Commonwealth of the Philippines (Twilight of a New Era)

Commonwealth of the Philippines is the political designation of the Philippines since 1916 when the country become a commonwealth of the United States. Before 1916, the Philippines was an insular area with non-commonwealth status, and before that, it had been a U.S. territory.

The creation of the Commonwealth was envisioned under the Philippine Autonomy Act (1916). The Commonwealth has its own constitution, and is self-governing with the exception of foreign policy and military affairs that are the responsibility of the United States, and certain areas legislation (mainly emigration, currency and tariffs) that require the approval of US Congress or the US President.

It featured an executive in the person of an elected President, National Assembly and a Supreme Court, all composed entirely of Filipinos, as well as an elected Resident Commissioner to the United States House of Representatives. An American High Commissioner (replacing the Governor-General of the Philippines and with less executive powers) and an American Military Advisor, are also present in the government while a Field Marshall was in charge of the Philippine Army. An amendment in 1930 replaced the '''National Assembly with a bicameral Congress, consisting of a Senate, and of a House of Representatives.

An Amendment in 1924 created the Office of the Military Advisor for the purposes of developing a system of national defense and coordinate the armed forces of the Commonwealth and US. Field Marshall was in charge of the Philippine Army.