The 'Philippine Council of State' is an advisory body first established during the American colonial period by Governor-General
Francis Burton Harrison. It was restored during the Commonwealth of the Philippines by the administration of
Manuel L. Quezon. While the
Second World War years led to a drastically-reduced government structure for the Commonwealth government-in-exile, the Council of State was an integral institution in the administration of
Jose P. Laurel. Shortly after he assumed office, President
Manuel Roxas restored it. It was a feature of administrations during the Third Republic. President
Ferdinand Marcos, however, made no appointments to the Council of State and never convened it. It was restored again during the administration of
Corazon Aquino and lapsed into disuse though never formally abolished until President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo once more convened it in 2005.