Oceania And Pacific Politics Questions
The political structure of the Independent State of Samoa is a parliamentary democracy. It has a unicameral legislature known as the Fono, which consists of two houses: the Legislative Assembly and the Council of Deputies. The Legislative Assembly is made up of 51 members who are elected by the people through general elections held every five years. The Council of Deputies is composed of the heads of the traditional districts of Samoa, known as the matai, who are appointed by the country's paramount chief, the O le Ao o le Malo.
The head of state in Samoa is the O le Ao o le Malo, who is elected by the Legislative Assembly for a five-year term. The head of government is the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the O le Ao o le Malo and is usually the leader of the political party or coalition that holds the majority in the Legislative Assembly.
The judiciary in Samoa is independent and operates separately from the executive and legislative branches. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country, and it is headed by the Chief Justice. The judicial system also includes district courts and village courts, which handle less serious cases and disputes at the local level.
Overall, Samoa's political structure is characterized by a separation of powers, with a democratically elected legislature, an executive branch led by the Prime Minister, and an independent judiciary.