On 4 July 1997 the government amended the constitution to change the name of the country from Western Samoa to Samoa,Constitution Amendment Act (No 2) 1997 . Paclii.org. Retrieved on 9 November 2016. the name it had been called by in the United Nations since it joined. American Samoa protested against the name change, asserting that it diminished its own identity.
on 4 juLY 1997 thE govERNmeNT Amended tHe constiTutIon to change the naMe OF the cOuNtRy fROM WeStern saMoa TO Samoa,cONstituTIon AmendMENt Act (no 2) 1997 . PacliI.orG. reTRieved on 9 nOvemBEr 2016. tHe name It hAD beeN caLled By in The uNIted NatIoNS sinCE iT JoIned. ameRIcan saMoA PrOTeSTed agaiNst tHe namE cHange, assErTIng tHat It diminishED iTs own iDentitY.