American Samoa became a United States territory in 1900 and was initially administered by the Navy.

[1] From 1905, annual meetings were held with delegates sent from the local communities, as an advisory council to the naval governor, who retained the sole legislative power.

[2][3] During Governor Vernon Huber's term in office, from 1947 to 1949, American Samoans moved towards greater self-government.

In 1948, under Huber's encouragement, the legislature of the territory, known as the American Samoa Fono, convened for the first time.

[2][3][5][6] The lower house, named the House of Representatives, was composed of 54 members: 52 (one from each village) were elected in open meetings according to Samoan custom, and two were elected by secret ballot by residents not living under the matai system.

[2][3][5][6] The legislature was reformed in 1952, after administration of American Samoa had been transferred to the Department of the Interior.

Senators were elected in open meetings according to Samoan custom and had to hold a matai title.

[18] The number of representatives and senators per district, set by the constitution in 1967, was roughly proportional to their population in the census of 1960, the most recent at the time.

[19] Although the constitution states that "Senators and representatives shall be reapportioned by law at intervals of not less than 5 years", such reapportionment has never been made.

[10][11] The first American Samoa Fono was housed in the former home at the United States Navy Tutuila Station barracks in Fagatogo.

[24] The former Fono site is home to the ANZ Amerika Samoa Bank's Head Office.

It was housed at the Maota Fono complex, a beehive-shaped building based on the traditional Samoan fale.