National Assembly of the Philippines

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This was the legislature of the Philippines established with the creation of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The National Assembly refers to the unicameral legislature originally provided for by the 1935 Constitution (1). In 1939, however, proposals began for the restoration of the Philippine Senate. In 1940, a national plebiscite (3) restored a bicameral legislature, which was due to to be elected in November, 1941 (4) . While members of both the Senate and House of Representatives of the Congress of the Philippines (which replaced the National Assemby) were elected, they did not convene until the restoration of the Commonwealth in 1945.

Between December, 1941, December 30, 1941 when the new terms for the Philippine Congress began, the National Assembly fulfilled its final constitutional duties of certifying the November election results and passing emergenct legislation (2). The occupation of the Philippines by Japan led to the creation of a Japanese-sponsored National Assembly under the Second Republic in 1943, but it, too, ceased meeting by 1944, when American forces returned to the Philippines.

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(2) Agoncillo, Teodoro "The Fateful Years: Japan's Adventure in the Philippines." (1) Hayden, J. Ralston "The Philippines: A Study in National Development."

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(3) In his dissenting opinion in G.R. No, 174153 Justice Reynaldo Puno lists the constitutional amendments and plebiscite mentioned above. See http://www.supremecourt.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/october2006/174153_puno.htm

(4) See also http://arabnews.com/?page=7&section=0&article=80107&d=8&m=11&y=2006