Jones Law is “an act to declare
the purpose of the people of
the U.S. as to the future
political status of the people in
the Philippine Islands and to
provide more autonomous
government for those islands”
After the Philippine-American
war, in which the American
won, the Philippines fell under
the military rule of America. In
1901, this slowly shift to a Civil
Government.
Jones introduced two bills.
First is Philippine
Independence by 1921, and
the second is the Jones Bill of
1916 which was eventually
approved by the Congress in
August 29, 1916
Jones Law serves as an
exercise for the Filipinos to
learn about self-governance
as preparation for their
independence.
William Atkinson Jones,
a Representative from
Virginia, was part of US
House Committee on Insular
Affairs. He was also a
delegate to the Democratic
National Convention.
PREAMBLE
"The purpose of the people of the United State to withdraw their sovereignty over
Philippine Islands and to recognize their independence as soon as a stable government
can be established therein“
• Americans formally stated that they will eventually grant Philippines their
independence as soon as Filipinos are capable of self-government.

BILL OF RIGHTS
This section enumerated the civil rights of the Filipino people. Included here is the
right to due process, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the rule of uniform
taxation.
RESIDENT COMMISSIONERS
Similar with the provision in Cooper Law, there is an appointment of two Filipino Resident
Commissioners whom role is to represent the Philippines in the United States.

LEGISLATIVE BODY
Under Cooper Law
Creation of the Philippine Assembly, which
stands as the lower legislative branch along with
the Philippine Commission (Upper House).
Under Jones Law
Philippine Commission was replaced by
Philippine Senate and the Assembly became the
House of Representatives.

Although Philippines was given greater participation in the government, Jones Law made it
clear that United States still has sovereign rights and privileges over the Philippines.
AMERICA’S CONTROL OVER PHILIPPINES

EXECUTIVE POWER
• It is stated in the Section 21 of Jones Law that the Governor-General of the Philippine
Islands shall be appointed by the President of the United States.
• Under Section 19, it is stated that the Governor-General has the right to veto any
measure passed by the legislative.
• Moreover, in the section 23, stated that a Vice-Governor will also exercise executive
powers and tasked to perform the duties of Governor-General during such vacancy,
disability, or absence.
AMERICA’S CONTROL OVER PHILIPPINES

JUDICIARY
This branch is still under the jurisdiction of Americans as since most of the Supreme Court
Justices, whom the President of United States appointed, are Americans.

INSULAR AUDITOR
There shall also be an Insular auditor, appointed by the President, which was tasked to examine
and audit all accounts of government.
AMERICA’S CONTROL OVER PHILIPPINES
CONTROL ON THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY
• Philippines became over-reliant to America in terms of
military and economic matters.
• Americans taking control over the Philippines’ foreign and NEOCOLONIALISM
economic policies to prioritize their own commercial indirect form of control
interests. through economic and
• Law on Tariff, Immigration and Coinage: Tariff Acts can cultural dependence
only be implemented if and only if it was approved by the
President of United States.
• Filipinos as Americans’ “little brown brothers.”
 FILIPINOS
• Federal Party (pro-American), advocated the
statehood of the Philippines within the United
States, gained traction
• However it decline as the campaign of
Nacionalista Party became popular. This is evident
with the results of the election of 1907.
• Although Filipinos want an immediate
independence, it seems that Filipino politicians
were against on it as they are not yet prepared
with the immediate independence.
AMERICANS
• American leaders were divided on the
issue of Philippine Independence.
• During the heights of American
Imperialism, the Republicans were
advocating for an indefinite retention of
Philippines as their colony.
• The Democrats, on the other hand, were
willing to let go of the Philippines as soon
as stable government was in places.

“Too well the feeling of the FIlipinos toward independence to be greatly impressed by their demand of it...the
politicians who howl loudest don’t want it and have so told me” -- Forbes letter to President Roosevelt
 FILIPINOS
• The anti-colonial bent of Duterte’s worldview
intimately tied to the administration of
“Independent foreign policy” which seeks to be
less dependent on the United States and more
with other countries like China.
• “We cannot forever be the little brown brothers of
America” –Yasay (2016), America succeeded in
molding us into their ideal “little brown brothers”.
• Americans overruled the Philippines which
resulted to a discriminatory attitude where they
see Filipinos as a group of uncivilized brown
savages in need of higher education
AMERICANS
• U.S. Administration official, President
Donald Trump, showed admiration for the
PH on how it handles illegal drug
problems.
• "His murderous, extra-judicial campaign
has drawn condemnation from around the
world - except from President Trump, who
had a 'very friendly' conversation with the
man who once said, 'I don’t care about
human rights' and who called President
Obama a 'son of a whore' for speaking out
against atrocities Duterte has committed
against his own people," - Speier
There was a great participation of the Filipino people in the government.

Defined the structure of the government, the powers and duties of

government officials
1. Jones, W., The Jones Law of 1916. Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-jones-law-of-1916/
2. Cooper, H., Philippine Organic Act of 1902. Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-philippine-organic-act-of-1902/
3. Photograph. Retrieved from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/images/uploads/Philippine-flag-is-raised-while-the-U.S.-flag-is-lowered.jpg

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