Villages represent the third and most local level of administration in American Samoa, with 16 villages forming the foundational units of governance across the territory. These villages serve as the primary interface between residents and the territorial government, handling local matters through traditional Samoan governance structures led by matai (chiefs) and village councils. Village administration typically addresses community-level concerns including local dispute resolution, maintenance of communal lands and facilities, enforcement of village regulations, and preservation of fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way of life). This administrative level blends American territorial governance with traditional Samoan customs, where village councils exercise authority over matters such as land use, family disputes, and social conduct within their boundaries while coordinating with district and territorial authorities on broader administrative functions.