[4] At the time the constitution was adopted, it was anticipated that future heads of state would be chosen from among the four tamaʻāiga paramount chiefs in line with customary protocol.

Similar to monarchs, the holder is given the formal style of Highness, as are the heads of the four paramount chiefly dynasties.

At the same time, it created an exception for the inaugural officeholders, Tupua Tamasese Meaʻole and Malietoa Tanumafili II, named for a lifetime term beginning on Samoa's independence day in 1962.

[4][8] They represented, respectively, the paramount lineages of the Tupua Tamasese and Malietoa; both had fiercely competed in a civil war during the late 19th century for control for the four district chieftain titles, known as pāpā.

On the death of one of the joint heads of state, the constitution provided that their surviving counterpart would retain the office alone.

[10][11] The first head of state to be elected by the Legislative Assembly was Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi, who had served two prior terms as Prime Minister and is the elder son of Meaʻole.

While the head of state "does not play an active role in government", they can dissolve the assembly and no act of parliament may become law without their approval – akin to royal assent in monarchies.

The first was held on 16 June 2007, in which Tui Ātua Tupua Tamasese Efi was elected unopposed by the 49-member strong parliament.