1938 Philippine legislative election

Summary

Ahead of the first midterm polls in the country, the two factions of the Nacionalista Party had already reunited. The party went into the 1938 Elections with the confidence of having practically every branch of government under the control of its stalwarts. This reconsolidation of political forces left the opposition in tatters, with the Allied Minorities, a loose caucus of opposition parties, failing to stop the Nacionalista bid.

The elections of 1938 proved to be historic in two ways: It was the first and last time that a single party would secure 100 percent of the seats in the legislature, with the Nacionalistas winning all 98 seats; and it ushered in the years of one-party rule in the country.

Results

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Contributions

The Second National Assembly embarked on passing legislations strengthening the economy, the cloud of the Second World War loomed over the horizon. Certain laws passed by the First National Assembly were modified or repealed to meet existing realities. A controversial immigration law that set an annual limit of 50 immigrants per country which affected mostly Chinese and Japanese nationals escaping the Sino-Japanese War was passed in 1940. Since the law bordered on foreign relations it required the approval of the U.S. president which was nevertheless obtained. When the result of the 1939 census was published, the National Assembly updated the apportionment of legislative districts, which became the basis for the 1941 elections.

References

References

1. (8 September 2014). "Roque V. Desquitado, first bar topnotcher outside of Cebu City". Philstar.com.
2. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning. (2013). "Philippine Electoral Almanac".
3. [[Julio Teehankee]]. "Electoral Politics in the Philippines". quezon.ph.
4. (2015). "Philippine Electoral Almanac Revised And Expanded". [[Presidential Communications Group (Philippines)#Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
5. Commonwealth Act (CA) No. 494 amended CA 444 "Eight Hour Law" authorizing the President to suspend the law.
6. [http://www.chanrobles.com/commonwealthactno613.htm Immigration Act of 1940 (CA No. 613), Sec. 13]. ''Accessed on April 13, 2007''