Page "Elective monarchy" Paragraph 43

Samoa was an elective monarchy from the first day of independence in 1962.

From 1962 on, Samoa had two heads of state, Tupua Tamasese Mea ' ole and Malietoa Tanumafili II.

Tupua Tamasese Mea ' ole died in 1963, and Malietoa Tanumafili II was the sole head of state ( O le Ao o le Malo ) of Samoa until his death in 2007.

The Samoan Constitution stipulates the successor to the two original heads of state are to be elected for five-year terms by the Fono, the parliament of Samoa.

The elected successor was one of Samoa's four paramount chiefs, Tufuga Efi.

However, articles 18 and 45 of the Constitution provide, respectively, that any Member of Parliament may be elected head of state, and that any Samoan citizen may be elected to Parliament, and Samoa is now considered a parliamentary republic.

However, the head of state is still referred to as " His Highness ", and the Constitution does not outwardly declare that the form of government has been changed.