6th Constitutional Convention ends: 3 amendments passed unanimously

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Constitutional Convention has approved adding two more seats for Manu’a in the Senate and three new seats to the House of Representatives from other counties on Tutuila.

The issue of the reapportionment of the House of Representatives resulted in the addition of one representative to both District No. 12 Ituau — comprising the villages of Nu’uuli, Fagasa, Matu’u, Faganeanea — and District No. 15 Ma’upu — comprising the villages of Tafuna, Mesepa; Faleniu, Mapusaga Fou, Pavaiai, Iliili and Vaitogi.

This is according to a press statement issued at the conclusion of the 6th Constitutional Convention.

On Wednesday, Constitutional Convention chair Senator Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, vice chair Fa’aivae Alex Godinet and secretary, Ti'alemasunu Dr. Etuale Mikaele presented its proposed revision for the Constitution approved as a result of the convention that was held last week to Governor Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga and Lieutenant Governor Talauega Eleasalo Va’alele Ale.

Another issue addressed was that the original number of senators for Manu’a was five, and over the years it was changed to three.

 “The issue was introduced to return the allocation of senators for Manu’a back to the original total of five [it was] was brought to a vote and passed.”

According to the statement, there were 129 respective delegates that attended and each of them received $5,000 at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention.

 The total eight amendments proposed by the Constitutional Review Committee are as follows:

1. ASG Amendment — removing all references to our local government as Government of American Samoa and inserts American Samoa Government in its place.

2. Veto Override Amendment — removing the authority of the Secretary of Interior to approve or disapprove a bill passed by the Legislature over the Governor’s veto.

3. Chief Justice Amendment — transfering the powers to appoint the Chief Justice from the Secretary of Interior to the American Samoa Government.

4. Secretary of Interior Amendment — ceasing the Secretary’s power to review, overturn or intervene in the appeal of a decision of the High Court of American Samoa.

5. Impeachment Amendment (Also known as Accountability Amendment) — adding an impeachment clause which is a crucial tool for holding government officers accountable for violations of the law and abuse of power.

6. American Samoa Ancestry Amendment (Also known as The People’s Choice) —ensuring the constitution protects the lands, language, and Samoan way of life for persons of American Samoa ancestry and does not apply generally to other Samoans who are not of American Samoa ancestry.

7. Constitutional Process Amendment — removing the authority of the U.S. Secretary of Interior to approve amendments and introducing a new process whereby amendments can be approved by at least two-thirds of votes cast at the general election.

8. House Membership Amendment Reapportionment — adding representatives to Ituau and Ma’upu (Tualauta) Representative Districts and changing the total number of Representatives.

The following amendments have been unanimously passed:

●         Change Government of American Samoa to American Samoa Government

●         Veto Override amendment

●         Chief Justice amendment

Delegates of the Con-Con made modifications to the following passed amendments:

●         The Impeachment Amendment clause shall only include the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, with the Chief Justice, Assistant Chief Justice, Associate Judges and District Judges removed from the passed amendment.

 “Upon request of delegates from Ma’uputasi, it was unanimously passed to change the spelling of the word, Ma’upu and Ma’uputasi to Ma’opu and Ma’oputasi.”

Also “supported by the delegates from Ituau, the Village of Malaeimi was added to District No. 12 Ituau.”

The Ancestry Amendment and the Constitutional Process Amendment were tabled for further discussion with the Fono.

To officially conclude the 6th Constitutional Convention, about 126 of 129 delegates signed the new document, which will be on the ballot come election on November 8, 2022.