The Senate has passed in final reading legislation which defines causes for which a Governor or Lt. Governor can be impeached, and a bill which changes the date of the swearing in of the Governor and Lt. Governor.
The latter bill moves the date of the swearing in of the Governor and Lt. Governor, from 12 pm on January 3 to 12 pm on January 10 of the year following a gubernatorial election.
The date for the swearing in of lawmakers which is provided under the Constitution would remain at 12 pm on January 3, on the year following a gubernatorial election.
The main reason for the change is to enable the Fono and the Executive Branch leaders to attend each other’s swearing in ceremonies.
The bill for impeachment of a Governor or Lt. Governor states that the Governor or Lt. Governor can be impeached for malfeasance in office, corruption, dereliction of duty, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Both bills were passed by unanimous vote on Monday, and they were introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
