Swains Island - Island Government

Island Government

According to the Interior Department survey cited above, Swains Island is governed by the American Samoa "government representative", a village council, a pulenu'u (civic head of the village), and a leoleo (policeman). Swains' officials have the same rights, duties, and qualifications as in all of the other villages of American Samoa. Neither the proprietor of Swains Island nor any employee of his may serve as government representative.

The government representative has the following duties:

• to act as the Governor's representative on Swains Island
• to mediate between employees and their employer
• to enforce those laws of the United States and of American Samoa which apply on Swains Island
• to enforce village regulations
• to keep the Governor advised of the state of affairs on Swains Island, particularly on the islanders' health, education, safety, and welfare
• to ensure that the Swains Islanders continue to enjoy the rights, privileges and immunities accorded to them by the laws of the United States and of American Samoa
• to ensure that the proprietary rights of the owner are respected

The government representative has the following rights, powers and obligations:

• to make arrests
• to quell breaches of the peace
• to call meetings of the village council to consider special subjects
• to take such actions as may be reasonably necessary to implement and render effective his duties

Swains' village council consists of all men of sound mind over the age of twenty-four. According to the federal census in 1980, five men fell into this category.

Swains Island sends one non-voting delegate to the American Samoan territorial legislature. In March 2007, this office was held by Alexander Jennings.