A bill to provide that the Territory of American Samoa be represented by a non-voting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, and for other purposes.
PL 95-556 (H.R.13702), enacted 10/31/1978

92 STAT. 2078 
PUBLIC LAW 95-556—OCT. 31, 1978 
Public Law 95-556 
95th Congress 
An Act 
Oct. 31, 1978 
[H.R. 13702] 
Territory of 
American 
Somoa. 
Nonvoting 
Delegate to 
U.S. House of 
Representatives. 
48 use 1731. 
Election. 
48 use 1732. 
Tenn. 
Eligibility. 
48 use 1733. 
48 use 1734. 
eompensation. 
48 use 1735. 
To provide that the Territory of American Samoa be represented by a nonvoting 
Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That 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. 
SEC. 2. (a) The 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 majority of the votes cast 
for the office of Delegate. If no candidate receives such majority, on 
the fourteenth day following such election a runoff election shall 
be held between the candidates receiving the highest and the second 
highest number of 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) The term of the Delegate shall commence on the third day of 
January following the date of the election. 
SEC, 3. 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) have been a United States citizen for at least seven years 
prior to the date of the election; 
(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. 
SEC. 4. 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. 
SEC. 5. 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 
PUBLIC LAW 95-556—OCT. 31, 1978 
92 STAT. 2079 
and immunities that are, or hereinafter may be, granted to the non-
voting Delegate from the Territory of Guam: Provided, That the 
clerk hire allowance for the Delegate from American Samoa shall 
be a single per annmn gross rate mat is 50 per centum of the clerk 
hire allowance of a Member of the House of Representatives. 
Approved October 31, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-1458 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 124 (1978): 
Oct. 3, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 13, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 14, No. 44: 
Oct. 31, Presidential statement.