1935 Constitution

Airon P. valdez
Kaye Claire O. Dacumos
The 1935 Constitution served as the legislative foundation
for the Commonwealth Government that served as a
transitional government until the Philippines were granted
independence with an American-inspired constitution
 Philippine Organic Act of 1902

The first organic law for the Philippine Islands

that provided for the creation of a popularly
elected Philippine Assembly.
1907
• The Philippine Assembly was established
• Filipinization policy of the government was put in place
where Filipinos were given a hand in running the
country.

1916
• The Jones Law also known as the Philippine
Autonomy Act was passed by the US Congress.
The Jones Law (The Philippine Autonomy
act of 1916)
• Reorganized the government with an
American governor-general, a Cabinet, and an
all-Filipino legislature composed of the Senate
and House of Representatives.

October 16, 1916

• The new Philippine legislature was
inaugurated with Sergio Osmena as House
Speaker and Manuel Quezon as Senate
President
 Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act of 1932
The first United States law passed for setting a process
and a date for the Philippines to gain independence from
the United States.

Tydings-Mcduffie Act
The constitution is crafted to meet the approval of the United
States government and to ensure that the United States would
live up to its promise to grant indepemdence to the Philippines.
Commonwealth Government
• “transitional period”

March 24, 1934

• Approval of the Tydings-McDuffie Law or the
Philippine Independence Act by the US Congress

Declaration of the Philippine Independence

• The Commonwealth shall be known as the Republic
of the Philippines.
July 10, 1934
• An election was held to vote
for the delegates to write a
constitution for the Philippines.

March 23, 1935

• The 1935 Constitution was
approved by US President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
 The 1935 constitution
• Led by Manuel L. Quezon who is known
as “The Father of the National Language”

• Enumerated the composition, powers, and

duties of the three branches of the
government (the executive, legislative, and
judicial)
3 BRANCHES OF
THE PHILIPPINE
GOVERNMENT
 Executive
• The executive power is vested in the President of the
Philippines

• The President leads the country. He/she is the head of

state, leader of the national government, and
Commander in Chief of all armed forces of the
Philippines.

• The President hold his office during a term of 4 years

together with the Vice-President who were elected by
direct vote of people.
• The returns of every election for the President and Vice-President is
transmitted to the seat of National Government, directed to the
President of Senate who opens all certificates and count votes.

• The person who has the highest number of votes for the position of
President and Vice- President is declared elected.

• The President has the control of all executive departments,

bureaus or offices, exercise general provision over all local
governments.

• The President is the commander in chief of all armed forces of the

Philippines
 Legislative
• The legislative power is vested in a Congress of
the Philippines which consists of a Senate and
House of Representatives.

• The members of legislative department are

authorized to make, alter, and repeal laws.

*Legislative branch has two chambers, the upper

chamber and the lower chamber which is the
Senate and The House of Representatives.
 1. Senate
The senate is composed of 24 senators who is
chosen at large by the qualified electors of the
Philippines.

The term of the senator is 6 years.

The senator must be a natural born citizen of

the Philippines, age must be at least 35 years
old, a qualified elector, and a resident of the
Philippines for not less than 2 prior to his
election.
 2. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The House of Representatives is composed of not more than 120
members who shall be apportioned among the several provinces
as nearly as may be accorded to the number of their respective
inhabitants but each province has only one member.

The House of Representatives has a 4year term.

 Judicial

• The judicial power is vested in one Supreme Court and

in such inferior courts as may be established by law.

•The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and

10 associate Justices.

• The members of the Supreme Court and all judges of

Inferior courts are appointed by the President with the
consent of the Commission on Appointments.
• Member of the Supreme Court should be a citizen of
the Philippines for five years, is at least 40 years of
age, and has been a judge of a court or engaged in the
practice of law in the Philippines.

• The Supreme Court has the power to promulgate

rules concerning pleading, practice, and procedure in
all courts, and the admission to the practice of law.
 National Language

President Manuel L. Quezon was one of the

original champions of developing a national
language, instrumental in the introduction into the
1935 Constitution of the provision that “Congress
shall take steps toward the development and
adoption of a common national language based
on one of the existing native languages.”
• While president of the Commonwealth from 1935 to
1944, Quezon was dismayed to realize that Filipinos
from different regions, provinces and localities had to
speak in a foreign tongue, like English or Spanish, to
understand each other. He forthwith established the
Institute of National Language that recommended
Tagalog as the basis for a national language.
 REFERENCES:
Lopez, M. (2012). National Language: Catalyst of unity. Philippine Star.
https://www.philstar.com/other- sections/starweek-
magazine/2012/09/02/844468/national- language-catalyst-unity

Commission on Elections (2013). 1935 Constitution of the Republic of the

Philippines. http://www.comelec.gov.ph/?r=References/RelatedLaws/Consti
tution/1935Constitution