American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands chain, located west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles (500 km) south of Tokelau. To the west are the islands of the Wallis and Futuna group. The 2000 census showed a total population of 57,291. The total land area is 200.22 km (77 sq mi), slightly more than Washington, D.C. American Samoa is the southernmost territory of the United States.

There is also the traditional village politics of the Samoa Islands, the "fa'amatai" and the "fa'asamoa", which continues in American Samoa and in independent Samoa, and which interacts across these current boundaries. The Fa'asamoa is the language and customs, and the Fa'amatai the protocols of the "fono" (council) and the chiefly system. The Fa'amatai and the Fono take place at all levels of the Samoan body politic, from the family, to the village, to the region, to national matters.

The "matai" (chiefs) are elected by consensus within the fono of the extended family and village(s) concerned. The matai and the fono (which is itself made of matai) decide on distribution of family exchanges and tenancy of communal lands. The majority of lands in American Samoa and independent Samoa are communal. A matai can represent a small family group or a great extended family that reaches across islands, and to both American Samoa and independent Samoa.

People born in American Samoa — including those born on Swains Island — are American nationals,10 - but are not American citizens unless one of their parents is a U.S. citizen. As U.S. nationals, American Samoans may not vote in U.S. presidential elections.10 - However, American Samoans are entitled to free and unrestricted entry into the United States.1

Samoans are entitled to elect one non-voting delegate to the United States House of Representatives.10 - Their delegate since 1989 has been Democrat Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr. They also send delegates to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.

Due to its positioning in the South Pacific Ocean, it is frequently hit by typhoons between December and March. Rose Atoll, located in American Samoa, is the southernmost point in the territory of the United States. American Samoa is home to the National Park of American Samoa.

Official protest to naming of neighboring Samoa - The United States Department of State background Note web page for neighboring Samoa notes that "in July 1997 the Constitution was amended to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa (officially the "Independent State of Samoa"). Western Samoa had been known simply as Samoa in the United Nations since joining the organization in 1976. The neighboring U.S. territory of American Samoa protested the move, feeling that the change diminished its own Samoan identity. American Samoans still use the terms Western Samoa and Western Samoans." 15 -
Territorial claim by Tokelau nationalists. Swains Island is claimed by supporters of independence for Tokelau as part of that country. Swains Islanders and Tokelauans enjoy linguistic and cultural affinities. Tokelauans refer to Swains as Olohega. In 2006 and 2007, unsuccessful, United Nations -sponsored referenda on independence for Tokelau, currently administered by New Zealand, revived a dormant source of tension. The American and New Zealand governments are not concerned to pursue any change of territorial status over the Swains Island issue. However, the existence of a clause in a draft independence treaty espoused by United Nations -driven Tokelauan nationalists is a matter which will be a potential source of diplomatic tension.

There are only a few federal employees in American Samoa and no active duty military personnel except members of the U.S. Coast Guard, although there is an Army Reserve unit.

The overwhelming majority of public sector employees work for the American Samoa territorial government. The one tuna cannery (StarKist and Samoa Packing (closed in 2009)) export several hundred million dollars worth of canned tuna to the United States each year. In early 2007 the Samoan economy was highlighted in the Congress as it was not mentioned in the minimum wage bill, at the request of the Samoan delegate to the United States House of Representatives, Eni Faleomavaega.

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 has, since inception, contained special provisions for American Samoa, citing its limited economy.16 - American Samoa wages are based on the recommendations of a Special Industry Committee meeting bi-annually.17 - Originally, the Act contained provisions for other territories, provisions which were phased out as those territories developed more diverse economies .

In 2007, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 was passed, increasing minimum wage in American Samoa by $0.50 per hour in 2007 and another $0.50 per hour each year thereafter until the minimum wage in American Samoa equals that of the fifty states.19 - In response to the minimum wage increase, one of the two major tuna canning plants in American Samoa was shut down in 2009 and 2,041 employees were laid off in the process.

A number have also ventured into professional wrestling (see especially Anoa'i family). World Wrestling Entertainment has employed many members from the Anoa'i family, most famously Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (who is also African American). However, with the recentupdate - releases of Eddie Fatu (who has since died) and Sim Snuka, adopted son of Jimmy Snuka, World Wrestling Entertainment does not currently have any Samoan wrestlers on its roster. Also in professional wrestling, a wrestler called Samoa Joe competes in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

American Samoa's national soccer team is one of the newest teams in the world. It also has the distinction of suffering the worst loss in international soccer history:they lost to Australia 31 – 0 in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on April 11, 2001.

American-Samoa