The Commonwealth Government and the Constitution of the Philippines Quiz

The Commonwealth Government and the Constitution of the Philippines

The Commonwealth of the Philippines was an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States that existed from 1935 to 1946. Established following the Tydings–McDuffie Act, the Commonwealth was designed as a transitional government to replace the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands. The Constitution of the Philippines, adopted in 1935, provided the framework for this government.

Establishment and Sovereignty

The Constitution of the Philippines established the Commonwealth as a republican state, with sovereignty residing in the people and all government authority emanating from them. Despite the intentions of the Tydings–McDuffie Act to grant Filipinos independence, the Commonwealth was still subject to certain limitations imposed by the United States. These limitations included provisions that the constitution must provide for a republican form of government, contain a bill of rights, and respect certain issues related to trade relationships, allegiance of Philippine officials to the United States, public debt, public schools, foreign affairs, intervention, equal civil rights, powers of the United States to maintain reservations, presidential approval of certain laws, and review of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands by the Federal Court of the United States.

Election and Inauguration

In September 1935, an election was held in the Philippine Islands to elect officers of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Manuel L. Quezon was elected as the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, with Sergio Osmena as Vice-President and members of the National Assembly. Quezon was inaugurated on November 15, 1935, marking the establishment of the Commonwealth government.

Transition and Independence

The Commonwealth existed for more than a decade, during which it maintained a strong executive and a supreme court. However, it was a transitional government, with the intention of granting full sovereignty to the Philippines at a later date. In 1946, the Commonwealth ended, and the Philippines attained full sovereignty as provided for in Article XVIII of the 1935 Constitution.

Constitution Drafting

The drafting of the 1935 Constitution was carried out by the Constitutional Convention, which was elected on July 10, 1934. The drafting process was completed on February 8, 1935, when the Constitution was approved by the Convention.

Key Features of the Constitution

The Constitution of the Philippines established a strong executive branch, with a President and Vice-President elected through a popular vote. The legislature was initially unicameral, but later became bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate. The Constitution also established a supreme court to oversee the judiciary.

National Language

The 1935 Constitution called for the development and adoption of a common national language based on the existing native dialects. In response, the National Language Institute was established to oversee this process. In 1937, Tagalog was selected as the basis for the national language, which was made official in an executive order in 1937.

Economy and Agriculture

The Commonwealth government was primarily agriculture-based, with products including abaca, sugar, and rice. During the Commonwealth period, an agrarian reform program was initiated to address tenant farmers' grievances rooted in debt caused by the sharecropping system and the increased population.

Uprisings and Agrarian Reform

The Commonwealth government faced challenges during its existence. Tenant farmers held grievances related to the sharecropping system and the dramatic increase in population, leading to ongoing clashes between tenants and landowners. An example of these clashes was the Sakdalista movement, which advocated for tax reductions, land reforms, the breakup of large estates, and the severing of American ties. The uprising, which occurred in Central Luzon in May 1935, claimed about a hundred lives.