SCHOOL NAME

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

First Semester S.Y. 2020-2021

MODULE 8
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

Name: _______________________________ Date :__________

Grade/Section: ________________________ Week : 8
Track/Strand: _________________________

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE

Lesson 8 POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT: American Civil
Government
WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

The Americans established a Civil government in the Philippines to fulfill their reasons
why they colonized the Philippines, like they wanted to educate the Filipinos in a Democratic
government and to train the Filipinos for their own government and in case that they were
ready then the American government would give them their independence. This lesson will
give you an idea on the impact of the Americans to the government of the Philippines.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN?

Content Standard:
 The learners demonstrate an understanding of the historical background
of Philippine democratic politics, the executive, the legislative, the
judiciary, and decentralization and local governance.

Performance Standard:
 The learners explain the roles of different political institutions.
Objectives:
After the lesson, the learners should be able to:
1. explain the transition of the Philippine government from Spanish to Americans;
2. discuss the form of government during the American era;
3. identity the components of the Philippine Assembly and it’s functions; and
4. evaluate the impact of the American colonial rule to the Philippine government in the
present era.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY

Make a flow chart about the transition of government from the Pre-
Colonial Politics to the First Republic. Below is an example of a flow chart.
 AMERICAN CIVIL GOVERNMENT

In accordance with the Treaty of Paris or the Peace Treaty between the Americans and
the Spaniards, the Philippines including Guam, Puerto Rico and Cuba were ceded to the
Americans after the payment of 20, 000,000 dollars. The said amount was not the payment for
the countries but for the physical infrastructures that the Spain established in the said countries.
After the ratification of the Treaty of the US Congress in December 10, 1898, the American
government continued their establishment of the Civil Government in the Philippines.

The Americans allowed the Filipinos to hold their local government, however, they did
not allow them to have autonomy since according to the report of the First Commission that the
Filipinos were ignorant, credulous and childlike. They made the local government as the organ
for the implementation of the rules created by the national government where in the power was
vested on the American Commission while the provincial government was the mediator
between the local officials and the National Government.

THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The American established a Civil Government headed by William Howard Taft. The
Civil Government was assisted by the American Commission in the Philippines which acted as
the legislative and executive body. It is composed by the majority American commissioners,
however, in 1901, they appointed Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Benito Legarda and Jose Luzuriaga
as members of the Commission to hear the sentiments of the Filipinos but still their
amendations were not considered. In the Philippine Bill of 1902, the Americans allowed the
Filipinos to have their Philippine Assembly who framed laws tor the country but still the Civil
Governor needed to Vito the bill. As the result of the Philippine Bill of 1902, the unicameral
legislature was created and known as the National Assembly became bicameral – senate and the
house of representative. The Senate was headed by Manuel L. Quezon, as senate president and
Sergio Osmeña Sr., as the speaker of the lower House.

THE PHILIPPINE ASSEMBLY

The Composition

The Philippine Assembly is the legislative body composed of 80 members the elected by
the electorate consisted of the well-educated Filipinos, had properties and tax of 500 pesos
annually. The qualifications of the electorate made elite dominate the Philippine Assembly and
so with the local government.

The elected members of the Assembly had a two years tenure and they could be
reelected. The first session of the Philippine Assembly was in October 16, 1907 and in the
election held in July 30, 1907 the Partido Nacionalista of Osmena and Quezon won the 58 seats,
the Progresista, the former Partido Federalista of Trinidad Pardo de Tavera won the 16 seats
and the Independent won six seats.

The Functions

The Philippine Assembly as the legislative body formulated bills and submits the bills to
the American Commissioners for approval they could also disapprove the bills initiated by the
Commission. The functions of the Philippine Assembly became the root of the conflict of the
American Civil Governors and the Filipino member of the assembly and it was also the cause of
the competition and split of the leaders of the Partido Nacionalista. In 1909, the Assembly was
able to pass 119 bills but the American Commission rejected 69 bills, took no action in 1 bill and
passed the 49 bills.
 The Americans created the Assembly for the Filipinos to train them for their future
independence, however, the training was not be effective because they did not gave the
assembly the full autonomy.

THE POLITICAL PARTIES

In the history of the Philippine Politics, the first two political parties were Partido
Federal and Partido Nacionalista. The Partido Federal became the Partido Progresista headed
by Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, this political party was in favor of the annexation of the
Philippines to US and then later on when they became Progresista. They aimed for the Ultimate
Independence of the country in the future, while the Partido Nacionalista aimed for the
immediate Independence of the Country.

The Partido nacionalista had the two divisions when Osmeña and Quezon had conflicts
because of politics. In the first part of the existence of the Philippine assembly, Sergio Osmeña
dominated the leadership as the speaker of the Lower House, however, after the Jones Act,
which divided the Assembly into Lower and Upper House, Manuel L Quezon became the
President of the Senate, thus making him as the highest Filipino official in the country, then, the
Partido Nacionalista-Unipersonista of Osmena and the Partido-Collectivista of Quezon.

SUFFRAGE

The election in the Philippines according to the Philippine Bill in 1902 was held two
years after the organization of the Census in the country. The following were the qualifications
for suffrage.

Qualifications for Suffrage

1. Male 23 years old and above

2. Had held municipal offices before August 13, 1898.

3. Literate in Spanish or English.

4. With properties amounting to 250 dollars

5. Had the annual tax of 15 dollars and above.

THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

In the General Order No. 43, the Municipal government will be composed of a mayor or
the Municipal President, Municipal Vice President and a municipal council. These positions
were elected by the people who passed the qualification for suffrage and registered in the
Electoral council. The functions of the Municipal officer were the following:

1. The collection of Taxes.

2. The management of Municipal property

3. The management of Construction of the Buildings for the municipality.

However, the functions of the Municipal council are under the strict supervision of the
Americans appointed by the Commission in the Philippines and their projects needed approval
from the American Supervisors.

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

 The Provincial Government was composed by the Governor, the Provincial Treasurer
and Provincial Supervisor. The Governor was the only Filipino officer and the Provincial
Treasurer and Provincial Supervisor were all Americans appointed by the national
Government.

Functions of the Provincial Government

1. The monitoring the collection of taxes in all towns.

2. The auditing of the Municipal expenses.

3. The power to suspend the officers because of maladministration and corruption.

4. The management of the Public Works projects.

Year Filipino American

1907 1 30
1908 5 26
1909 7 26
1910 10 21
1911 11 20
1912 11 20
1913 13 18

Table 7. Figures taken from the Philippine Commission Reports

and included in the book of Bonifacio Salamanca
“The Filipino Reaction to American Rule"

The Governor was the highest position in the provincial government and he was elected
by the Municipal councilors but had limited powers and in reality the Americans who hold the
position of Treasurer and Supervisor were higher than him in the aspect of powers and even in
the salary. The treasurer was assigned in the administration of funds while the supervisor was
assigned in the handling of contracts, in the improvements of the municipality and if nothing
was left for the Governor but to follow the projects implemented by the National Government.

The position of the treasurer was dominated by the Americans from the start of its
establishment until the end of the American direct administration in the Philippines. They were
the appointed officials by the central government and had the power to control the wealth in
both provincial and municipal governments.

THE CRITIQUE ON THE PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

They maintained the provincial and the municipal government created in the Spanish
era and Taft appointed the member of the richest family as the leader from each town.
According to the dissertation of Professor Bonifacio Salamarnca the following were the
characteristics of the government during the Taft Era:

1. The Americans continued the political divisions and unit established by the
Spaniards.

2. The failure and backwardness of the local government were not resolved and instead
the cacique system or the dominance of the elite continues to exist.

3. The qualification for the suffrage will only give opportunities to the elite to be part
of the electoral system.

THE POLITICAL CULTURE

 The political culture during the Spanish era still remained the same during the
administration of the Americans. The caciques of the society dominated the Philippine
Assembly and the Local Government and this was because of the qualifications of the people
who could vote which required a higher education, properties and position in the government
during the Spanish era.

Election Year No. of Registered Voters No Actually Voting

1907 104,966 98,251
1909 208,845 192,975
1912 248,154 235,742

Table 8. Figures taken from the Philippine Commission Reports and

included in the book of Bonifacio Salamanca
"The Filipino Reaction to American Rule"

1. The Americans established a Civil Government in the Philippine in line

with the principles of Manifest Destiny.
2. The Americans allowed the Filipino to be part of the government as
part of Philippine Assembly and local government.
3. The Filipinos established their political parties, the Partido
Nacionalista-Unipersonalista of Sergio Osmena Sr. and Partido-
Collectivista of Manuel L. Quezon.
4. The Municipal government established by the Americans gave way for
the emergence of the elite in local government.
5. The political culture of the Filipinos remains the same during the
American era.

ASSESSMENT

I. Answer the following questions. Write the letter of the correct answer in the space
before the number.
1. What was the type of government established by the Americans in the Philippines?

A. Parliamentary

B. Civil

C. Military

D. Presidential

2. Why did the Americans establish the local government run by the Filipinos?

A. Because they have confidence to the Filipinos.

B. Because they did not have enough people to organize the local government.

C. Because they need the cooperation of the local elite for the pacification of the
country.

D. None of the above.

3. Who was the first American Civil Governor in the Philippines?

A. William McKinley

B. William Howard Taft

C. Arthur McArthur

D. Douglas McArthur

4. Why did the elite dominate the local government?

A. Because they had the money to buy votes.

B. Because they were the well-educated.

C. Because the masses had no interest.

D. Because of the qualifications for suffrage.

5. What was the evidence that the Americans dominate the provincial government?

A. The Filipinos were not allowed to vote for the provincial government.

B. The officers for the provincial government were appointed by the Central
Government.

C. The influential positions were under the Americans.

D. The American Commissioner supervised the provincial Government.

6. Who was the first Filipino appointed as the Chief of the Supreme Court?

A. Deodato Arellano

B. Cayetano Arellano

C. Jose Basa

D. Jose Abad Santos

7. Who was the head of the pueblos during the American Colonial Government in the
Philippines?

A. Gobernadorcillo

B. Gobernador General
 C. Mayor

D. President of the Town

8. Which of the following was not the function of the Municipal Officers?

A. The collection of Taxes

B. The management of Municipal property

C. The management of Construction of the Buildings for the municipality

D. The supervision of the local elections

9. Who was the founder of the Partido Federal?

A. Manuel L. Quezon

B. Sergio Osmeña Sr.

C. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera

D. Manuel Roxas

10. Who was the leader of the Partido Nacional?

A. Manuel L. Quezon

B. Sergio Osmeña Sr.

C. Trinidad Pardo de Tavera

D. Manuel Roxas

II. Identify the term being described in the following sentences. Write the answer on the line
before the number.

_________________________1. The American first Commission in the Philippines.

_________________________2. The treaty which ceded the Philippines to the Americans.

_________________________3. The head of the Provincial Government.

_________________________4. The Act which created the Bicameral legislature in the

Philippines.

_________________________5. The Speaker of the Lower House during the American Era

_________________________6. The Senate President during the American Era.

_________________________7. The two Filipinos who became part of the American

Commission.

_________________________9. The kind of political culture that the Filipino had during the
American Era.

_________________________10. The Act which gave Filipinize the Congress of the

Philippines during the American Era.

III. Enumerate the concepts being asked in the following statements. Write the answer in the
space provided.

A. The Qualification for Suffrage

1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________________
 B. The Functions of the Local Government
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
C. The Functions of the Provincial Government
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________________
D. The Functions of the Philippine Assembly
1. _____________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________

TEACHER’S FEEDBACK

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REFERENCES

Francisco, P. & Francisco, V. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance for Senior High School.
Mindshappers Co., Inc., Intamuros, Manila.