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PRÁVNĚHISTORICKÉ STUDIE, Vol 56 No 1 (2026), 109–126
ArticleFilipínský Zákon o autonomii z roku 1916
[Philippine Autonomy Act 1916]
Jan Podola
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/2464689X.2026.192
published online: 22. 04. 2026
abstract
This article is devoted to the Philippine Autonomy Act from the year 1916. The aim of this paper is to evaluate which circumstances lead to its passing and which steps in legislation and politics had to be realized before its approval. Owing to this fact, the paper deals with the description of the period before its issue from the year 1902 when the Philippine Organic Act was published. This Act introduced the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands and also the Philippine Legislature after the elections in 1907. Further on, the paper addresses the formation and operation of the politic parties on the Philippine Islands, Insular Government characteristics and steps leading to its construction and the Philippine population position in relation to the American citizenship according to the US Constitution. The content of the Autonomy Act from the year 1916 and the most important regulations overview is given in detail. Based on this Act, the Philippine Parliament was established. consisting of the Lower Chamber House of Representatives and the Upper Chamber that was represented by the Senate. There was a higher extent of autonomy given to the Philippine Islands by this Act, on the other side, however, the decision-making of the significant matters such as appointing the Philippine governor or some key officials or High Court judges was left in hands of the American president. The importance of this document is based on the fact that there is mentioned, for the first time, a commitment of the United States of America to grant the full independence to the Philippine Islands when it is possible.
keywords: autonomy; Philippines; governor; Supreme Court; independence; citizenship; autonomy; Senate; House of Representatives; USA; US Constitution
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