Local high school students make their opinions known on proposed Constitutional amendments

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Ten out of 11 proposed amendments to the Constitution were approved by high school students from both private and public schools during the student referendum that was held October 19.

The results were released this week by the Office of Political Status, Constitutional Review and Federal Relations.

The proposed amendments are the ones included on the Midterm Election ballot scheduled for next month.

According to the results, the first proposed amendment pertaining to the Governor appointing the Chief Justice and Associate Justices subject to confirmation by the Legislature, 373 students voted yes and 184 voted no.

The Secretary of the Interior shall not have the power to change the decision of the High Court of American Samoa, 301 voted yes and 250 voted no.

The Secretary of the Interior shall not have the power to change the Legislature’s override of the Governor’s veto, 294 voted yes and 262 voted no.

The amendment shall add one seat to the House of Representatives for Ituau and Tuala-uta, increasing the number of seats in the House from 20 to 22, 353 voted yes and 294 voted no.

On the amendment to include Malaeimi in Representative District #12- Ituau, it  received 348 yes and 211 no votes.

The amendment giving the delegate from Swains Island the right to vote in the House of Representatives there were 299 yes votes while 256 voted no.

On the amendment to restore five senators for Manu’a, increasing the number of Senators from 18 to 20 — 397 voted yes and 245 voted no.

The amendment pertaining to the impeachment process of the Governor and Lt Governor, received 405 yes and 155 no votes.

The amendment to change the name of Government of American Samoa to American Samoa Government received 338 yes votes and 216 no votes.

There was one proposed amendment that wasn’t approved by the students and that was changing the name of Ma’uputasi to Ma’oputasi, where 278 voted yes and 274 voted no and it was short of the 50 percent required for approval.

The final proposed amendment changing Leasina to Leasina ma Aitulagi got 334 yes votes and 221 no votes.