1935: THE COMMONWEALTH

CONSTITUTION
Reporter: Theo Lustico
What is Commonwealth?
 The term “Commonwealth” pertains to the state of a
country having the independence and a democratic
republic.

 In the Philippines, the commonwealth era lasted for about

10 years, which gave a great impact on the transition in
preparation for acquiring our country’s independence.
The period occurred from 1935-1946.
When did it start?
 Right after the Treaty of Paris where our country, the
Philippines was sold to the United States of America, the
Philippines was under the military government from 1898 to
the year 1901 until a civil government would rule.

 Right before the year 1935, U.S appointed Frank Murphy as

the governor-general of the Philippines on December 1932.
FIRST ACT: PHILIPPINE ORGANIC ACT OF
1912
 Started the formation of the elected Philippine Assembly
on July 30, 1907. The goal of this assembly was to produce
laws for their people, the Filipinos.

 This act also began the existence of bicameral legislature,

meaning there will be two assemblies sharing the same
legislature. These two assemblies are as follows:

- Philippine Commission (Upper House)

- Philippine Assembly (Lower House)
 PHILIPPINE ORGANIC ACT OF 1902

This act included the bill of rights and the

selection of two non-voting Filipino
Resident Commissioners as representatives
to the United States of House of
Representatives.
PHILIPPINE
ASSEMBLY
The assembly began on October 16, 1907 with
Sergio Osmena as Speaker, then Manuel L.
Quezon as majority leader, and Vicente Singson as
minority leader.
 SECOND ACT: PHILIPPINE AUTONOMY ACT OF
1916
 Also known as the “JONES LAW”
 Happened on August 29, 1916 enacted by the 64th U.S Congress.
 Created the first truly elected national Philippine Legislature.
 First ever law to modify or change the state of the Philippine
Government and wish for the grant to independence of the
Philippines by ending the United States’ dominance over the
Philippines and through the elimination of the Philippine
Commission and change it with a Senate that serves as the upper
house then it’s members elected by the country’s voters.
OSROX MISSION ON 1931
Osrox Mission stands for “Osmena and Roxas”
A mission brought and delivered by the Philippine
Assembly to the United States of America to
encourage the American people to grant the full
freedom of the Philippines.
As the name states, this mission was led by Sergio
Osmena and Manuel L. Quezon.
HARE-HAWES CUTTING ACT OF 1932
 With the support of the from the OsRox Mission led by the two:
Osmena and Roxas, the United States Congress passed and
declared this Hare-Hawes Cutting Act having the promise of
giving the Filipino Independence that everyone desires.
 However, there has been a dispute and this was opposed by the
Philippine Assembly particularly by the Senate President
Manuel L. Quezon due to the provisions of having a base-
military and certain restrictions to Filipino migrants of America.
Consequently, it was rejected by the Philippine Senate.
TYDINGS – MCDUFFIE ACT OF
1934
 Also known as the “Philippine Independence Act”.
 This act was by Millard Tydings as well as John Mcduffie.
 On November 1933. Quezon started on the last Independence
Mission to the United States trying to declare better
independence bill of the Philippines.
 This act was supported by the independence mission of Quezon
and was passed by the US Congress that gave full authority
and defined mechanisms for the establishment of formal
constitution by a constitutional convention.
 It’s first meeting occurred on July 30, 1934 along with Claro M.
Recto as the president.
TYDINGS – MCDUFFIE ACT OF
1934
According to this provision, the Philippines will
acquire its independence after 10 years under the
administration of the Commonwealth, the
formation of a constitution and the election of the
leaders of Commonwealth.
This constitution was made to make certain of
the promises of the United States for the
independence of our country.
32ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

 The declared constitution was approved

by the President Franklin D. Roosevelt
on March 25, 1935 and ratified or
accepted by majority of votes on May
14, 1935
2nd PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

 On September 17, 1935 the election for the

first officials of the Philippine Commonwealth
was held.
 The winning president in this election was
Manuel L. Quezon.
 The commonwealth of the Philippines started
inaugurated on November 15, 1935, having
Manuel L. Quezon as president and Sergio
Osmena as vice president. This event marked
the beginning of their first term in the country.
 PRIMARY
SOUCRCE
Preamble of the 1935 Commonwealth
Preamble of the 1935
Commonwealth
“The Filipino people, imploring the aid of Divine providence, in order to
establish a government that shall embody their ideals, conserve and develop the
patrinomy of the nation, promote the general welfare and secure to themeselves
and their posterity the blessings of independence under a regime of justice,
liberty, and democracy, do ordain and promulgate the constitution.”

 Citizens of the country whole heartedly begs for God’s help just to obtain a
government that will lead to the country’s optimal state and meet their ideals of
conserving our nation’s patrimony and freedom with a country full of justice,
democracy, and liberty through the appoinment declaration and implementation of
aforementioned constitution.
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935 COMMONWEALTH

 Commonwealth is an administrative body that governed the

Philippines from the 1935 to 1946.
 It gave a great impact on the transition on the preparation of the
country’s Independence from the United States of America after
the Treaty of Paris.
 Resulted to an elected President and Vice-President having a 6
year term and No re-election.
 It was modified in the year 1940 to have a Bicameral Congress
having a Senate and House of Representatives and an independent
electoral commission, and consequently the limitation of the
government’s term with 4 year term for the president and vice
president and one re-election.
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935 COMMONWEALTH

 Previously, the privilege of voting was only given to men at

least 21 years of age and is able to read and write.
 Because of this constitution, Women we’re given the right
to suffrage as well, or the right to vote after two years of the
implementation of this constitution.
 This constitution also bears traces of the Malolos
Constitution, The German, The Spanish and Mexican
constitutions, and of various constitutions of South
American countries as well as the unwritten English
constitution.
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935
COMMONWEALTH: DATES TO
REMEMBER
February 8, 1935 – The draft of the constitution was
approved by the constitutional convention.
March 25, 1935 – The constitution was ratified by
the US President Franklin Roosevelt.
September 1935 – National Elections where Quezon
won as the President of the Commonwealth.
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935
COMMONWEALTH: WWII

 Because of the World War

II, the commonwealth was
briefly interrupted along
with the Japanese
occupation in the
Philippines.
PREAMBLE OF THE 1935
COMMONWEALTH: WWII

 Nevertheless, upon our

freedom, the Philippines
finally obtained its-long
awaited independence on
July 4, 1946 from the
American Colonization
THANK YOU,
FOR LISTENING!