Philippine Legislature | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Philippine Commission andPhilippine Assembly (1907–1916) Senate andHouse of Representatives (1916–1935) |
| History | |
| Founded | October 16, 1907 (1907-10-16) |
| Disbanded | November 15, 1935 (1935-11-15) |
| Preceded by | Second Philippine Commission |
| Succeeded by | National Assembly of the Philippines |
ThePhilippine Legislature was thelegislature of thePhilippines from 1907 to 1935, during theAmerican colonial period, and predecessor of the currentCongress of the Philippines. It wasbicameral and thelegislative branch of theInsular Government.
From 1907 to 1916, under thePhilippine Organic Act of 1902, the legislature'slower house was the electedPhilippine Assembly and itsupper house was the appointedPhilippine Commission, headed by theAmerican governor general (who also served as theexecutive of the Insular Government).
In 1916, theJones Law abolished the Philippine Commission and reorganized the Philippine Legislature as a fully elected, bicameral legislature composed of theSenate andHouse of Representatives, precursors to currentSenate of the Philippines andHouse of Representatives of the Philippines.
In 1935, theCommonwealth of the Philippines was established and theNational Assembly of the Philippines replaced the Philippine Legislature.
ThePhilippine Organic Act of July 1902 stipulated that a Philippine legislature would be established after several conditions were met, such as the end of the "Philippine Insurrection". The legislature was to have an upper house consisting of the appointed Philippine Commission and a lower house, the Philippine Assembly, its members chosen by national election. The two houses would share legislative powers, although the upper house alone would pass laws relating to theMoros and other non-Christian peoples. Two Filipinoresident commissioners were sent to Washington to attend sessions of theUnited States Congress. The act also extended theUnited States Bill of Rights to the Philippines.[1][2]
The Philippine Legislature convened itsfirst session on October 16, 1907, at theManila Grand Opera House. Conflict between the bodies, the American-majority commission and the all-Filipino, Nacionalista-led assembly, were not uncommon. Such conflicts came to an end when the Jones Law created a bicameral legislature composed exclusively of Filipinos.[3]
TheSecond Philippine Commission, headed byWilliam Howard Taft and known as the Taft Commission, was established by thePresident of the United StatesWilliam McKinley in 1900 to exercise legislative and limited executive powers in thePhilippines. Its members, both American and Filipino, were appointed by the US president. Beginning in 1907, it acted as the upper house of abicameral legislature.
On July 30, 1907, thefirst elections for the Philippine Assembly were held. Two political groups dominated the elections—theNacionalista Party andNationalist Progressive Party. Minority parties andindependent candidates also competed. The Nacionalista Party, which espoused "immediate and complete independence" was headed by future Philippine presidentSergio Osmeña, captured a majority of the 80-seat assembly.[citation needed] The assembly was the first fully elected national legislative body.
TheJones Law of 1916, also known as the Philippine Autonomy Act, changed the legislative arrangement. The Philippine Commission was abolished and replaced by the electedSenate of the Philippines. The Philippine Assembly was also reorganized and renamed the House of Representatives. In October 16, 1916, the new Philippine Legislature was inaugurated withManuel L. Quezon as its first senate president andSergio Osmeña as house speaker.[4]: 453
The Philippine Legislature was the country's legislative body until 1935 when it was superseded by theNational Assembly of the Philippines upon the establishment of theCommonwealth of the Philippines.