Note 13 — Chapter VI · THE AUDIENCIA AND THE GOVERNOR: GENERAL RELATIONS

Although the appointing power was claimed by many governors as their sole prerogative, the audiencia imposed a very decided check on their exercise of this authority. The governor had the right to make appointments in all departments of the government, except in certain so-called offices of royal designation, to which the governor made tentative appointments, subject to subsequent royal confirmation.13 Although the law of February 8, 1610, exempted appointments made by the governor of the Philippines from the necessity of royal confirmation,14 in practice these nominations were sent to the court for approval in the same manner as were those from Spain’s other colonies.