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The Cabinet is the executive branch of the government of the Independent State of Samoa.
Per article 31(1) of the Constitution, executive power is vested in the Head of State. Per article 26(1), however, "the Head of State in the performance of his functions shall act on the advice of Cabinet, the Prime Minister or the appropriate Minister, as the case may be". Article 32(1) provides that the Cabinet "shall have the general direction and control of the executive government" of Samoa.
The Cabinet is composed, per article 32(2), of the Prime Minister and "not fewer than eight nor more than twelve other Members of Parliament", appointed by the Head of State on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Current Cabinet
As of March 2011. This Cabinet results from the March 2011 general election, which saw the Human Rights Protection Party retain an absolute majority of seats in Parliament. Its term corresponds to that of the Fifteenth Parliament. The minister's matai title precedes his or her name.
In April 2014, Finance Minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga resigned, after some twenty years in Cabinet, following "allegations of abuse in the performance of his ministerial duties". Prime Minister Malielegaoi took over the Finance portfolio himself.