 The law replaced the Philippine Organic Act of 1902 and acted as a constitution of the Philippines from its enactment until 1934, when the Tydings–McDuffie Act was passed (which in turn led eventually to the Commonwealth of the Philippines and to independence from the United States).The Jones Law created the first fully elected Philippine legislature.The law was enacted by the 64th United States Congress on August 29, 1916, and contained the first formal and official declaration of the United States Federal Government's commitment to grant independence to the Philippines.