Mexican Political Outline

Political Structure and Institutions

• The political system of Mexico is one that has changed dramatically in many ways including its practice and style.

• Its transformation includes steady movement from an authoritarian regime to a democratic state.

• Mexico had moderate authoritarian regime for most of the time since 1940.

• It was an institutional system that dealt successfully with one of the top problems for a nondemocratic system of government, the leadership renewal and executive succession.

• The Mexican system favored cooptation and incorporation over exclusion or elimination of harsh political forces.

• As possibly dissident political groups began to form, their leaders were usually designated to government controlled organizations.

• Occasionally, emerging opponents of the Mexican regime were encouraged to create their own small and tame party.

• On paper Mexico appears to be very similar to the U.S.

• Such as a presidential system, three autonomous branches of government with checks and balances, and federalism with a good amount of local autonomy.

• Until the late 1990’s however, Mexico’s system of government in practice was far removed from that of the U.S.

• Decision making was highly centralized.

• Until recently, the majority of those elected to public office in Mexico, were political appointees named to their positions by higher ranking members within the PRI-government apparatus.

• In 1988, the ruling party’s control of the Congress was weakened significantly, setting the stage for a new era in executive/legislative relations.

Federalism

• Despite the federalist structure of government that is enshrined in the 1917 constitution and legal codes, with their focus on municipio libre, in practice the Mexican political system has usually functioned in a manner classified as political centralism.

• Mexico is divided into 31 states and the Federal District, each one divided into municipios-politico administrative units roughly equal in size and governmental functions to county governments in the United States.

• Municipal officials are elected every three years.

• Each successive layer in Mexico’s government is significantly weaker, less autonomous, and more impoverished than the levels above it.

• President Zedillo