Mexican Governance and Policy Making Mexico Section 3

PRI Legacy on Government strong executive branch - government: civilian, authoritarian, and corporatism - incumbent presidents chose their successors - President was above criticism - Mid-1980s: government shift in favor of a more equal system of checks and balances

Organization of State - Similar to US (in organization, not practice) - Three branches: executive, legislative, judiciary - Two houses of congress: Senate and Chamber of Deputies 31 states + 1 Federal District elect 3 senators each = more elected by proportional representation. Total Senators = electoral districts elect one Deputy by simple majority 200 more elected by proportional representation Total Deputies = 500

Mexican Constitution of long - easy to amend* - guarantees human, economic, and social rights *(unlike the U.S.)

The Executive - Presidential Powers: initiate legislation, lead foreign policy, create government agencies, make policy (by decree or through administrative procedures), appoint a wide range of public officials - "vast patronage machine" - single six year term - need strong party in congress to set policy Caldéron Peña Nieto

The Executive (know major accomplishment of each) de la MadridPRI SalinasPRI ZedilloPRI FoxPAN CaldéronPAN Peña NietoPRI2012-

The Executive (cont.) políticos (politicians) vs. técnicos (technocrats) technocrats - career-minded bureaucrats who administer policy based on technical rather than political rationale. Examples: Salinas, Zedillo

Mexican Bureaucracy 1.5 million federal workers in executive branch Officials are unionized or are "confidence employees"

The Parastatal Sector Very powerful before 1990's PEMEX, NAFIN, CONASUPO Scaled down by economic policy reforms in the 1980's (391 total in 1970 to 215 in 1994) Some nationalist politicians insist that it is symbolically important for govt to own key industries

Military Successfully marginalized the military from centers of political power by: Rotating military commands Pres. has power over military Economic opportunities

Military in Action Called in many times to deal w/ domestic unrest and aid (1968 student protests, 1985 earthquakes, 1994 EZLN protests) Heavily involved in combating drug trafficking Becoming politicized?

The Judiciary weakest branch highly formalized and explicit amparo(protection) federal system o supreme court  decide important cases o district court  all cases enter subordinate to executive

The Weak Judiciary Reform o Zedillo  try to strengthen the judiciary by 1. refusing interference with courts' judgement 2. emphasizing rule of law > powerful individuals o 2008 Feb  lower house of congress approves 1.public trials with oral testimony 2.presumption of innocence!!!  consider most significant changes if approved by senate & ratified by 17/31 state

Subnational Government each state has its own: a. constitution b. excutive c. unicameral legistature d. judiciary municipalities: a. governed by elected mayors & councils b. poor c. little legal or administrative capacity to raise revenue d. lack of well-trained and well-paid public officials

Subnational Government since 1990 o governors and mayor resisted decentralize and devolve more power to state and local gov because: i. local gov worried unable to carry out new responsibilities ii. must manage more complex activity iii. must become focus of demands from public sector workers and their unions until 1988 o all governors are from PRI late 2005 o PRI-dominated gov tried to improve i. might lose the election

The Policy-Making Process dependent on quality of leadership sexenio o 6 year term of office - important fact of political life when PRI dominant o believed presidential leadership enhance political mobility o change in public policies every 6 year -creates discontinuity, innovation

The Policy-Making Process president: o focal point of policy formulation and political management PRI majority in legislature until 1997 o congress = active policy-maker  blocking and forcing negotiation of legislation Limits on Presidential power o corruption  lack of skills to implement policies o ex: tax evasion, electoral fraud, poor health care