Philippine Assembly

History

The United States of America gained control of the Philippines following the 1898 Spanish–American War and the subsequent Philippine–American War.

First nationwide elections

In accordance with the Philippine Organic Act, the Philippine Commission conducted a census in 1903, published on March 25, 1905. Although several parties and independent candidates ran for the Assembly, two political parties dominated, the Nacionalista Party and the Progresista Party. The Nacionalista Party, which was in favor of "immediate and complete independence" from the United States and was led by future President Sergio Osmeña, captured a majority of the 80-seat Assembly.

First Philippine Legislature

Main article: 1st Philippine Legislature

On October 16, 1907, the Philippine Assembly was inaugurated at the Manila Grand Opera House. The event was attended both by Taft (then Secretary of War of the United States), and the new Governor-General James Francis Smith. The Assembly's rules and organization was modeled on those of the United States House of Representatives.

While the candidates representing the Nacionalistas won the majority of the seats in the assembly, the maneuvering to the election for the Speaker of the Assembly began, as the Speaker would be the most powerful Filipino in government. Quezon and Osmeña focused on aggregating the delegates around Osmeña's leadership, a task that became easier than the two had anticipated. With less than two dozen delegates, the Progresistas were not able to elect a Speaker from their ranks and were marginalized from the talks amongst the Nacionalistas. Osmeña found two opponents for the Speakership: Gomez who defeated Justo Lukban by 31 votes, and Pedro Paterno. However, Gomez's citizenship was questioned, and Paterno found himself to be Osmeña's leading opponent.

It was proved that Gomez was a Spanish citizen and a new election for his seat was called. Gomez still ran in the election and beat Lukban by a larger margin, about 400 votes. Gomez was permitted to take his seat, but not after seven months has passed, and after Osmeña was elected Speaker on October 16, 1907, with Quezon as the majority floor leader.

The defeat of the Progresistas in the elections hastened their downfall; the Nacionalista Party will continue to dominate the elections for the legislature, and the Progresistas, and later their successor the Democratas, will remain in opposition.

The First Philippine Assembly is best remembered to reigniting efforts towards independence and for improving education in the Philippines.

Election, qualifications, and responsibility of members

In the first 1907 election, 80 members were elected in a first past the post electoral system. In subsequent elections, 81 members were elected. There were three elections: in 1907, in 1909, and in 1912.

Reorganization under the Jones Law of 1916

Under the Jones Law of 1916, and following elections to both houses, a bicameral legislature composed exclusively of Filipinos was inaugurated on October 16, 1916. The Philippine Commission was replaced by the elected Senate of the Philippines and the Assembly became the House of Representatives of the Philippines.

References

Bibliography

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References

1. (September 5, 2012). "The History of the First Philippine Assembly (1907–1916)". [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]].
2. Robertson, James Alexander. (July 1917). "The Philippines since the Inauguration of the Philippine Assembly". The American Historical Review.
3. Republika Ng Pilipinas]
4. Piedad-Pugay, Chris Antonette. "The Philippine Bill of 1902: Turning Point in Philippine Legislation". The [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]].
5. Wertheim, Stephen. (September 2009). "Reluctant Liberator: Theodore Roosevelt's Philosophy of Self-Government and Preparation for Philippine Independence". Presidential Studies Quarterly.
6. "The History of the First Philippine Assembly (1907–1916)". National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
7. [[1916 Philippine House of Representatives elections]]
8. [[#Cullinane1989. Cullinane (1989)]]{{cnf. (January 2014, p. 318)
9. [[#Cullinane1989. Cullinane (1989)]]{{cnf. (January 2014, p. 326)
10. [[#Halili2004. Halili (2004)]]{{cnf. (January 2014, p. 184)
11. [[#Brownlee2007. Brownlee (2007)]]{{cnf. (January 2014, p. 75)
12. {{Harvnb. Zaide. 1994