Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 1941)
The main purpose of Act No. 1941 is to create a code committee to revise and amend the Civil, Commercial, Penal, and Procedure Codes in force in the Philippine Islands and to prepare new codes on these subjects, making necessary appropriations for the same, and for other related purposes.
The code committee is composed of a president and four members, making a total of five members.
The Governor-General, by and with the Philippine Commission, appoints the president and the members of the code committee.
Qualifications include: (a) Must be at least thirty years old; (b) Must be a citizen of the United States, a native of the Philippine Islands, or have acquired the political rights of a native under the Treaty of Paris; (c) Must have practiced law or been a judge of a court of record in the U.S., the Philippine Islands, or Spain, or in a Spanish territory before the Treaty of Paris, for at least three years, or held an office requiring a lawyer's title for an equal period.
The president shall receive fifteen thousand pesos annually, and each member shall receive an annual salary of twelve thousand pesos.
The Attorney-General, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Finance and Justice, shall provide the necessary subordinate employees for the code committee to function and carry out its duties.
The committee must complete its work no later than five years after its appointment.
Members have the same civil rights and privileges as judges of Courts of First Instance and are subject to the same disabilities and civil-service provisions.
Yes, the committee is authorized to revise, compile, and codify the existing general statutes of the Philippine Commission and Philippine Legislature when deemed necessary and report the same for adoption as revised statutes.
Concurrent Resolution Numbered Seven of the first session of the First Philippine Legislature and all executive orders appointing similar committees are repealed.
An appropriation not exceeding ninety thousand pesos annually is made from the Insular Treasury for the committee’s salaries, subordinate personnel, and necessary expenses, as approved by the Governor-General.
The Act took effect on July 1, 1909.