Part 14

Independence: none (territory of the US)

National holiday: Territorial Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution: ratified 1966, in effect 1967

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President (of the US) William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) are popularly elected by the citizens of the US head of government: Governor A. P. LUTALI (since 3 January 1993) and Lieutenant Governor Tauese P. SUNIA (since 3 January 1993) were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - A. P. LUTALI (Democrat) 53%, Peter Tali COLEMAN (Republican) 36%

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono) House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - representatives popularly elected from 17 house districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total, 20 elected, and 1 nonvoting delegate from Swains Island); number of seats by party NA Senate: elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - senators elected by village chiefs from 12 senate districts; percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) number of seats by party NA US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Eni R. F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA reelected as delegate

Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior

Political parties and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)

US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)

Flag: blue with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer 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 staff and a war club

Economy -------

Economic overview: Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts 80%-90% of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. The tuna canneries and the government are by far the two largest employers. Other economic activities include a slowly developing tourist industry. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $128 million (1991 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $2,600 (1991 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA

Labor force: 14,400 (1990) by occupation: government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 12% (1991)

Budget: revenues: $97 million ($43 million in local revenue and $54 million in grant revenue) expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90/91)

Industries: tuna canneries (largely dependent on foreign fishing vessels), meat canning, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 90 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,505 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy farming

Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 1989) commodities: canned tuna 93% partners: US 99.6%