Editing Samoa (section)

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Politics of Samoa|Faʻamatai}}
[[File:Samoa - Apia Govt buildings.jpg|thumb|Government buildings in [[Apia]]]]
The [[Constitution of Samoa|1960 constitution]], which formally came into force with independence from New Zealand in 1962, builds on the British pattern of [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]], modified to take account of Samoan customs.<ref name="DS">{{cite web |title=Background Note: Samoa |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1842.htm |publisher=U.S. State Department |access-date=26 November 2007 |archive-date=22 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122194546/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1842.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The national modern Government of Samoa is referred to as the ''Malo''.

The [[head of state]] of Samoa is known as [[O le Ao o le Malo]] in Samoan, and since its establishment only paramount chiefs have held the office. The current head of state is [[Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II]], who was elected by the legislature in 2017 and again in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-23 |title=Samoan Parliament re-elects Head of State |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/473339/samoan-parliament-re-elects-head-of-state |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

The [[Legislative Assembly of Samoa|Legislative Assembly]] or ''Fono'' is the unicameral legislature, consisting of 51 members serving five year terms. Forty-nine are ''[[faʻamatai|matai]]'' title-holders elected from territorial districts by Samoans; the other two are chosen by non-Samoans with no chiefly affiliation on separate electoral rolls. At least ten per cent of the MPs must be women.<ref>{{cite news |title=Samoa: Key Facts: Political |url=http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/Pacific/Samoa.php |work=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade |access-date=27 November 2007 |archive-date=29 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729214227/http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Countries/Pacific/Samoa.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> Universal suffrage was adopted in 1990, but only chiefs (''matai'') may stand for election to the Samoan seats. There are more than 25,000 matais in the country, about five per cent of whom are women.<ref>{{cite web |title=Samoa: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in 2006 |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78789.htm |work=U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor |date=6 March 2007 |access-date=27 November 2007 |archive-date=17 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200117222021/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78789.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Prime Minister of Samoa|prime minister]], chosen by a majority in the assembly, is appointed by the head of state to form a government. The prime minister's choices for the 12 [[Cabinet of Samoa|cabinet positions]] are appointed by the head of state, subject to the continuing confidence of the legislative assembly.

Prominent women in Samoan politics include the late [[Laʻulu Fetauimalemau Mataʻafa]] (1928–2007) from [[Lotofaga]] constituency, the wife of Samoa's first prime minister. Their daughter [[Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa]] is a ''matai'' and a long-serving senior member of cabinet, who was elected Prime Minister in 2021. Other women in politics include Samoan scholar and eminent professor [[Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa]], orator-chief [[Matatumua Maimoana]] and [[Safuneituʻuga Paʻaga Neri]] (former Minister of Communication and Technology).

The judicial system incorporates [[English common law]] and local customs. The [[Supreme Court of Samoa]] is the court of highest jurisdiction. The [[Chief Justice of Samoa]] is appointed by the head of state upon the recommendation of the prime minister.

===Administrative divisions===
{{Main|Districts of Samoa|Electoral constituencies of Samoa}}
[[File:Samoa districts numbered2.png|right|thumb|upright=1.45|Political districts of Samoa, including minor islands]]
Samoa comprises eleven ''itūmālō'' (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts which predate European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (''faʻavae'') based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's ''faalupega'' (traditional salutations).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.samoagovt.ws/about-samoa/ |title=About Samoa |date=15 July 2014 |publisher=Government of Samoa |access-date=30 December 2017 |archive-date=14 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514172830/http://www.samoagovt.ws/about-samoa/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The capital village of each district administers and coordinates the affairs of the district and confers each district's paramount title, amongst other responsibilities.

For example:
* [[Aʻana]] has its capital at [[Leulumoega]]. The paramount ''tama a 'āiga'' (royal lineage) title of Aʻana is [[Tuimalealiʻifano]]. The paramount ''pāpā'' title of Aʻana is the Tui Aʻana. The orator group which confers this title&nbsp;— the ''Faleiva'' (House of Nine)&nbsp;— is based at Leulumoega.
* [[Atua (district)|Ātua]] has its capital at [[Lufilufi]]. The paramount ''tama a ʻāiga'' (royal lineage) titles of Ātua are [[Tupua Tamasese]] (based in [[Falefa]] and Salani) and [[Mataʻafa]] (based in Amaile and Lotofaga). The two main political families who confer the respective titles are [[Falefa|ʻAiga Sā Fenunuivao]] and [[Lotofaga|ʻAiga Sā Levālasi]]. The paramount ''pāpā'' title of Ātua is the Tui Ātua. The orator group which confers this title&nbsp;— the ''Faleono'' (House of Six)&nbsp;— is based at Lufilufi.
* [[Tuamasaga]] has its capital at [[Afega]]. The paramount ''tama a ʻāiga'' (royal lineage) title of Tuamasaga is the [[Malietoa]] title, based in [[Malie]]. The main political family that confers the Malietoa title is ʻAiga Sā Malietoa, with Auimatagi as the main speaker for the family. The paramount ''pāpā'' titles of Tuamasaga are Gatoaitele (conferred by Afega) and Vaetamasoalii (conferred by Safata).<ref name=":0" />

The eleven ''itūmālō'' are identified to be:

On '''[[Upolu]]'''<br />
:1. [[Tuamasaga]] ([[Afega]])<sup>1</sup>
:2. [[Aʻana]] ([[Leulumoega]])
:3. [[Aiga-i-le-Tai]] ([[Mulifanua]])<sup>2</sup>
:4. [[Atua (district)|Atua]] ([[Lufilufi]])<sup>3</sup>
:5. [[Vaʻa-o-Fonoti]] ([[Samamea]])
On '''[[Savaiʻi]]'''<br />
:6. [[Faʻasaleleaga]] ([[Safotulafai]])
:7. [[Gagaʻemauga]] ([[Saleaula]])<sup>4</sup>
:8. [[Gagaʻifomauga]] ([[Safotu]])
:9. [[Vaisigano]] ([[Asau (Samoa)|Asau]])
:10. [[Satupaʻitea]] (Satupaʻitea)
:11. [[Palauli]] ([[Vailoa]])
<sup>1</sup> {{small|including the faipule district of [[Siumu]]}}
<br /><sup>2</sup> {{small|including islands [[Manono Island|Manono]], [[Apolima]] and [[Nuʻulopa]]}}
<br /><sup>3</sup> {{small|including the [[Aleipata Islands]] and [[Nuʻusafeʻe]] Island}}
<br /><sup>4</sup> {{small|smaller parts also on [[Upolu]] (Salamumu, incl. Salamumu-Uta and Leauvaʻa villages)}}

===Human rights===
{{See also|Human rights in Samoa}}
Major areas of concern include the under-representation of women, domestic violence and poor prison conditions. [[LGBT rights in Samoa|Homosexual acts]] are illegal in Samoa.<ref>[http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2011-10-21/417010 "Homosexuality to remain illegal in Samoa, Solomon Islands and PNG"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514014627/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2011-10-21/417010 |date=14 May 2018 }}, Radio Australia, 21 October 2011</ref>

===State religion===
In June 2017, an Act was passed changing the country's constitution to include a reference to the [[Trinity]]. As amended, Article 1 of the Samoan Constitution states that "Samoa is a Christian nation founded on God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constitution of Samoa |author= |work=palemene.ws |date= |access-date=2 June 2022 |url=https://www.palemene.ws/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-Eng.pdf |page=14 |archive-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623213749/https://www.palemene.ws/wp-content/uploads/Constitution-Eng.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[The Diplomat (magazine)|The Diplomat]]'', "What Samoa has done is shift references to Christianity into the body of the constitution, giving the text far more potential to be used in legal processes."<ref name="report">{{cite magazine |url=https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/samoa-officially-becomes-a-christian-state/ |title=Samoa Officially Becomes a Christian State |last=Wyeth |first=Grant |date=16 June 2017 |magazine=The Diplomat |access-date=19 June 2017 |archive-date=16 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616153746/https://thediplomat.com/2017/06/samoa-officially-becomes-a-christian-state/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The preamble to the constitution already described the country as "an independent State based on Christian principles and Samoan custom and traditions."<ref name=report/>

===Military and police===
[[Military of Samoa|Samoa has no formal defence structure or regular armed forces]]. It has informal defence ties with [[New Zealand]], which is required to consider any request for assistance from Samoa under the bilateral [[New Zealand–Samoa relations#Treaty of Friendship|Treaty of Friendship]] of 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20453/volume-453-I-6515-English.pdf |title=New Zealand and Western Samoa: Treaty of Friendship |publisher=United Nations |date=1 August 1962 |access-date=4 September 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024237/https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20453/volume-453-I-6515-English.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Officers of the national police force, the [[Samoa Police Service]], are regularly unarmed, but may be armed in exceptional circumstances with ministerial approval.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2017-03-14/samoa-new-approval-guidelines-for-arming-police-passed/ |title=Samoa: New Approval Guidelines for Arming Police Passed |publisher=Library of Congress |date=14 March 2017 |access-date=4 September 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904024234/https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2017-03-14/samoa-new-approval-guidelines-for-arming-police-passed/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022 there are between 900 and 1,100 police officers in Samoa.