Constitution of Samoa 1960, as amended to 2020
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    (1) All citizens of Samoa shall have the right:
    …
    (c) to form associations or unions;
    … (Art. 13)
  • Samoan
    (1) O tagatanuu o Samoa uma o le a i ai le aia tatau:
    …
    (i) ia faatuina ni faalapotopotoga ma ni faapotopotoga soo-faatasi; ma
    … (Mataupu 13)
National level
  • English

    (1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Legislative Assembly shall consist of one member elected for each of 51 electoral constituencies having names, and comprising of villages or sub-villages as are prescribed from time to time by Act.
    (1A) Subject to this Article, women Members of the Legislative Assembly shall:
    (a) consist of a minimum of 10% of the Members of the Legislative Assembly specified under clause (1) which for the avoidance of doubt is presently five (5); and
    (b) be elected pursuant to clause (1) or become additional Members pursuant to clause (1B), (1D) or (1E).
    (1B) If, following any general election:
    (a) all members elected under clause (1) are men, the prescribed number of women candidates (if any) with the highest number of votes shall become additional Members; or
    (b) less than the prescribed number of women candidates are elected under clause (1), the remaining prescribed number of women candidates (if any) with the highest number of votes shall become additional Members for the purposes of clause (1A).
    (1C) Clause (1B) does not apply if the prescribed number of women are all elected under clause (1).
    (1D) If the seat of an additional Member becomes vacant, it shall, despite Article 48, be filled by the woman candidate (if any) who has the next highest number of votes at the last election or general election.
    (1E) Subject to Article 48, if a seat under clause (1) held by a woman becomes vacant, to which a man is elected to fill that vacant seat, the woman candidate (if any) with the highest number of votes from that election or the last election or general election shall become the additional Member.
    (1F) If, in the selection of the required number of women under clause (1B), (1D) or (1E), two (2) or more candidates have equal number of votes, the additional Member shall be selected by lot before the Electoral Commissioner with the presence of the candidates or their authorised representatives and at least two (2) police officers.
    (1G) If a woman candidate becomes an additional Member of a constituency (irrespective of a woman candidate being elected to that constituency), no other woman candidate from the same constituency shall become an additional Member unless there is no other woman candidate from any other constituency to make up the required prescribed number.
    …
    (5) In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
    “Additional Member” means a woman who is a Member of Parliament by virtue of clause (1B), (1D), or (1E) for the purposes of clause (1A);
    “Highest number of votes” means the percentage of the total valid votes in a constituency polled by a woman candidate;
    “Prescribed number” means the minimum number of woman Members of Parliament specified under clause (1A). (Art. 44)

  • Samoan

    (1) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i aiaiga o lenei Mataupu, o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono, e tatau ona aofia ai le sui usufono e toatasi ua filifilia mo itumalo faiga palota taitasi e 51 ua i ai igoa, ma e aofia ai nuu po o pitonuu e pei ona faatonuina mai lea taimi i lea taimi e le Tulafono.
    (1A) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i lenei Mataupu, e tatau i Sui Usufono tamaitai o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono ona:
    (a) aofia ai se fuainumera maualalo a itiiti mai e 10% o Sui Usufono o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono ua faamaoti mai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1) lea e mo le aveesea ai o se tulaga masalomia, e toalima (5) o lo o i ai i le taimi nei; ma
    (e) ia filifilia e tusa ai ma le fuaiupu (1) po o ia avea ai ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo e tusa ai ma le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U).
    (1E) Afai, i le maea ai o so o se faiga palota aoao:
    (a) o sui usufono uma ua filifilia i lalo o le fuaiupu (1) o alii, o le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai (pe afai e iai) e maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo; po o
    (e) e itiiti ifo mai le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai ua filifilia i lalo o le fuaiupu (1), o le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai o lo o totoe (pe afai e i ai) e maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo mo faamoemoega o le fuaiupu (1A).
    (1I) E lē faaaogāina le fuaiupu (1E) pe afai ua filifilia uma le aofai faatonuina o tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1).
    (1O) Afai ua avanoa le nofoa o se Sui Usufono faaopoopo, e tatau, e ui lava i le Mataupu 48, ona faatumuina e se sui tamaitai (pe afai e i ai) o ia lea na ia maua le fuainumera maualuga e sosoo atu i ai o palota i le faiga palota po o le faiga palota aoao talu ai.
    (1U) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i le Mataupu 48, afai ua avanoa se nofoa sa umia e se tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1), lea ua filifilia i ai se alii na te faatumuina lea nofoa, o le sui tamaitai (pe afai e i ai) na ia maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota mai lea faiga palota po o le faiga palota talu ai po o le faiga palota aoao, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo.
    (1F) Afai, i le filifiliga o le fuainumera manaomia o tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U), e toalua (2) po o le sili atu foi o sui faatutu e tutusa le aofai o palota na maua, e tatau ona filifili le Sui Usufono faaopoopo e ala i le faia o se sei i luma o le Komesina o Faiga Palota i le auai ai o sui faatutu po o o latou sui faatagaina ma a itiiti mai e toalua (2) leoleo.
    (1G) Afai e avea se sui faatu tamaitai ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo o se itumalo faaalaalafaga (e aunoa ma le amanaiaina o le filifilia o se sui faatu tamaitai i lea itumalo faaalaalafaga), e lē tatau ona avea se isi sui faatu tamaitai mai le itumalo faaalaalafaga lava lea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo seia vagana ai e le o i ai se isi sui faatu tamaitai mai se isi lava itumalo faaalaalafaga e atoa ai le fuainumera faatonuina manaomia.
    …
    (5) I totonu o lenei Mataupu, seia vagana ai ua manaomia e le mataupu se isi uiga e ese ai:
    “Sui Usufono Faaopoopo” o lona uiga o se tamaitai o ia lea o se Sui Usufono o le Palemene e tusa ai o le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U) mo faamoemoega o le fuaiupu (1A);
    “Fuainumera aupito maualuga o palota” o lona uiga o le pasene o le aofaiga atoa o palota aloaia a se itumalo faaalaalafaga na mauaina e se sui faatu tamaitai;
    “Aofaiga faatonuina” o lona uiga o le fuainumera aupito i maualalo o Sui Usufono tamaitai o le Palemene ua faamaoti mai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1A). (Mataupu 44)

Head of State
  • English
    There shall be a Head of State of Samoa to be known as O le Ao o le Malo. (Art. 16)
  • Samoan
    O le a i ai se Ao o le Malo o Samoa o le a taua O le Ao o le Malo. (Mataupu 16)
Head of State
  • English
    1. The Head of State shall be appointed by the Legislative Assembly acting on the recommendation of the party or parties in Government.
    2. A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the office of Head of State
    a. if he is not a person qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament; or
    b. if he does not possess such other qualifications as the Legislative Assembly may determine from time to time by resolution; or
    … (Art. 18)
  • Samoan
    (1) O Le Ao o le Malo, o le a tofia e le Fono Aoao Faitulafono, i le faia i luga o le fautuaga a le vaega faaupufai po o ni vaega faaupufai o pulea le Malo.
    (2) O le a le tauagavaaina se tasi ina ia tofia i le tofi o le Ao o le Malo:
    (a) pe afai e le o ia o se tasi e tauagavaaina ina ia tofia e avea ma se Sui Usufono o le Palemene; po o
    (e) afai e le ia te ia nisi uiga agavaa e pei ona o le a fuafua-tatauina e le Fono Aoao Faitulafono mai lea vaitaimi i lea vaitaimi i se iugafono; po o
    … (Mataupu 18)
Head of State
  • English

    1. The executive power of Samoa shall vest in the Head of State and shall be exercised by him or her under the provisions of this Constitution.
    … (Art. 31)

  • Samoan

    (1) O le pulega faatonu o Samoa o le a i le Ao o le Malo ma o le a faaaogaina e ia e tusa ma aiaiga o lenei Faavae.
    … (Mataupu 31)

Government
  • English

    (1) There shall be a Cabinet of Ministers, who shall have the general direction and control of the executive government of Samoa and shall be collectively responsible therefore to Parliament.
    (2) Cabinet shall be appointed as follows:
    (a) the Head of State shall appoint as Prime Minister to preside over Cabinet a Member of Parliament who commands the confidence of a majority of the Members of Parliament;
    (b) the Head of State shall, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint not fewer than eight nor more than fourteen other Members of Parliament to be Ministers;
    (b.a) the Head of State shall, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint one of the Ministers appointed under sub-clause (b) to be Deputy Prime Minister;
    … (Art. 32)

  • Samoan

    (1) O le a i ai se Kapeneta o Minisita, o i latou ia o le a i ai le faatonuga aoao ma le pulea o le pulega faatonu o le Malo o Samoa ma o le a fai mea faalogo uma i latou i le Palemene.
    (2) O le a tofia le Kapeneta e pei ona taua i lalo:
    (a) o le a tofia e le Ao o le Malo e avea ma Palemia ia taitai fono i le Kapeneta se Sui Usufono o le Palemene, o ia lea ua na maua le faatuatuaina e se vaega tele o Sui Usufono o le Palemene;
    (e) o le a tofia e le Ao o le Malo e faia i luga o le fautuaga a le Palemia nisi Sui Usufono o le Palemene ia le itiiti mai na i lo le valu ma ia le sili atu na i lo le sefulu fa e avea ma Minisita;
    (e.a) e tatau i le Ao o le Malo, e faia i luga o le fautuaga a le Palemia, ona tofia se tasi o Minisita i lalo o le faafuaiupu (e) e avea ma Sui Palemia;
    … (Mataupu 32)

Legislature
  • English
    There shall be a Parliament of Samoa, which shall consist of the Head of State and the Legislative Assembly. (Art. 42)
  • Samoan
    O le a i ai se Palemene o Samoa, lea o le a aofia ai le Ao o le Malo ma le Fono Aoao Faitulafono. (Mataupu 42)
Legislature
  • English
    Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may make laws for the whole or any part of Samoa and laws having effect outside as well as within Samoa. (Art. 43)
  • Samoan
    Pe afai ua tusa ai ma aiaiga o lenei Faavae, e mafai e le Palemene ona fai Tulafono mo le aoao o Samoa po o so o se vaega atoa ma tulafono e faamamaluina i fafo atu faapea ma totonu o Samoa. (Mataupu 43)
Legislature
  • English

    (1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Legislative Assembly shall consist of one member elected for each of 51 electoral constituencies having names, and comprising of villages or sub-villages as are prescribed from time to time by Act.
    (1A) Subject to this Article, women Members of the Legislative Assembly shall:
    (a) consist of a minimum of 10% of the Members of the Legislative Assembly specified under clause (1) which for the avoidance of doubt is presently 5; and
    (b) be elected pursuant to clause (1) or become additional Members pursuant to clause (1B), (1D) or (1E).
    (1B) If, following any general election:
    (a) all members elected under clause (1) are men, the prescribed number of women candidates (if any) with the highest number of votes shall become additional Members; or
    (b) less than the prescribed number of women candidates are elected under clause (1), the remaining prescribed number of women candidates (if any) with the highest number of votes shall become additional Members for the purposes of clause (1A).
    (1C) Clause (1B) does not apply if the prescribed number of women are all elected under clause (1).
    (1D) If the seat of an additional Member becomes vacant, it shall, despite Article 48, be filled by the woman candidate (if any) who has the next highest number of votes at the last election or general election.
    (1E) Subject to Article 48, if a seat under clause (1) held by a woman becomes vacant, to which a man is elected to fill that vacant seat, the woman candidate (if any) with the highest number of votes from that election or the last election or general election shall become the additional Member.
    (1F) If, in the selection of the required number of women under clause (1B), (1D) or (1E), two (2) or more candidates have equal number of votes, the additional Member shall be selected by lot before the Electoral Commissioner with the presence of the candidates or their authorised representatives and at least two (2) police officers.
    (1G) If a woman candidate becomes an additional Member of a constituency (irrespective of a woman candidate being elected to that constituency), no other woman candidate from the same constituency shall become an additional Member unless there is no other woman candidate from any other constituency to make up the required prescribed number.
    (2) [Repealed by Act 19 of 2015]
    (3) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the mode of electing members of the Legislative Assembly, the terms and conditions of their membership, the qualifications of voters, and the manner in which the roll for each electoral constituency roll shall be established and kept shall be prescribed by law.
    (4) Members of the Legislative Assembly (including additional Members) shall be known as Members of Parliament.
    (5) In this Article, unless the context otherwise requires:
    “Additional Member” means a woman who is a Member of Parliament by virtue of clause (1B), (1D), or (1E) for the purposes of clause (1A);
    “Highest number of votes” means the percentage of the total valid votes in a constituency polled by a woman candidate;
    “Prescribed number” means the minimum number of woman Members of Parliament specified under clause (1A). (Art. 44)

  • Samoan

    (1) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i aiaiga o lenei Mataupu, o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono, e tatau ona aofia ai le sui usufono e toatasi ua filifilia mo itumalo faiga palota taitasi e 51 ua i ai igoa, ma e aofia ai nuu po o pitonuu e pei ona faatonuina mai lea taimi i lea taimi e le Tulafono.
    (1A) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i lenei Mataupu, e tatau i Sui Usufono tamaitai o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono ona:
    (a) aofia ai se fuainumera maualalo a itiiti mai e 10% o Sui Usufono o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono ua faamaoti mai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1) lea e mo le aveesea ai o se tulaga masalomia, e toalima (5) o lo o i ai i le taimi nei; ma
    (e) ia filifilia e tusa ai ma le fuaiupu (1) po o ia avea ai ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo e tusa ai ma le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U).
    (1E) Afai, i le maea ai o so o se faiga palota aoao:
    (a) o sui usufono uma ua filifilia i lalo o le fuaiupu (1) o alii, o le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai (pe afai e iai) e maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo; po o
    (e) e itiiti ifo mai le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai ua filifilia i lalo o le fuaiupu (1), o le aofai faatonuina o sui tamaitai o lo o totoe (pe afai e i ai) e maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo mo faamoemoega o le fuaiupu (1A).
    (1I) E lē faaaogāina le fuaiupu (1E) pe afai ua filifilia uma le aofai faatonuina o tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1).
    (1O) Afai ua avanoa le nofoa o se Sui Usufono faaopoopo, e tatau, e ui lava i le Mataupu 48, ona faatumuina e se sui tamaitai (pe afai e i ai) o ia lea na ia maua le fuainumera maualuga e sosoo atu i ai o palota i le faiga palota po o le faiga palota aoao talu ai.
    (1U) I le noatia ma le fai fuafua i le Mataupu 48, afai ua avanoa se nofoa sa umia e se tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1), lea ua filifilia i ai se alii na te faatumuina lea nofoa, o le sui tamaitai (pe afai e i ai) na ia maua le fuainumera aupito i maualuga o palota mai lea faiga palota po o le faiga palota talu ai po o le faiga palota aoao, e tatau ona avea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo.
    (1F) Afai, i le filifiliga o le fuainumera manaomia o tamaitai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U), e toalua (2) po o le sili atu foi o sui faatutu e tutusa le aofai o palota na maua, e tatau ona filifili le Sui Usufono faaopoopo e ala i le faia o se sei i luma o le Komesina o Faiga Palota i le auai ai o sui faatutu po o o latou sui faatagaina ma a itiiti mai e toalua (2) leoleo.
    (1G) Afai e avea se sui faatu tamaitai ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo o se itumalo faaalaalafaga (e aunoa ma le amanaiaina o le filifilia o se sui faatu tamaitai i lea itumalo faaalaalafaga), e lē tatau ona avea se isi sui faatu tamaitai mai le itumalo faaalaalafaga lava lea ma Sui Usufono faaopoopo seia vagana ai e le o i ai se isi sui faatu tamaitai mai se isi lava itumalo faaalaalafaga e atoa ai le fuainumera faatonuina manaomia.
    (2) (Soloia e le Tulafono o Teuteuga o le Faavae 2015, Nu.19).
    (3) Vagana ua tusa ai ma aiaiga o lenei Faavae, o le faatinoina o le filifilia o sui usufono o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono, o taimi ma tuutuuga o lona tulaga faasui usufono, o uiga e tusa ai ma le tulafono mo le tagata palota taitoatasi atoa ma le faiga o le a tausia ai ma faa-vaeina le lisi o igoa o le au palota mo itumalo faapea le lisi o igoa o le au palota taitoatasi o le a tausia ma faavaeina o le a faatuina mai e le tulafono.
    (4) O Sui Usufono o le Fono Aoao Faitulafono (e aofia ai Sui Usufono faaopoopo) e tatau ona taua o Sui Usufono o le Palemene.
    (5) I totonu o lenei Mataupu, seia vagana ai ua manaomia e le mataupu se isi uiga e ese ai:
    “Sui Usufono Faaopoopo” o lona uiga o se tamaitai o ia lea o se Sui Usufono o le Palemene e tusa ai o le fuaiupu (1E), (1O) po o le (1U) mo faamoemoega o le fuaiupu (1A):
    “Fuainumera aupito maualuga o palota” o lona uiga o le pasene o le aofaiga atoa o palota aloaia a se itumalo faaalaalafaga na mauaina e se sui faatu tamaitai;
    “Aofaiga faatonuina” o lona uiga o le fuainumera aupito i maualalo o Sui Usufono tamaitai o le Palemene ua faamaoti mai i lalo o le fuaiupu (1A). (Mataupu 44)

Legislature
  • English
    (1) A person shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament who:
    (a) is a citizen of Samoa; and
    (b) is not disqualified under the provisions of this Constitution or of any Act.
    … (Art. 45)
  • Samoan
    (1) So o se tagata e tauagavaaina ina ia filifilia ai e avea ma Sui Usufono o le Palemene o ia lea:
    (a) o se tagatanuu o Samoa; ma
    (e) e le i tau faa-le-agavaaina o ia e tusa ma aiaiga o lenei Faavae po o so o se Tulafono.
    … (Mataupu 45)
1

Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa 1960, as amended to 2019 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024); Amendment to the Constitution 2020 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024).

2

Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa 1960, as amended to 2019 (Samoan), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024); Amendment to the Constitution 2020 (Samoan), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024).

Documents last visited 8 January 2024