2. THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL
The Governor General and other
government officials had so much
power that it was commonly abused.
To investigate the
abuses, there were bodies
created:
THE RESIDENCIA
THE VISITA THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
3. THE RESIDENCIA
This was a special judicial court that investigates
the performance of a Governor General who was
about to be replaced.
The Residencia, of which
the incoming Governor
General was usually a
member, submitted a report
of its findings to the King.
4. THE VISITA
The Council of the Indies in Spain sent a
government official called the VISITADOR
GENERAL to observe conditions in the colony.
The Visitador General
reported his findings
directly to the King.
5. The highest court in
THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
the land
Served as an advisory body to the Governor
General
Had the power to check and report on his
abuses
The Audiencia also audited the expenditures of
the colonial government
6. The highest court in
THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
the land
Sent a yearly report to Spain
The Archbishop and other government officials
could also report the abuses of the colonial
government.
7. THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
Despite all these checks, however, an
abusive governor general often managed
to escape stiff fines, suspension, or
dismissal by simply bribing the Visitador
and other investigators.
8. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
The Spaniards created Local Government Units (LGU)
for the provinces
There were two types of local government units:
ALCALDIA CORRIGIMIENTO
Alcalde Mayor Corregidor
9. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
The ALCADIA, led by the
Alcalde Mayor
governed the provinces that had
been fully subjugated:
UNDER SPANISH CONTROL ALREADY
SALARY: P300 A MONTH
10. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
DUTIES OF THE ALCALDE MAYOR:
They represented the Spanish king and the
Governor-General
They managed the day-to-day operations of
the provincial government
Implemented laws and supervised the
collection of taxes
11. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
The CORREGIMIENTO, headed by
Corregidor
governed the provinces that were
not yet entirely under Spanish
control.
12. THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
The ALCADIA and the CORREGIMIENTO
Though they were paid a small
salary, they enjoyed privileges such as
the
INDULTO DE COMERCIO
or the right to participate in the
13. THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Each province was divided into several towns or
pueblos headed by
GOBERNADORDCILLOS (Little Governor)
MAIN DUTIES: Efficient governance and tax
collection.
Four lieutenants aided the Governardorcillo:
the Teniente Mayor (chief lieutenant),
the Teniente de Policia (police lieutenant),
the Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the fields)
the Teniente de Ganados (lieutenant of the livestock)
14. THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
GOBERNADORDCILLOS
They had SMALL SALARIES but were exempted
from PAYING TAXES
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Any NATIVE or CHINESE MEZTIZO
• 25 years old
• Literate in ORAL or WRITTEN SPANISH
• Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years
Ex: Emilio Aguinaldo
15. THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
CABEZA DE BARANGAY OR
(Barrio Administrator or Barangay
Captain)
-Responsible for the peace and order of the barrio
-Recruited men for public works
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Cabezas should be literate in Spanish
• Have good moral character and property
• Cabezas who served for 25 years were
exempted from forced labor
16. THE CITY GOVERNMENT
Larger towns became cities called:
AYUNTAMIENTO
It became the center of trade and industry.
The ayuntamiento had a city council called the
CABILDO
CABILDO is composed of:
ALCALDE (MAYOR)
REGIDORES (COUNCILLORS)
ALGUACIL MAYOR (POLICE CHIEF)
ESCRIBANDO (SECRETARY)
17. KING OF SPAIN
THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
(Governor General) (Royal Audencia, Residencia, Lower
Courts, Governor-General)
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CITY GOVERNMENT
ALCALDIA CORRIGIMIENTO AYUNTAMIENTO
(Alcalde Mayor) (Corregidor) (Cabildo)
PUEBLOS OR TOWNS CABILDO
(Gobernadorcillos) City Council
•ALCALDE
•REGIDORES
BARRIOS •AGUACIL MAYOR
(Cabeza de Barangay) •ESCRIBANDO
BARRIOS
(Cabeza de Barangay)
