Electoral system for the president

Office of the Electoral Commission (Ofisa o le Komsi o Faiga Palota), Constitution of the Independent State of Samoa 1960, accessed 30 September 2025. Available through Legislation & Publications.

Part III, Head of State

Article 18. Election of Head of State

(1) The Head of State shall be appointed by the Legislative Assembly acting on the recommendation of the party or parties in Government. (2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the office of Head of State: (a) if the person is not a person qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament; or (b) if the person does not possess such other qualifications as the Legislative Assembly may determine from time to time by resolution; or (c) if the person has previously been removed from the office of Head of State under the provisions of clause (2) of Article 21. (3) The validity of the appointment of the Head of State shall not be contested in any Court. (4) Within 60 days before expiry of the term of appointment of the Head of State or as soon as practicable when there is a vacancy in the office of Head of State, the party or parties in Government shall submit to the Speaker a written Notice recommending the name of only 1 person to be appointed as Head of State. (5) The Speaker shall, as soon as possible after receiving the Notice: (a) if the Legislative Assembly is sitting, lay the Notice before the Legislative Assembly to appoint the Head of State; or (b) if the Legislative Assembly is not sitting, fix a date for a sitting of the Legislative Assembly to appoint the Head of State. (6) The Speaker shall issue and sign the warrant of appointment of the Head of State.