Philippine legislative election, 1943

Philippine general election, 1943

September 25, 1943

54 elective seats and 54 ex officio members in the National Assembly   Majority party   Leader Benigno Aquino, Sr. Party KALIBAPI Leader since 1943 Leader's seat Tarlac Last election Did not stand Seats won 108 Seat change 108

Speaker before election Jose Yulo Nacionalista Elected Speaker Benigno Aquino, Sr. KALIBAPI

National Assembly elections were held in the Philippines on September 20, 1943 for the elected and appointed representative to the newly created National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic which replaced the National Assembly of the Philippines of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The Commonwealth government was exiled in Washington, D.C. upon the invitation of Pres. Roosevelt.^[1] The Japanese took over Manila on January 2, 1942 and soon established the Japanese Military Administration to replace the exiled Commonwealth government. It utilized the existing administrative structure already in place and coerced high-ranking Commonwealth officials left behind to form a government.^[2] In order to win greater support for Japan and its war effort, no less than Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tōjō promised the Filipinos independence earlier than the Tydings-McDuffie Act had scheduled.^[3] But before it could be realized a constitution would have to be adopted. The Preparatory Commission for Philippine Independence drafted what came to be known as the 1943 Constitution. It provided for a unicameral National Assembly that was to be composed of provincial governors and city mayors as ex officio members and another representative elected from each province and city who were to serve for a term of three years.^[4] Though created subordinate to the executive, the National Assembly had the power to elect the President, who in turn appoints the provincial governors and city mayors, ensuring him control of the legislature.

Results

 Summary of the 20 September 1943 Philippine National Assembly election results

Parties and coalitions		Seats	%
Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas		54	50.00
Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (Provincial and City Officials as Ex-officio members)		54	50.00
Total		108	100.00
Source: Philippine Legislatures:100 Years by Cesar Pobre.

References

1. Philippine History, Flags & Presidents. Accessed on April 16, 2007.
2. Japanese Occupation and the Second Republic of the Philippines. Accessed on April 16, 2007].
3. TIME - Hirohito is a Little Depressed. Accessed on April 13, 2007.
4. Chan Robles Virtual Law Library - 1943 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article III. Accessed on April 16, 2007.