QuestionsQuestions (Commonwealth Act No. 517)
It submits to the Filipino people, for approval or disapproval, the proposed amendments to the 1935 Philippine Constitution and the appended ordinance proposed by the National Assembly, and appropriates funds for the referendum.
It was set for Tuesday, June 18, 1940, to be held throughout the Philippines.
The amendments had to be published in English and Spanish in three consecutive issues of the Official Gazette at least 20 days before the election; posted in every municipal, city, and provincial government office building and in every polling place not later than May 18, 1940, and kept posted until after the election; and kept at least 10 copies in each polling place for inspection by qualified electors. When practicable, copies in principal native languages were also to be kept.
It states that the election shall be conducted in conformity with the Election Code insofar as applicable.
The existing boards of election inspectors were to meet to revise the list of voters and register new ones on May 25, 1940.
Each election inspector and poll clerk was to receive two pesos per day, including election day, for actual service rendered.
Watchers may be appointed by the national directorates of existing political parties or their duly authorized representatives—two watchers per polling place.
Proceedings had to be filed not later than June 1, 1940, and finally decided on or before June 15, 1940.
The board of election inspectors was to make a final revision of the list of voters during the first hours of election day.
Election inspectors prepared and signed three copies of the returns on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior. One copy was deposited in the ballot box for valid ballots; the two other copies were delivered to the proper municipal or city treasurer, who immediately forwarded one copy by registered mail to the Secretary of the National Assembly and the other to the Secretary of the Interior.
If mailing was delayed for any reason, the National Assembly could act based on official telegraphic results received by the Secretary of the Interior and certified by him to the Secretary of the National Assembly.
Within 30 days after the election, the Speaker of the National Assembly would request the President to call a special session for canvassing the returns and certifying the results.
Four hundred thousand pesos or so much thereof as necessary, for election-related expenses (subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior), including printing, publication, posting, and free distribution of copies in English and Spanish and, whenever practicable, in principal native languages.
Any unexpended balance would revert to the general fund on July 1, 1941.
Portions of Commonwealth Act No. 492 that were in conflict with the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 517 were repealed.
For approval, voters wrote “YES” in the blank space opposite the amendment; for rejection, they wrote “NO” (with corresponding Spanish terms “SI” and “NO” shown in the ballot).
(1) Establishment of a bicameral legislature (Congress of the Philippines) with an at-large elected Senate and district-elected House of Representatives, including specified salary and consequent modifications to certain constitutional provisions (President/Vice-President canvassing, treaty-making power, impeachments, and amendments). (2) Repeal of the reelection prohibition, change of presidential/vice-presidential terms from six to four years, and a limit of more than eight consecutive years as President. (3) Creation of a Commission on Elections with exclusive charge of enforcing and administering election laws, and renumeration of subsequent constitutional articles.