Philippine Commission
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Commission was a body appointed by the President of the United States
to exercise legislative and limited executive powers in the Philippines
. It was first appointed by President William McKinley
in 1901. Beginning in 1907, it acted as the upper house of a bicameral Philippine Legislature
, with the elected Philippine Assembly
acting as lower house. The Jones Act of 1916 created an elected Philippine Senate
to replace the Philippine Commission.
appointed the First Philippine Commission (the Schurman Commission), a five-person group headed by Dr. Jacob Schurman, president of Cornell University
, to investigate conditions in the islands and make recommendations. In the report that they issued to the president the following year, the commissioners acknowledged Filipino aspirations for independence; they declared, however, that the Philippines was not ready for it. Specific recommendations included the establishment of civilian government as rapidly as possible (the American chief executive in the islands at that time was the military governor), including establishment of a bicameral legislature
, autonomous governments on the provincial and municipal levels, and a system of free public elementary schools.
"The Second Philippine Commission (the Taft Commission), appointed by McKinley on March 16, 1900, and headed by William Howard Taft
, was granted legislative as well as limited executive powers. Between September 1900 and August 1902, it issued 499 laws. A judicial system
was established, including a Supreme Court
, and a legal code
was drawn up to replace antiquated Spanish ordinances. A civil service
was organized. The 1901 municipal code provided for popularly elected president
s, vice president
s, and councilors to serve on municipal
boards. The municipal board members were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining municipal properties, and undertaking necessary construction projects; they also elected provincial
governor
s." On 4 July 1901, Taft became governor of a civil administration for the Philippines. This regime, called the Insular Government, administered the country until 1935.
"The Philippine Organic Act of July 1902 stipulated that a Philippine Legislature would be established composed of a lower house, the Philippine Assembly, which would be popularly elected, and an upper house consisting of the Philippine Commission. The two houses would share legislative powers, although the upper house alone would pass laws relating to the Moros and other non-Christian peoples. The act also provided for extending the United States Bill of Rights to Filipinos and sending two Filipino resident commissioners to Washington to attend sessions of the United States Congress. In July 1907, the first elections for the assembly were held, and the legislature opened its first session on October 16, 1907."
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
to exercise legislative and limited executive powers in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It was first appointed by President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
in 1901. Beginning in 1907, it acted as the upper house of a bicameral Philippine Legislature
Philippine Legislature
The Philippine Legislature was the legislative body of the Philippines during the earlier part U.S. colonial administration. It was a bicameral legislature, with the Philippine Commission, headed by the U.S. Governor General serving as the upper house, and the Philippine Assembly serving as the...
, with the elected Philippine Assembly
Philippine Assembly
The Philippine Assembly was the lower house of the legislative body of the Philippines during the early part of American colonial period. It was created by the Philippine Organic Act, passed in 1902, which also established the Philippine Commission as the upper house of the Philippine Legislature,...
acting as lower house. The Jones Act of 1916 created an elected Philippine Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
to replace the Philippine Commission.
First Philippine Commission
On January 20, 1899, President McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
appointed the First Philippine Commission (the Schurman Commission), a five-person group headed by Dr. Jacob Schurman, president of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, to investigate conditions in the islands and make recommendations. In the report that they issued to the president the following year, the commissioners acknowledged Filipino aspirations for independence; they declared, however, that the Philippines was not ready for it. Specific recommendations included the establishment of civilian government as rapidly as possible (the American chief executive in the islands at that time was the military governor), including establishment of a bicameral legislature
Bicameralism
In the government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. Thus, a bicameral parliament or bicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of two chambers or houses....
, autonomous governments on the provincial and municipal levels, and a system of free public elementary schools.
Second Philippine Commission
From Philippines: A Country Study by Ronald E. Dolan :"The Second Philippine Commission (the Taft Commission), appointed by McKinley on March 16, 1900, and headed by William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
, was granted legislative as well as limited executive powers. Between September 1900 and August 1902, it issued 499 laws. A judicial system
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
was established, including a Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, and a legal code
Legal code
A legal code is a body of law written by a governmental body, such as a U.S. state, a Canadian Province or German Bundesland or a municipality...
was drawn up to replace antiquated Spanish ordinances. A civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
was organized. The 1901 municipal code provided for popularly elected president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
s, vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
s, and councilors to serve on municipal
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
boards. The municipal board members were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining municipal properties, and undertaking necessary construction projects; they also elected provincial
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
s." On 4 July 1901, Taft became governor of a civil administration for the Philippines. This regime, called the Insular Government, administered the country until 1935.
"The Philippine Organic Act of July 1902 stipulated that a Philippine Legislature would be established composed of a lower house, the Philippine Assembly, which would be popularly elected, and an upper house consisting of the Philippine Commission. The two houses would share legislative powers, although the upper house alone would pass laws relating to the Moros and other non-Christian peoples. The act also provided for extending the United States Bill of Rights to Filipinos and sending two Filipino resident commissioners to Washington to attend sessions of the United States Congress. In July 1907, the first elections for the assembly were held, and the legislature opened its first session on October 16, 1907."
Sessions
- Regular Sessions (Executive and Legislative): September 1, 1901 – October 16, 1907
- Regular Sessions (Upper Legislative Chamber): starting October 16, 1907
Leadership
- Governor-General:
-
- William Howard TaftWilliam Howard TaftWilliam Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
(1901-1903) - Luke Edward WrightLuke Edward WrightLuke Edward Wright was a United States political figure. He served as Governor-General of the Philippines between 1904 and 1906 and also as Secretary of War from 1908 to 1909.-Biography:...
(1903-1906) - Henry Clay IdeHenry Clay IdeHenry Clay Ide was a U.S. judge, colonial Commissioner, ambassador, and Governor-General.- Early life, States Attorney, Senator, and Presidential Commissioner to Samoa :...
(1906) - James Francis SmithJames Francis SmithJames Francis Smith was an American Brigadier General, associate justice to the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Governor-General of the Philippines, and associate judge of the U.S. Court of Customs Appeals until his death....
(1906-1907)
- William Howard Taft
Members
- Secretary of Finance and Justice:
Name Month started Month finished Secretaries of Finance and Justice Henry Clay Ide September 1, 1901 September 24, 1906 James Francis Smith September 25, 1906 June 30, 1908 Gregorio Araneta July 1, 1908 October 30, 1913 Victorino Mapa November 1, 1913 January 14, 1917
- Secretary of the Interior:
Name Month started Month finished Secretaries of the Interior Dean C. Worcester September 1, 1901 1913 Winfred Denson 1913 1916
- Secretary of Commerce and Police:
Name Month started Month finished Secretaries of Commerce and Police Luke Edward Wright September 1, 1901 February 1, 1904 William Cameron Forbes February 1, 1904 1909 Charles Elliott 1910 1913 Clinton L. Riggs Clinton L. RiggsClinton Levering Riggs was an American businessman, government official, military officer, and lacrosse coach. He served as the Adjutant-General of the Maryland National Guard and the Secretary of Commerce and Police of the Philippine Commission from 1913 to 1915...
1913 1915 Eugene Reed 1915 1916
- Secretary of Public Instruction:
Name Term started Term finished Secretaries of Public Instruction Bernard Moses September 1, 1901 June 30, 1908 W. Morgan Shuster June 30, 1908 1909 Newton W. Gilbert 1909 1915 Henderson Martin 1915 1916
- Philippine Members (1901–1909):
Name Term started Term finished Philippine Members of the Philippine Commission Benito Legarda September 1, 1901 December 21, 1907 Trinidad Pardo H. Tavera September 1, 1901 March 1, 1909 Jose Luzuriaga September 1, 1901 1913
- Philippine Members (1909–1913):
Name Term started Term finished Philippine Members of the Philippine Commission Rafael Palma December 21, 1907 1913 Juan Sumulong March 1, 1909 1913 Jose Luzuriaga September 1, 1901 1913 Gregorio Araneta 1909 1913
See also
- Congress of the PhilippinesCongress of the PhilippinesThe Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
- Senate of the PhilippinesSenate of the PhilippinesThe Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
- House of Representatives of the PhilippinesHouse of Representatives of the PhilippinesThe House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
Further reading
- Philippine House of Representatives Congressional Library