1. Political Regime
Mexico

2. What are the major institutions of Mexican politics?
Mexico
intro
What are the major institutions of Mexican politics?

3. Constitution
Mexico

4. Mexico Constitution Constitution
Mexico has been considered democratic since 2000 because the PRI was removed from power
On paper, the Mexican constitution does not differ from the United States
The Constitution of 1917 creates a presidential legislative-executive system
There are separate judicial, legislative, and executive branches and a system of federalism that gives states power
The 70 years of PRI rule rendered this meaningless, but it is becoming institutionalized now

5. Elections were mostly fake and validated PRI appointments to offices
Mexico
Constitution
Constitution
(under the PRI)
Under the PRI, the constitution was ignored and the president had near dictatorial powers with few checks
The PRI presidents were able to control the judiciary & hand pick governors
The legislature was a check on the president but it was also controlled by the PRI until 1997
Elections were mostly fake and validated PRI appointments to offices
The president wasn’t really elected either, since the outgoing president picked the PRI nominee for the office

6. Constitutional reforms
Mexico
Constitution
Constitutional reforms
In 1977 electoral reforms included some elements of proportional representation for the legislature
Proportional representation ensured the presence of some opposition in congress
The last PRI president, Ernesto Zedillo, added more reforms including giving the legislature control over judicial appointments
They also added electoral reforms that reduced the ability of the government to fake an election

7. President
Mexico

8. Mexico President President
During PRI rule, Mexican presidents were basically elected monarchs
The constitution created a president with powers similar to the US president
The president can introduce legislation in Congress and can veto legislation that has been passed by Congress
He can issue executive decrees that have the force of law in some areas like international trade agreements
Until 1994, presidents were able to appoint and remove judges

9. Since Fox’s election, presidents have lacked a majority in Congress
Mexico
President
President
Presidents serve a single six year term – in that way, they are all “lame ducks”
They have to be 35 and native born, can’t be in clergy or the military.
Under the PRI, the president had the power to pick his successor, generally from the cabinet, but not anymore.
In the last two elections, the nominee favored by the sitting president has failed to win their party’s nomination
Since Fox’s election, presidents have lacked a majority in Congress

10. They have control over oil, electricity, and communication
Mexico
President
President
Presidents have a lot of economic power because they control key resources
They have control over oil, electricity, and communication
Presidents’ power over the economy has been reduced since the transitions of power since 2000

11. Mexico President Cabinet
Presidents appoint and preside over large cabinet of ministers
The Secretary of Government controls the internal political affairs
The Secretary of the Treasury oversees the economy and development
These two are the highest profile posts & usually are stepping stones to presidency
The cabinet includes 19 ministers

12. Legislature
Mexico

13. Mexico Legislature National Congress
The National Congress is a bicameral legislature
The lower house is the 500 member Chamber of Deputies
The upper house is the 138 member Senate
The Chamber of deputies has the power to levy taxes and verify the outcome of elections with a simple majority
The Senate has fewer powers than the Chamber of Deputies, but it can confirm appointments to the Supreme court and ratify treaties

14. Mexico Legislature National Congress
Both houses use a committee system that looks like the US Congress
Mexican legislators cannot be elected to consecutive terms
This means only about 17% of the legislators have any experience
This deprives Mexico of experienced lawmakers
Single term legislators are reluctant to disobey their party leadership if they hope to get nominated to another post in local or state governments

15. It would increase the prestige of legislators, but not independence
Mexico
Legislature
National Congress
The PRI returned to power in 2012 and has proposed amending the constitution
It would allow legislators to be reelected with the approval of their party
It would increase the prestige of legislators, but not independence
The amount of legislation originating in Congress instead of the presidency has steadily increased since 2000
Parties are well disciplined – legislators always vote with their party – this makes it harder for presidents to convince opposition legislators to work with them

16. Judiciary
Mexico

17. Mexico Judiciary Supreme Court
The judiciary is structured according to the US model
It has a Supreme Court, levels of federal court, and both state and local courts
The Supreme Court has 11 justices who are appointed by the president and approved by 2/3 of the Senate
They serve 15 year terms
They have the power of judicial review

18. Mexico Judiciary Supreme Court
The Supreme Court can determine the constitutionality of legislation upon the request of one third of the lower house
They can only strike down laws if a supermajority – 8 of 11 – justices agree
Reforms have made he court more independent from the president
A 7 member Federal Judicial Council was created to oversee the administration of justice
This has allowed the Court to assume a much more activist role

19. The widespread perception about local judges is that they are corrupt
Mexico
Judiciary
Judiciary
The widespread perception about local judges is that they are corrupt
A 2008 amendment required all state and federal system to use oral arguments and a jury model
This required judges and lawyers to be retrained & hasn’t been implemented fully
The judicial system now has a greater emphasis on due process rights for those of accused criminals and has finally imposed the presumption of innocence
In 2017 Pena Nieto supported new laws that rolled back some of these reforms & gave more power to police

20. Electoral System
Mexico

21. Mexico Elections Corruption
The last two decades of PRI rule – the 1988 election being the most corrupt
In 1996, a truly independent Federal Election Institute was created.
The FEI took away power from the Secretary of Government to
oversee the elections.
Now Mexico has transparent elections
There’s a national system of electoral registration and voter ID cards.
Campaigns are publicly funded and there are limits on private contributions

22. Voting is compulsory, but this is not enforced.
Mexico
Elections
Elections
Voting is compulsory, but this is not enforced.
The PRI made these rules to encourage more turnout to increase legitimacy
Turnout under the PRI was around 70%, but since 2000, it has been much closer to 60% - close to US turnout.
Presidents are directly elected and do not have to obtain a majority of votes
Each of the last 3 presidents have won successively smaller % of the votes

23. Mexico Elections Legislative Elections
The electoral system for Congress is result of PRI reforms in 1986
The lower house has 300 single member districts & 200 proportional election seats
All Deputies in the Chamber serve for 3 year terms.
Senators serve 6 year terms. 3 come from each state & the federal district
The party with the most votes in a state gets two seats & the party finishing second wins a seat
32 additional seats are selected by proportional representation

24. Mexico Elections Legislative Elections
A party has to get at least 2% of the vote to get a seat from PR voting
The Senate elections take place at the same time as the presidential election
All Senators serve for 6 year terms.
In both houses, a party’s total number of seats cannot exceed the % of it’s PR vote by more than 8%
Since there are 3 parties & these rules, it is very hard for any party to win a majority of seats in one of the houses

25. Local Govts
Mexico

26. Mexico Local Govt Local Govt
During PRI rule, Mexico operated mostly like a unitary government
Mexico has 31 states and Mexico City is a federal district
Each state has its own constitution and a unicameral legislature
States are divided into municipios (which are like counties)
State governors, county councils, & county presidents are directly elected
The first challenges to PRI hegemony came at the local level

27. Mexico Local Govt Local Govt
States have important powers but they are restricted by federal bureaucracy
The federal govt collects 90% of all tax revenue, so the states rely on it.
Half of all spending comes from state & local govts, but they get $ from federal
Each state has their own police, but they are seen as very corrupt
Some areas have had local police replaced by federal forces
Mexicans in general have more faith in local govt than federal govt.

28. Estudiar con Enrique
Mexico

29. Enrique’s Encouragement
Main Ideas
Mexico
<Regime under PRI
Presidential Power
Legislature
Enrique’s Encouragement
Election Systems