<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New Zealand)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> National Day, 1 June (1962)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 1 January 1962
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 21 years of age; universal, but only matai (head of family) are able to run for the Legislative Assembly
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Chief Susuga Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (Co-Chief of State from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole Chief of State on 5 April 1963)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the head of state with the prime minister's advice
<item><hi format=bold>Legislative Assembly (Fono):</hi> elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results —percent of vote by party NA; seats—(47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman
<item><hi format=bold>Member of:</hi> ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
<item><hi format=bold>Diplomatic representation in US:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> Ambassador Neroni SLADE
<item>• <hi format=ital>chancery:</hi> 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> (212) 599-6196 or 6197
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation