<P> The pre-1935 U.S. territorial administration, or Insular Government, was headed by a governor general who was appointed by the president of the United States . In December 1932, the U.S. Congress passed the Hare--Hawes--Cutting Act with the premise of granting Filipinos independence . Provisions of the bill included reserving several military and naval bases for the United States, as well as imposing tariffs and quotas on Philippine exports . When it reached him for possible signature, President Herbert Hoover vetoed the Hare--Hawes--Cutting Act, but the American Congress overrode Hoover's veto in 1933 and passed the bill over Hoover's objections . The bill, however, was opposed by the then Philippine Senate President Manuel L. Quezon and was also rejected by the Philippine Senate . </P> <P> This led to the creation and passing of a new bill known as Tydings--McDuffie Act, or Philippine Independence Act, which allowed the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines with a ten - year period of peaceful transition to full independence--the date of which was to be on the 4th July following the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Commonwealth . </P> <P> A Constitutional Convention was convened in Manila on July 30, 1934 . On February 8, 1935, the 1935 Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippines was approved by the convention by a vote of 177 to 1 . The constitution was approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 23, 1935 and ratified by popular vote on May 14, 1935 . </P> <P> On 17 September 1935, presidential elections were held . Candidates included former president Emilio Aguinaldo, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente leader Gregorio Aglipay, and others . Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña of the Nacionalista Party were proclaimed the winners, winning the seats of president and vice-president, respectively . </P>

The constitution used by the philippine government from the commonwealth period until 1973