Constitutional Assembly elections were held in

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); a ...

on 23 July 1960.Many Europeans Decline Citizenship At This Stage
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', August 1960, p22

Background

In preparation for independence on 1 January 1962, a Constitutional Assembly was called to write a constitution for the soon-to-be independent country.There's Confusion Over West Samoan Citizenship
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', June 1960, p23 The Assembly was to include the 46 members of the Legislative Assembly elected in

1957 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1957th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 957th year of the 2nd millennium, the 57th year of the 20th century, and the 8th y ...

(41 Samoans and 5 Europeans), the Fautua (the two paramount chiefs of Samoa,

Malietoa Tanumafili II Malietoa Tanumafili II (4 January 1913 – 11 May 2007), addressed Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II, was the Malietoa, the title of one of Samoa's four paramount chiefs, and the head of state, or ''O le Ao o le Malo'', a position that he held for ...

and

Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole Tupua Tamasese Mea'ole (3 June 1905 – 5 April 1963) was a Western Samoan paramount chief. He held the royal title of Tupua Tamasese from 1929 to 1963, and O le Ao o le Malo (Head of State) jointly with Malietoa Tanumafili II from 1962 unti ...

), Tama-a-Aiga

Tuiaana Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II Tuiaana Tuimaleali'ifano Suatipatipa II (1914 – 24 July 1974) was a Western Samoan paramount chief, politician and church elder. For most of the period between 1962 and 1974 he was the only member of the Council of Deputies, whose members serve ...

, 123 elected chiefs (three elected from each of the 41 Samoan Legislative Assembly constituencies) and 10 elected Europeans. In order to vote in the elections, European residents were required to take Samoan citizenship. However, only 500 of the 1,500 eligible Europeans did so, with some arguing that they should not have to renounce their nationality at a time when the Samoan state did not exist.

Campaign

In the 41 Samoan constituencies, only twelve had more than three candidates and required a vote to take place. All candidates were matais. Only five Europeans were nominated for the ten seats, all of whom were returned unopposed.

List of members

References

{{Samoan elections

Elections in Samoa 1960 in Western Samoa Trust Territory July 1960 events in Oceania