1. STUDENT NOTES #2 CH. 5 MEXICO

2. Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc
Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM
Constitution grants president more power than other branches – until late 20th century executive branch dominated
Leg. And Jud. Subordinate to the president

4. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: PRESIDENCIALISMO
Dominant political actor in Mexico for greater part of twentieth century
De facto leader of PRI – chose all candidates = loyalty/control
Possesses broad range of unwritten but recognized “metaconstitutional” powers

5. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Central institution in Mexico
Sexenio
Until the 1990s, the outgoing PRI President picked the next PRI candidate (who always won)
Zedillo allowed the people to choose the candidate (PRI insiders not happy)
Tended to be Western-educated tecnicos & served in ministries that managed the economy (de la Madrid, Salinas, Zedillo, Fox)
Until the 1970s, Presidents were considered above criticism

6. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Legislative powers
Initiate legislation that was then sent to a Congress controlled by PRI
Make policy by decree
Create administrative/bureaucratic regulations
Formal powers: Initiate legislation, lead foreign policy, create agencies
Informal power: Make policy by decree and through administrative regulations and procedures

7. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
The right to appoint the Attorney General
The right to appoint the Attorney General and the Chief of Police of the Federal District
The right to appoint the Secretaries of State and all the members of the Mexican Executive Cabinet
The right to appoint all Mexican Ambassadors
Supreme power over the army, navy, and air force
The power to declare war and peace (with prior congressional authorization)
The power of negotiating foreign treaties
The power to issue decrees
The right to nominate Supreme Court justices
The power to veto laws (and, after a Supreme Court ruling about the controversial 2004 budget, also the power to veto decrees from Congress).
The right to introduce bills in Congress for their consideration.

9. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: NATIONAL CONGRESS
Senate
Non-re-election
128 (elected both SMFPTP and PR)
96 SMFPTP - 3 from each state and 3 from MC
32 elected proportionally
6 year term
Deputies
Non-re-election
500 deputies
300 SMFPTP
200 proportionally
3 year term
PRI controlled until 1997 – since that time the legislature has exerted influence b/c of divided government
Safe seats on decline
Legislature has become a true forum for points of view
Interest groups/Media increasing in power

10. No Senate election in 2015, only the lower house
No Senate election in 2015, only the lower house. Notice the party makeup.

11. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Deputies and municipal officers have three-year terms.
Constitution is easily amended and includes human, economic, and social rights.
Political system is still fairly centralized.
Executive initiates policy and manages political conflict.

12. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: THE JUDICARY BRANCH
Independent but largely supportive of presidents
SHOULD BE strong independent w/ judicial review…but it’s not
Federal and state
Supreme Court highest
Federal and state courts
Federal system includes Supreme Court (important cases), circuit courts (appeals), district courts (cases entering system).
Specialized federal courts include labor, military, electoral.
Historically, judicial is politically subordinate to executive.
Reforms underway, but exceedingly slow

13. III. POLICYMAKING INSTITUTIONS: THE JUDICARY BRANCH
Federal courts and state courts
Supreme Court of Justice highest court
Rights of Defendants: right to counsel, right against self-incrimination, right to face accuser, right to trial, speedy trial
REFORM: remove past relationship of subordination of court to executive
Adversarial process by 2016