customs;
judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental
rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Chief Susuga MALIETOA Tanumafili II (co-chief of
state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April
1963); upon his death, a new chief of state will be elected by the
Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term
head of government: Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7
April 1988) was appointed by the chief of state with approval of the
Legislative Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the chief of state with the prime
minister's advice

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Assembly (Fono): elections last held 5 April 1991 (next
to be held 26 April 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1
note: only matai (head of family) are able to run for the
Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party
(HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman; Samoan National Development
Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman; Samoan Progressive
Conservative Party, LEOTA Ituau Ale; Samoa All People's Party
(SAPP), Matatumua MAIMOAGA

International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat
(nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tuiloma Neroni SLADE
chancery: 820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797

US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN (Ambassador to New
Zealand and Western Samoa, resides in Wellington, New Zealand)
embassy: 5th floor, Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P.O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: [685] 21631
FAX: [685] 22030

Flag: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant
bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern
Cross constellation

Economy
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Economic overview: Agriculture employs more than one-half of the
labor force, contributes 50% to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports.
The bulk of export earnings comes from the sale of