evidence: Two coral atolls are part of the political group, albeit not exactly part of the geological archipelago. They are Swains Island, presently essentially uninhabited and Rose Atoll, uninhabited. Swains Island is geographically part of the Tokelau group, but was settled by an American, Eli Jennings, in 1856. Jennings flew the American Flag and Swains was claimed for the United States by Jennings and by the United States Guano Company under the Guano Islands Act. [...] The Fono’s upper house, the House of Ali’i, (Senate), consists of 18 members, elected to four-year terms by matai (chiefs) of each district as designated by traditional Samoan custom, not by popular election. The House of Representatives elects 20 members, one from each district, to two-year terms. One additional non-voting member is elected from Swains Island in a public meeting. Candidates for House seats are elected by registered voters in their districts, thereby following the democratic principles of a representative democracy.