The American Samoa senate has sent a resolution to the territory's congressman, Faleomaveaga Eni Hunkin, expressing strong opposition to his bill which will call for a referendum on three issues during next year's general elections.
The referendum would ask whether American Samoans want US citizenship; whether there should be an extension of the federal court system to the territory, and whether there should be popular election of senators.
The senators' resolution also requests the congressman to withdraw his bill until it has been discussed in the territory.
They say they are strongly opposed to the bill and feel that the congressman introduced it unilaterally and without proper consultation with the leaders and people of American Samoa.
