Fono

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Samoa

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Samoa

Constitution O le Ao o le Malo Tufuga Efi Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi Cabinet Fono Political parties Elections: 2001, 2006 Districts (Itūmālō) Foreign relations

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The Fono or Legislative Assembly is the parliament of Samoa. "Fono" is a Samoan and Polynesian term for councils great and small. It applies to national assemblies and legislatures, as well as local village councils. The Samoan Fono has 49 members, 47 members out of the matais (traditional heads of families) in six two-seat and 35 single-seat constituencies and 2 members by the non-Samoan nationals. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a five year term. The O le Ao o le Malo is elected for a five year term by the fono.

The Fono is descended from the Western Samoa Legislative Assembly established under New Zealand rule. On independence in 1962, the 5th Legislative Assembly became the 1st Samoan Parliament^[1].

Contents 1 Elections 1.1 Last election results 2 Legislative Procedures 3 Other functions 4 Terms of the Fono 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

[edit] 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-Samoan citizens who may not hold a chiefly title or any customary interest in Samoan land.

Electors must be Samoan citizens and aged over 21^[2]. Candidates must be qualified as electors, and in addition those for territorial seats must hold a matai title^[3].

[edit] Last election results

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 31 March 2006 Samoa Fono election results

Parties	Seats
Human Rights Protection Party	35
Samoan Democratic United Party	10
Independents	4
Samoa Party	0
Samoa Progressive Political Party	0
The Christian Party	0
Total	49
Source: Fono web site. The numbers for HRPP include five independents who joined HRPP after the election. Adam Carr, Zee and Pacific Magazine give various different results. According to Adam Carr because in double-member seats voters cast two votes, it is not possible to give national aggregate votes by party.

[edit] Legislative Procedures

[edit] Other functions

The fono is responsible for electing the O le Ao o le Malo, the Samoan head of state.

[edit] Terms of the Fono

The Fono is currently in its 14th term.

Term	Elected in	Government
1st Legislative Assembly	1948 election	No parties
2nd Legislative Assembly	1951 election	No parties
3rd Legislative Assembly	1954 election	No parties
4th Legislative Assembly	1957 election	No parties
5th Legislative Assembly / 1st Parliament	1961 election	No parties
2nd Parliament	1964 election	No parties
3rd Parliament	1967 election	No parties
4th Parliament	1970 election	No parties
5th Parliament	1973 election	No parties
6th Parliament	1976 election	Christian Democrats
7th Parliament	1979 election	Christian Democrats
8th Parliament	1982 election	Human Rights Protection Party
9th Parliament	1985 election	Human Rights Protection Party
10th Parliament	1988 election	Human Rights Protection Party
11th Parliament	1991 election	Human Rights Protection Party
12th Parliament	1996 election	Human Rights Protection Party
13th Parliament	2001 election	Human Rights Protection Party
14th Parliament	2006 election	Human Rights Protection Party

[edit] See also

• Electoral Constituencies of Samoa

[edit] External links

• Official web site

[edit] References