When the U.S. assumed sovereignty over the Philip-pines after the Spanish-American War, a military government was set up, with the military governor exercising executive, legislative and judicial powers. In 1901, however, the legislative powers hitherto exercised by the military governor were transferred to the Philippine Commission. The legislative body was the Philippine Commission created by the President of the United States in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, which act was later ratified by the U.S. Congress in the Philippine Bill of 1902. This body served as the sole legislative body of the Philippines until 1907 when the First Philippine Assembly was convened and created pursuant to the Philippine Bill of 1902. The members of the Philippine Commission were appointed by the U.S. President with the consent of the U.S. Senate, while those of the Philippine Assembly were elected by qualified electors in their respective representative districts into which the country was divided.
The presiding officer of the Philippine Commission was also the head of government himself—the American governor-general. Its membership, starting in 1901, consisted of five Americans and three Filipinos. Then in 1913, there were five locals to only four Americans. The Commission commenced its legislative work on September 1, 1900, or barely three months after the civil government was established in the Philippines. It started with only five members, all Americans. The original members appointed by the U.S. President were Judge William Taft, chairman; and Dr. Dean Worcester, Mr. Luke Wright, Mr. Henry Ide, and Prof. Bernard Moses, members.
It was only in 1913 when the Filipinos finally obtained numerical majority in what was now a nine-man legislative body. This was made possible after Woodrow Wilson was elected president of the United States. The new president, through his new appointed Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, assured the Filipinos that his administration would take steps to assure them of a majority in the appointive Commission. Other well-known Filipinos who were later tapped to serve the body were Gregorio Araneta, Juan Sumulong and Rafael Palma. This was maintained up to 1916, when it was replaced by the Philippine Senate, as provided for by the Jones Law.
As a legislative body, the Philippine Commission wielded broad powers and discharged vital functions. These included the power to make rules and orders having the effect of law, for raising revenue by means of taxes, customs and import duties. It also appropriated and spent public funds. It also enacted pieces of legislation largely of general application such as those establishing the country’s civil service system and judicial network, organizing the Philippine Constabulary and the police and creating the insular bureaus and offices, municipal and provincial governments. sourcewww.senate.gov.ph