TAFT COMMISSION

The 'Taft Commission' also known as '''Second Philippine Commission''' was the legislature of the Philippines, then known as the Philippine Islands under the sovereign control of the United States during the Philippine-American War. It was established by United States President William Mckinley on March 16, 1900.

Contents

Background

Sessions

Leadership

Members

See also

References

External links

Further reading

Background

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 presidents, vice presidents, 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 governors. Philippines — United States rule
The Philippine Organic Act of July 1902 stipulated that a 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 30, 1907, the first elections for the assembly were held, and the legislature opened its first session on October 16, 1907.^[1]

Sessions

★ 'Sessions': March 16, 1900 – September 1, 1901

Leadership

★ 'President':
::William Howard Taft

Members

★ 'Members':

Member		Party	Term Start	Term End
	Henry Clay Ide	R	1899	1900
	Bernard Moses	R	1899	1900
	William Howard Taft	R	1899	1900
	Dean C. Worcester	R	1899	1900
	Luke Edward Wright	R	1899	1900

See also

★ Congress of the Philippines

★ Senate of the Philippines

★ House of Representatives of the Philippines

References

1. The Philippine Organic Act of July 1902

External links

★ List of Senators

★ The LAWPH''i'L Project - Philippine Laws and Jurispudance Databank

Further reading

★ Philippine House of Representatives Congressional Library

★ The Presidents of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, , , , , , ISBN 971-8832-24-6

★ Philippine Legislature 100 Years, , Cesar P., Pobre, , , ISBN 971-92245-0-9