Tala or Samoa Dollar (WST; symbol St$) = 100 sene. Notes are in denominations of St$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of St$1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 sene.
The 1960 constitution, which formally came into force with independence from New Zealand in 1962, is based on the British pattern of parliamentary democracy, modified to take account of Samoan customs. The national modern Government of Samoa is referred to as the 'Malo'.
Samoa is made up of eleven itūmālō (political districts). These are the traditional eleven districts that were established well before European arrival. Each district has its own constitutional foundation (faavae) based on the traditional order of title precedence found in each district's faalupega (traditional salutations).