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Status of the Constitution
- English(1) This Constitution shall be the supreme law of Samoa.
(2) Any existing law and any law passed after the date of coming into force of this Constitution which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. (Art. 2) - Samoan(1) O lenei Faavae o le a avea ma tulafono aupito maualuga o Samoa.
(2) So o se tulafono o lo o i ai nei ma so o se tulafono e pasia ina ua tuanai le aso o le faamamaluina o lenei Faavae, e le talafeagai ma lenei Faavae o le a, i itu uma e le talafeagai ai le aoga. (Mataupu 2)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
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(2) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court, an appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal from any decision of the Supreme Court in any proceeding, if the Supreme Court certifies that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution; and:
(a) where such a certificate is given or such leave granted, any party in the case may appeal to the Court of Appeal on the ground that any such question has been wrongly decided and, with the leave of that Court, on any other ground; or
(b) where the Supreme Court has refused to give such a certificate, the Court of Appeal may, if it is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law as to the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution, grant special leave to appeal from that decision. (Art. 75) - Samoan
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(2) Vagana mo le Vaega IX - Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, o le a faia o se talosaga i le Faamasinoga o Talosaga faasaga i so o se faaiuga a le Faamasinoga Sili i so o se taualumaga, pe afai e faamaonia e le Faamasinoga Sili e faapea o le mataupu e aafia ai se Vaega tele tau le Tulafono i le itu i le faamalamalamaina po o le faatinoina o so o se aiaiga o lenei Faavae; ma:
(a) i le itu ua tuuina mai o sea tusi faamaoni po o sea faatagaina e mafai e so o se itu faamasinoga i lea faamasinoga ona talosaga i le Faamasinoga o Talosaga i le mafuaaga e faapea, o sea mataupu sa faaiuina ma le sese ma, ina ua i ai ma le faatagaina o lena Faamasinoga ma luga o so o se tasi lava mafuaaga; po o
(b) pe a oo ina ua l8 talia e le Faamasinoga Sili le tuuina atu o sea tusi faamaoni, e mafai e le Faamasinoga o Talosaga, pe afai ua faamalieina o ia e faapea, o le mataupu o lo o aafia ai se vaega tele tau le Tulafono i le itu i le faamalamalamaina po o le faatinoina o so o se aiaiga o lenei Faavae, ona tuuina atu le faatagaina faapito ina ia talosaga ai faasaga i lena faaiuga. (Mataupu 75)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court and the laws administered thereunder, the Supreme Court shall:
(a) have such original, appellate and, revisional jurisdiction; and
(b) possess and exercise all the jurisdiction, power, and authority, which may be necessary to administer the laws of Samoa.
(2) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court and without prejudice to any appellate or revisional jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, where in any proceedings before another Court (except the Court of Appeal) a question arises as to the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution, the Supreme Court may, on the application of any party to the proceedings, determine that question and either dispose of the case or remit it to that other Court to be disposed of in accordance with the determination.
(3) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court, the Head of State, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, may refer to the Supreme Court for its opinion any question as to the interpretation or effect of any provision of this Constitution which has arisen or appears likely to arise, and the Court shall pronounce its opinion on any question so referred to it. (Art. 70) - Samoan
(1) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa ma Tulafono o Jo o faafoeina ai i lalo, o le a i ai i le Faamasinoga Sili:
(a) o puleaga faavae, tau talosaga ma le toe iloiloga; ma
(b) i ai ma faatino o puleaga uma, pule ma pule faataga, ia e ono mafai ona talafeagai i le faafoeina o Tulafono a Samoa.
(2) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, ma e aunoa ma le faitioina o so o se itu e uiga i le toe iloiloga a le Faamasinoga Sili, i ni taualumaga i luma o se tasi faamasinoga (vagana ai a le Faamasinoga o Talosaga) e lagaina ai se faamatalaga po o se itu e uiga i le aoga o so o se aiaiga o lenei Faavae, e mafai e le Faamasinoga Sili, i le talosaga a so o se Vaega o tagata o Jo o auai i taualumaga ona faatatauina lena fesili ma faamaapeina le mataupu po o le tuu atu i luma o se tasi Faamasinoga e faamaapeina ai, ina ia talafeagai ma le fuafuaga ua faatatauina.
(3) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, e mafai e le O Le Ao o le Malo, i luga o le fautuaga a le Palemia, ona siligia le Faamasinoga Sili mo sona finagalo i so o se mataupu e faaletonu ai e uiga i le faamatalaga po o se aoga o so o se aiaiga o lenei Faavae ua manu mai po o le faamata o le a manu mai, ma o le a faaalia e le Faamasinoga Sili i le faamasinoga e avanoa mo so o se tasi i sona finagalo e uiga i so o se mataupu na faapea ona tuuina atu ia te ia. (Mataupu 70)
Obligations of the State
- English
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WHEREIN should be secured to all the people their fundamental rights;
… (Preamble) - Samoan
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INA UA I AI le tatau ona faamautuina i tagata uma o a latou aia tatau faavae;
… (Uputomua)
Judicial Protection
- English
(1) Except for judicial review matters arising from the proceedings in Part IX Land and Titles Courts, any person may apply to the Supreme Court by appropriate proceedings to enforce the rights conferred under the provisions of this Part.
(2) The Supreme Court shall have power to make all such orders as may be necessary and appropriate to secure to the applicant the enjoyment of any of the rights conferred under the provisions of this Part. (Art. 4) - Samoan
(1) E mafai e se'i vagana ai mataupu o iloiloga faa-faamasinoga e faatulai mai o i taualumaga i totonu o le Vaega IXFaamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa, so o se tagata ona talosaga i le Faamasinoga Sili i taualumaga tatau ina ia faamamaluina aia tatau e pei ona tuuina atu e tusa ma aiaiga o lenei Vaega.
(2) O le a i le Faamasinoga Sili le pule e faia ai poloaiga uma e pei ona o le a tusa ma tatau ai ina ia maua mo le tagata na talosaga mai le faafiafiaina i so o se tasi o aia tatau e pei ona tuuina atu e tusa ma aiaiga o lenei Vaega. (Mataupu 4)
Judicial Protection
- English
(1) Except for Part IX Land and Titles Court and subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Court of Appeal shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine:
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(c) an appeal from any decision of the Supreme Court in any proceedings under the provision of Article 4.
... (Art. 75) - Samoan
(1) Ae vagana ai mo le Vaega IX Faamasinoga o Fanua ma Suafa i le noatia ai i aiaiga o lenei Faavae, o le a i ai i le Faamasinoga o Talosaga le puleaga e faafofogaina ai ma fuafua tatau:
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(c) se talosaga e faasaga i so o se faaiuga a le Faamasinoga Sili e tusa ma aiaiga o le Mataupu 4.
... (Mataupu 75)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe functions of the Ombudsman are:
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b. to carry out the functions relating to human rights provided by Act;
… (Art. 82B) - SamoanO galuega tauave nei a le Komesina o Sulufaiga:
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(e) ia tauaveina galuega tauave e faasino i aia tatau faale-tagata soifua o aiaia e Tulafono;
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National Human Rights Bodies
- English
1. There is to be an Ombudsman (Komesina o Sulufaiga) appointed by the Head of State acting on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly.
2. The Ombudsman is to be appointed pursuant to the selection and appointment criteria and other terms and conditions provided by Act.
… (Art. 82A) - Samoan
(1) O le a tatau ona i ai o se Komesina o Sulufaiga (Ombudsman) e tofia e Le Ao o le Malo, i le faia i luga o le fautuaga a le Fono Aoao Faitulafono.
(2) O le a tofia le Komesina o Sulufaiga e tusa ai ma taiala o filifiliga ma tofiga ma isi tuutuuga ma aiaiga o galuega ua aiaia e le Tulafono.
… (Mataupu 82A)
Political Rights and Association
- English(1) All citizens of Samoa shall have the right:
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(c) to form associations or unions;
… (Art. 13) - Samoan(1) O tagatanuu o Samoa uma o le a i ai le aia tatau:
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(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.
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(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.
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(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)