date of the ratification of the treaty of Paris, in any Spanish territory, for a period of five years, or must f or a like period have filled any office which requires a legal degree as an indispensable qualification in the Philippine Islands or, previous to the date of the ratification of the treaty of Paris, in any Spanish territory. [136-3; 1024-1.] SECTION  160 . Authority of Supreme Court Over Administration of Its Own Affairs . — The Supreme Court shall have exclusive administrative control of all matters affecting the internal operations of the Court. [2128-1, 3, et seq.] SECTION  161 . Status of Subordinates. — Except as regards the appointment and compensation of the reporter, clerk, and such private secretaries to the individual justices as the Court may authorize, all subordinates and employees of the Supreme Court shall  be governed by the provisions of the Civil Service Law; but the court may, by resolution, remove any of them for cause. [2128-1, 3, et seq.] SECTION  162 . Vacation Period.  — The regular sessions of the Supreme Court may, in the discretion of the court, be suspended for the period beginning with the first of May and closing with the first of July of each year, which, in case of such suspension, s hall be known as the Supreme Court vacation. By resolution entered upon the minutes of the court, the Supreme Court vacation may be made to begin on the first of April and close with the first of July in any year. HIAcCD During vacation at least one of the justices, to be designated in such manner as the court by resolution shall direct, shall remain on duty. [867-1; 1184-1; 1598-1.] SECTION  163 . Sessions of Court in Banc . — The Supreme Court shall, as a body, sit in banc, the Chief Justice presiding. In case of the absence of the Chief Justice, that one of the attending judges shall preside who holds the senior commission. CTHaSD [136-10; Comp. 2171.] Five of the judges of the Supreme Court, lawfully convened, shall form a quorum for the transaction of any business of the court. In the absence of a quorum Copyright 2012 CD Technologies Asia, Inc. and Accesslaw, Inc. Philippine Law Encyclopedia 2011 55