National Assembly elections were held in the Philippines on September 20, 1943 for the elected and appointed representative to the newly created National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic which replaced the National Assembly of the Philippines of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The Commonwealth government was exiled in Washington, D.C. upon the invitation of Pres. Roosevelt.[1] The Japanese took over Manila on January 2, 1942 and soon established the Japanese Military Administration to replace the exiled Commonwealth government. It utilized the existing administrative structure already in place and coerced high-ranking Commonwealth officials left behind to form a government.[2] In order to win greater support for Japan and its war effort, no less than Japanese Prime MinisterHideki Tōjō promised the Filipinos independence earlier than the Tydings-McDuffie Act had scheduled.[3] But before it could be realized a constitution would have to be adopted. The Preparatory Commission for Philippine Independence drafted what came to be known as the 1943 Constitution. It provided for a unicameral National Assembly that was to be composed of provincial governors and city mayors as ex officio members and another representative elected from each province and city who were to serve for a term of three years.[4] Though created subordinate to the executive, the National Assembly had the power to elect the President, who in turn appoints the provincial governors and city mayors, ensuring him control of the legislature.
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