Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga has issued an order calling for the Constitutional Convention to convene on August 29, 2022, and in a separate executive order urges County Councils to begin meetings to discuss and appoint their respective delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

The order calling for the ConCon to convene is dated June 20, 2022. Governor Lemanu says the order is issued in accordance with the powers and authority under Article IV section 6,7 of the Constitution of American Samoa and the American Samoa Code Annotated section4.0111(b).

According to the order, the Congress of the United States in its Act of February 20, 1979 provided that until Congress shall provide for the Government of the islands of American Samoa civil, judicial and military powers shall be vested in such person or persons and exercised in such manner as the President of the United States shall direct.

“By executive order No. 10624, the President of the US directed that the Secretary of the Interior should take such actions as may be necessary and appropriate and in harmony with applicable law for the administration of civil government in American Samoa.”

Furthermore the order states that in the process of developing self-government the people of the territory should “enjoy certain rights and responsibilities inherent in the representative form of government. “Whereas it is desirable that these rights and responsibilities be clearly set forth in a Constitution and the adoption of a Constitution is in harmony with applicable law.”

The order states that the Constitution provides an amendment process allowing the people to revisit, improve or correct it and ensure it continues as living document.

“And whereas the 2022 Constitutional Review Committee has presented its Report to the Governor with amendments and proposals approved by the Constitutional Review Committee in preparation for the 6th Constitutional Convention of American Samoa.”

Lemanu ordered that the Constitutional Convention of 2022 is hereby called to convene on August, 29 2022 and shall adjourn on September 2, 2022.

“Delegates to the convention shall consider, discuss, debate and vote on amendments to the Revised Constitution of American Samoa of 1967 or a revised draft Constitution presented by the Constitutional Review Committee.

“Delegates to the convention shall be selected by their respective County Councils in accordance with the Revised Constitution of 1967 and Executive order 007-2022.

“If the Convention approves amendments to the Revised Constitutional of 1967 or a revised draft constitution by a simple majority vote, such amendments or such a draft will be submitted by the Governor to voters eligible to vote for members of the House of Representatives at the next general election.”

EXECUTIVE ORDER TO APPOINT RESPECTIVE DELEGATES

A separate executive order issued by the Governor urges County Councils to begin meetings to discuss and appoint their respective delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

“The following considerations are non-binding on the Councils. It is preferred to have delegates who are experienced in their communities and those with advanced education.

The order says there should be a total of 129 delegates, whereas 48 are the Ma’upu (Tualauta) 21 from Ma’uputasi; 18 of Ituau, 8 at Taulatai; 7 from Fofo; 6 for Sua, 4 members from Vaifanua, Lealatua and Leasina; 3 for Saole and the rest of the Districts shall have one delegate member, and this includes Swains Island.

“It is in our best interest as a Territory to have broad representation including women, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Councils should strive to appoint delegates who represent the demographics of their counties.”

Furthermore, County Councils must submit in writing the names of their appointed delegates to the Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review and Federal Relations by August 8, 2022.

“That office shall work closely with the Secretary of Samoan Affairs to coordinate the receipt of delegate names by the date noted above.”