Referendum hearing scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 23
Members of the general public are invited to the public awareness hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 23 at the Fono Guest Fale.
The hearing is to give local residents the chance to present their views, ask questions, and offer their opinions regarding the issue of ‘veto override’ which will be voted upon during the November 4 general election under the referendum ballot.
The referendum seeks to revise the American Samoa Constitution and if approved, it will allow the Fono to override the Governor’s veto without approval from the Interior Secretary.
The ballot question will ask: “Should Article II, Section of the Revised Constitution of American Samoa be revised to give the Fono, rather than the Secretary of the US Department of Interior, the power to override the Governor’s veto?”
Currently, the AS Constitution provides that after a bill has been vetoed by the Governor, the veto may be passed over by a two-thirds majority of the entire Fono membership no later than 14 days. The bill is then forwarded to the Governor for his approval. If approval is not granted within 15 days, the Governor is to send the bill, along with his comments, to the Secretary of the Interior.
If the Interior Secretary approves the bill within 90 days after receiving it, the bill becomes law; otherwise, it does not.
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