USC Subchapter II

in effect

48 U.S.C. § 1731 Delegate to House of Representatives from American Samoa

The Territory of American Samoa shall be represented in the United States Congress by a nonvoting Delegate to the House of Representatives, elected as hereinafter provided.

48 U.S.C. § 1732 Election of delegates

(a) In general; plurality vote; vacancyThe Delegate shall be elected by the people qualified to vote for the popularly elected officials of the Territory of American Samoa at the general Federal election of 1980, and thereafter at such general election every second year thereafter. The Delegate shall be elected at large, by separate ballot, and by a plurality of the votes cast for the office of Delegate. In case of a permanent vacancy in the office of Delegate, by reason of death, resignation, or permanent disability, the office of Delegate shall remain vacant until a successor shall have been elected and qualified. (b) Commencement of termThe term of the Delegate shall commence on the third day of January following the date of the election. (c) Establishment of primary electionsThe legislature of American Samoa may, but is not required to, provide for primary elections for the election of Delegate. (d) Effect of establishment of primary electionsNotwithstanding subsection (a), if the legislature of American Samoa provides for primary elections for the election of Delegate, the Delegate shall be elected by a majority of votes cast in any subsequent general election for the office of Delegate for which such primary elections were held.

48 U.S.C. § 1733 Qualifications for Office of Delegate

To be eligible for the office of Delegate a candidate shall— (a) be at least twenty-five years of age on the date of the election; (b) owe allegiance to the United States; (c) be an inhabitant of the Territory of American Samoa; and (d) not be, on the date of the election, a candidate for any other office.

48 U.S.C. § 1734 Territorial government; determination of election procedure

Acting pursuant to legislation enacted in accordance with section 9, article II of the American Samoan Revised Constitution, the territorial government will determine the order of names on the ballot for election of Delegate, the method by which a special election to fill a vacancy in the office of Delegate shall be conducted, the method by which ties between candidates for the office of Delegate shall be resolved, and all other matters of local application pertaining to the election and the office of Delegate not otherwise expressly provided for herein.

48 U.S.C. § 1735 Operation of Office; compensation, allowances, and benefits; privileges and immunities

Until the Rules of the House of Representatives are amended to provide otherwise, the Delegate from American Samoa shall receive the same compensation, allowances, and benefits as a Member of the House of Representatives, and shall be entitled to whatever privileges and immunities that are, or hereinafter may be, granted to the nonvoting Delegate from the Territory of Guam.