Commonwealth of the Philippines The Commonwealth of the Philippines was the political designation of the Philippines from 1935

to 1946 when the country was a commonwealth with the United States !efore 1935" the Philippines was an insular area with non#commonwealth status" and $efore that" it had $een a U S territory The creation of the Commonwealth was en%isioned under the Philippine &ndependence 'ct" popularly (nown as the Tydings#)c*uffie 'ct as a ten#year transitional go%ernment in preparation for full Philippine independence and so%ereignty" which was promised through the Philippine 'utonomy 'ct or +ones ,aw &t mar(ed the end of the colonial eras as well as the transition of the nomenclature of the Philippines from the plural "Las Islas Filipinas" and -Philippine &slands- of the Spanish and 'merican colonial periods" to the singular" -Philippines-" which is a sign of unity" so%ereignty" and national identity The Commonwealth had its own constitution" which remained effecti%e until 19.3" and was self#go%erning although foreign policy and military affairs would $e under the responsi$ility of the United States" and certain legislation re/uired the appro%al of the 'merican President &t featured a %ery strong e0ecuti%e" a unicameral 1ational 'ssem$ly" and a Supreme Court" all composed entirely of 2ilipinos" as well as an elected 3esident Commissioner to the United States 4ouse of 3epresentati%es 5as Puerto 3ico does today6 'n 'merican 4igh Commissioner and an 'merican )ilitary 'd%isor" were also present in the go%ernment while a 2ield )arshall was in charge of the Philippine 'rmy &n 1939#47" after an amendment in the Constitution" a $icameral Congress" consisting a of Senate" and of a 4ouse of 3epresentati%es" was restored replacing the 1ational 'ssem$ly &n *ecem$er 1938" the United States Congress passed the 4are#4awes#Cutting 'ct with the premise of granting 2ilipinos independence Pro%isions of the $ill included reser%ing se%eral military and na%al $ases for the United States" as well as imposing tariffs and /uotas on Philippine e0ports &t was %etoed $y President 4er$ert 4oo%er $ut the 'merican Congress o%errode his %eto in 1933 and passed the $ill The $ill" howe%er" was opposed $y the then Philippine Senate President )anuel , 9ue:on and was also re;ected $y the Philippine Senate This led to the creation and passing of a new $ill (nown as Tydings#)c*uffie 'ct" which allowed the esta$lishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines with a ten#year period of peaceful transition to full independence &n <cto$er 1935" presidential elections were held and candidates included the former president =milio 'guinaldo" the Iglesia Filipina Indepediente leader >regorio 'glipay"

and others )anuel , 9ue:on and Sergio <sme?a of the 1acionalista Party were proclaimed the winners" winning the seats of president and %ice#president" respecti%ely The new go%ernment em$ar(ed on am$itious nation#$uilding policies in preparation for economic and political independence These included national defense 5such as the 1ational *efense 'ct of 1935" which organi:ed a conscription for ser%ice in the country6" greater control o%er the economy" the perfection of democratic institutions" reforms in education" impro%ement of transport" the promotion of local capital" industriali:ation" and the coloni:ation of )indanao 4owe%er" uncertainties" especially in the diplomatic and military situation in Southeast 'sia" in the le%el of U S commitment to the future 3epu$lic of the Philippines" and in the economy due to the >reat *epression" pro%ed to $e ma;or pro$lems The situation was further complicated $y the presence of agrarian unrest" and of power struggles $etween <sme?a and 9ue:on" especially after 9ue:on was permitted to $e re#elected after one si0#year term ' proper e%aluation of the policies@ effecti%eness or failure is difficult due to +apanese in%asion and occupation during Aorld Aar && 'fter the Aar in the Philippines" the Commonwealth was restored" and a one#year transitional period in preparation for independence $egan =lections followed in 'pril 1946 with )anuel 3o0as winning as the first president of the independent 3epu$lic of the Philippines and =lpidio 9uirino winning as %ice#president &n spite of the years of +apanese occupation" the Philippines $ecame independent e0actly as scheduled a decade $efore" on +uly 4" 1946