American Samoa's 78 counties function as intermediate administrative divisions between the territory's three districts and the village level. These counties serve primarily as organizational units for local governance, helping to coordinate traditional Samoan political structures with the American territorial system. At this level, administration typically involves land management, local dispute resolution, and the coordination of village chiefs (matai) who hold customary authority. Counties facilitate communication between village councils and district-level government offices, playing a role in delivering public services and maintaining records for their constituent communities. This administrative structure reflects American Samoa's unique blend of U.S. territorial governance and fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way), where traditional leadership remains integral to local decision-making and community organization.