The law of public officers as observed in the United States is in effect in the Philippine Islands. The principle of division of powers is recognized, and the functions of government are distributed among three departments, the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The principle of checks and balances is likewise observed, and the legislature and the courts are prohibited from delegating their powers. The passage of irrepealable laws is forbidden. The government is immune from suit at the instance of private individuals except with its consent.
The Council of State in session
DEPARTURES FROM AMERICAN STANDARDS.—There have been several departures, however, from the American standard of government that have been made by the Filipinos. For instance, the budget system has been adopted previous to its adoption in the United States to provide for economy and certainty in expenditures. The Council of State was created as a coördinating and advisory body to the Governor-General. It is made up of the Governor-General as presiding officer, the six members of the cabinet, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It also serves to bring the executive and the legislative departments into close relationship. The creation of the council seems to indicate a tendency to adopt in the future a parliamentary or semi-parliamentary system of government.
In addition to the foregoing departments there is the further innovation conferring on either house of the legislature, the right to call and interpellate the secretaries of departments before it. The secretaries of departments in turn have the right to be heard in the legislature. The chairmen of the appropriation committees are also empowered to require the attendance of chiefs of bureaus and offices, thus bringing the executive and legislative departments in close harmony.
Autonomy All of the officials of the government are Filipinos with the exception of the Governor-General and the Vice-Governor-General and the majority of the members of the Supreme Court who are Americans, appointed by the President of the United States. There is thus a practical autonomy, the American chief executive having supervision and control of the government in theory but in actual practice rarely acting on matters of domestic concern except with the advice of the Council of State.
Appointments made by the Governor-General are with the advice and consent of the Philippine Senate.
The Members of the Supreme Court of the Philippine Islands
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.—The Governor-General is appointed by the President by and with the consent of the Senate and holds his office at the pleasure of the President and until his successor is chosen and qualified. Through the Secretary of War, he is responsible to the President and the American people for his acts. He has a more responsible position than that held by the Governors of the several states of the union. He is paid a handsome salary from the Philippine government and is given free quarters. As chief executive of the Islands, he is in charge of the executive control of the Philippine government; which he exercises either in person or through the secretaries of departments. He can veto laws passed by the Philippine Legislature.