 2010. The by-election was precipitated by the disqualification from the Legislative Assembly of Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi for joining the Tautua Samoa Party... |
14 May 2010 | Disqualification of Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi is a Samoan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is the founder and interim chair of the Tautua Samoa party.... |
Ale Vena Ale Ale Vena Ale Ale Vena Ale is a Samoan politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. He is a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.Ale had previously served as an MP and as Public Service Commissioner. He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2010 Faleata West... (HRPP) |
| 2010 Safata By-election Safata by-election, 2010 A by-election was held in the Safata constituency in Samoa on 14 May 2010. The by-election was precipitated by the disqualification from the Legislative Assembly of Palusalue Fa’apo II for joining the Tautua Samoa Party... |
14 May 2010 | Disqualification of Palusalue Fa’apo II Palusalue Fa’apo II Palusalue Fa’apo II is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is the leader of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party.Palusalue was first elected to Parliament in 1996. He served as Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice... |
Palusalue Fa’apo II Palusalue Fa’apo II Palusalue Fa’apo II is a Samoan politician and former Cabinet Minister. He is the leader of the opposition Tautua Samoa Party.Palusalue was first elected to Parliament in 1996. He served as Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Justice... (TSP) |