1. ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

A. Tariffs and Commercial Policy

1. Advantages and disadvantages of the status quo.

2. Effects of Commonwealth or Organic Act status upon tariffs and commercial policy.

3. Effect of American Samoa's political status upon its ability to participate in regional economic groupings, such as a South Pacific common market.

B. Transportation—

1. Costs and benefits of present air and water links between American Samoa and the United States.

2. Effects upon American Samoa if the coastal shipping laws were eliminated or modified vís a vís American Samoa.

C. Wage and Labor Standards—

1. Effects upon present wage and labor standards if Commonwealth or Organic Act status were adopted.

D. Money and Credit

1. Effects of change of political status upon the use of money and credit policies to promote development of local capital.

2. Access to foreign capital as a function of American Samoa's political status.

E. Federal Funding and Taxes

1. Examination of alternative methods of federal funding under the present political status.

2. Changes in the level of federal support of Organic Act or Commonwealth status were adopted.

3. Federal tax policy: (a) Effects of complete elimination of federal taxes in American Samoa; (b) Effects of full imposition of federal taxes in American Samoa; (c) Effects of American Samoa's assuming a responsibility to contribute a proportionate amount to the general expenses of the U.S. government.

F. Resources of American Samoa

1. A thorough analysis of the natural and human resources of American Samoa.

2. Projected economic growth rates under the status quo, Commonwealth and Organic Act status.

II. LEGAL PROBLEMS

A. The present status of American Samoa

1. Extent to which the U.S. Constitution presently applies in American Samoa.

2. Demarcation of the power of the Secretary of the Interior to alter the present form of government.

B. Future status of American Samoa

1. Action necessary to achieve Commonwealth or Organic Act status.

2. Effects of Comonwealth or Organic Act status upon the present judicial and legal structure of American Samoa.

III. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE

A. A thorough study of the present culture and social structure of American Samoa.

B. The probable effects on culture and social structure if the status quo is retained.

C. The probable effects of Commonwealth or Organic Act status upon the culture and social structure.

APPENDIX

The first American to land in Samoa was Lt. John Wilkes, who arrived in 1839. However, it was not until 1872 that the first agreement was reached between America and one of the High Chiefs of Samoa, and formal cession of the islands to America was not accomplished until 1904. Congress did not formally accept the Instruments of Cession until 1929.

At present, American Samoa is an unincorporated, insular possession of the United States, governed by an appointed Governor and an elected legislature,

acting under authority granted them by the Secretary of the Interior, who in turn has been delegated his authority by the President, to whom Congress granted authority over Samoa in the Act of February 20, 1929.

The political history of Samoa under American rule is comparatively brief. For hundreds, if not thousands of years prior to American hegemony, Samoa's political history can be understood only in terms of the "matai" system.

Samoa has traditionally been ruled by "matais" or "chiefs". The basic political unit has always been the extended family, composed of related kin tracing their origins bilaterally back to mythological ancestors. Within the extended family, a collective family economy prevails. The matai is responsible for control of family lands and property and represents the family in political affairs. Matais, including the most powerful ruling matais, are selected by democratic means. A matai, whether he is a "family" matai or a Paramount High Chief, is elected by those family or clan members over whom he exercises authority. When chiefs higher than "family" chiefs are chosen, the electors are themselves a select group, who have been selected by their families to cast their vote on behalf of the family. Thus, the election of a High Chief can be roughly analogized to the American Electoral College. The matai system, and the method of selecting matais, continue little-changed in present day Samoa.

Upon this basic social structure, has been built a framework of representative institutions, modeled after the American system. Even in the days of the Navy Administration, the Naval Governor would consult with the traditional leaders of Samoa before making a major decision.

However, the Samoan people became dissatisfied with their small voice in the government and in 1948 Congress approved the establishment of a bicameral legislature. At first the legislature's powers were severely limited, but after the Department of the Interior accepted responsibility for Samoa in 1951, it gradually was allowed to extend its authority.

In 1960, a major step towards self-government was taken when the first Samoan Constitution was approved. Today, the Revised Constitution of American Samoa provides for a popularly elected House of Representatives of 20 members and a Senate of 18 members, "chosen in accordance with Samoan Custom." The Legislature has complete authority to enact laws of local application, which do not conflict with the Samoan Constitution or federal laws applicable in American Samoa.

[Senate Bill No. 59-Public Law 11-39]

THE ELEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF AMERICAN SAMOA

(First Special Session-Begun and held at Fagatogo, Tutuila, American Samoa on Tuesday, the first day of July one thousand, nine hundred and sixty-nine)

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A FUTURE POLITICAL STATUS STUDY COMMISSION FOR

AMERICAN SAMOA

Preamble: The Legislature finds that there is an emergency need to begin work on a future political status report for the next regular session of the Legislature.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of American Samoa that Title II of the Code of American Samoa is hereby amended by the addition of a new Chapter 2.12 to read as follows:

Chapter 2.12. Future Political Status Study Commission

SEC. 2.1201. FUTURE POLITICAL STATUS STUDY COMMISSION: There is hereby established the Future Political Status Study Commission of American Samoa, referred to in this Chapter as "The Commission." The Commission shall consist of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one Senator appointed by the President of the Senate, one Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and three members of the community appointed by the Governor. The members of the Commission shall elect a Chairman by majority vote. The Commission shall, exist only until the adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the Eleventh Legislature.

SEC. 2.1202. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION: The Commission shall study alternative forms of future political status open to American Samoa and shall assess the advantages and disadvantages of each. The Commission shall study and appraise the history, the development and the present status of political units comparable or relevant to Samoa, both within and outside the jurisdiction of the United States. The Commission shall present a complete report of its findings and recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the Eleventh Legislature.

SEC. 2.1203. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION: The Commission shall have power: (a) To hold hearings, to compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses, to order the production of documents and other tangible evidence, to administer oaths, and to cite for contempt;

(b) To employ necessary staff, including consultants, and experts, to purchase necessary materials, to make necessary publications, and to engage in necessary travel within American Samoa and abroad, and to take other necessary action for the performance of the functions assigned in Sec. 2.1202 of this Chapter, and Be it further enacted, That the sum of $20,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated from unappropriated local revenue for the operation of the Future Political Status Commission of American Samoa. The funds hereby appropriated shall be expended only on the authority of the Chairman of the Commission, and

Be it further enacted, That because of the emergency need to begin work on a future political status report for the next regular session of the Legislature, this Act shall take effect immediately upon being approved by the Governor.

Approved July 8, 1969.

SALANOA S.P. AUMOEUALOGO,

President of the Senate.
FAINUULELEI S. UTU,

Speaker, House of Representatives.

OWEN S. ASPINALL
Governor of American Samoa.

The following material pertaining to fiscal affairs of American Samoa was supplied by Governor Haydon at the request of Congressman Don H. Clausen.

The fiscal year 1972 budget for American Samoa, and the proposed FY 1973 budget, are contained in the publication "Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1973-Part 4, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.: 1972."

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2 Public Law 89-426, grant for repair of hurricane damage, mainly housing construction.

Prior to the fiscal year 1971 the only grants-in-aid from other Federal agencies to the territory of American Samoa were approximately $85,000 from the Department of Agriculture and approximately $20,000 from the Geological Survey. These amounts for school lunches and fresh water surveys, respectively, were received annually, beginning about the fiscal year 1963.

For the fiscal year 1971, at which time the Congressional Subcommittees on Appropriations authorized the acceptance of grants-in-aid from other Federal agencies, the total amount of $1,070,600 was received by American Samoa. The grants comprising this amount were distributed as follows:

For the fiscal year 1972 the total amount of $2,061,400 represented grants-inaid from other Federal agencies. This amount was distributed as follows:

For the fiscal year 1973 the estimated amount of grants-in-aid from other Federal agencies is $4,914,000. It is anticipated that this amount will be distributed as follows:

With but one exception ($243,500) which was authorized, all funds which are used for matching, as required for grants-in-aid from other Federal agencies, are derived from local revenue. This is in accordance with instructions from the Congressional Subcommittees on Appropriations.

FEDERAL GRANTS TO THE GOVERNMENT OF AMERICAN SAMOA