2. Presentation Outline II. Political Institutions
Presidential system/separation of powers
The President
The Legislative Branch
Recruitment of elites
The Judicial Branch
The Party System
The Electoral System

3. II. a) presidential system/separation of powers
Mexico has three completely separate branches of government. Unlike Britain’s parliamentary system, Mexico’s legislative and executive branches are separately elected and work independently of one another. However, in order to pass legislation both the executive and legislative branches need to come to an agreement. When one political party controls both legislative houses and the presidency, as PRI did for much of the twentieth century, it is easy to pass legislation. But in a competitive system where one party may control the presidency, and another the legislative branch, legislative deadlock may occur.

4. The main reason for the presidential system is to ensure a system of checks and balances and to prevent corruption and a monopolization of power

5. Divided Government President Chamber of Deputies Senate
Senate defeats president’s bill.
Proposes legislation
Senate
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber blocks president’s legislative agenda

6. II. b) The President
The Mexican president is both head of government and head of state
Is elected for one 6 year term without the possibility of re-election
Appoints Cabinet secretaries
Nominates supreme court judges
Is commander in chief of the armed forces
Has decree powers
Can veto legislation

7. Recent Mexican Presidents
*Until 1999 the President also had the power to choose or handpick his successor. Since 1999 Political Parties run primaries. The party members vote for the party leader.
Carlos Salinas
PRI
Ernesto Zedillo
PRI
Vicente Fox
PAN
Felipe Calderon
PAN
Enrique Nieto
PRI

8. II. c) The Legislative Branch
Mexico legislative branch is bicameral.
Elected Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) based on representation by population
Elected Senate (Upper House) based on regional representation

9. Mexican Chamber of Deputies
elected to one 3 year term (no re-election
Creates and amends legislation
Can overturn a presidential veto with a supermajority (66%+)
Can impeach the president with a supermajority (66%+)
500 members total
300 elected by SMD
200 elected by PR
Regardless of popular vote totals, no party may have more than 300/500 seats

10. The Senate Elected to one 6 year term (no re-election
Creates and amends legislation
Can overturn a presidential veto with a supermajority (66%+)
Can impeach the president with a supermajority (66%+)
Confirms presidential appointments to the Cabinet and Supreme Court
Can remove a governor or dissolve a state legislature with a supermajority vote (66%+)
128 members
4 Senators per state
Half elected using SMD
Half elected using PR

11. II. d) Recruitment of elites
PRI leaders have tended to rise through camarillas (support networks) or “old boys” networks, including top Mexican universities and US ivy league grad schools such as Harvard and Yale
Traditionally, most PRI leaders were technocrats with training in engineering, economic, or political science
The Capitalinos, residents of Mexico City have also tended to dominate the elite party positions and Cabinet posts
The PAN party is less institutionalized in Mexico and are essentially still outsiders as far as networking is concerned. Many top PAN leaders such as Vicente Fox tend to have a private sector and business background

12. II. e) The Judicial Branch
Mexico uses a legal code based on Roman Law.
The judicial branch is independent of the legislative and executive branches.
2008 Legal Reform
The Supreme Court
Rule of law

13. 2008 legal reforms
The Mexican government passed a legal reform act which improved due process for defendants in criminal trials.
Now defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the state.
Prior to 2008 defendants had to prove innocence; this resulted in the unjust conviction and imprisonment of many innocent people

14. The Mexican Supreme Court
Highest federal court in Mexico
Consists of 11 judges who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate
Judges are limited to one 15 year term
Has the authority to declare government laws and actions unconstitutional. This is known as judicial review
In order for the court to declare an act unconstitutional a vote of at least 8/11 supreme court judges is required
Judicial review has rarely been used against the wishes of the Mexican President

15. Rule of law
Mexico is moving towards rule of law but has a long way to go to catch up to liberal democracies in this aspect.

16. II. f) The Party System
From the mid-1990s Mexico essentially had a one-party dominant state, even though a multi-party system did exist and was provided for constitutionally
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) dominated this period
Since the mid-1990s a competitive multi-party system has emerged.
Parties now have clear ideologies and their own support bases.

17. Alignment of Main Mexican Political Parties on the Political Spectrum
National Action Party
Party of the Democratic Revolution
Institutional Revolutionary Party
Mexican Green Party
Left Centre Right

18. Geographic and Popular Support Bases of PAN, PRI, and PRD
Party
Popular Support Base
Middle class professionals and entrepreneurs
Landowners
PRI outsiders
Middle and upper class elites with party connections
Poor, rural farmers
Young, urban intellectuals
Students
Lower-middle class professions
Geographic
Base of Support
States north of Mexico city
Some resort and tourist states in the south
More widespread support
Poor southern states
Mexico city
Urban centres

19. II. g) The Electoral System
Direct elections for the Chamber of Deputies, Senate, and Presidency
Mexico uses a mixed PR and SMD system for electing members to the Chamber of Deputies and Senate
Presidents are limited to one six year term and are elected using a plurality system, with no majority or second round run-off needed.

21. 1993 Electoral Reform law Doubled the Size of the Senate
Guarantee that opposition parties would control at least one-third of the Senate seats
Guarantee that no political party could have more than 300 out of 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies
* Without a supermajority (2/3 of the seats) no political party can push through its agenda without the support of opposition parties.

22. Discussion Questions
Compare and contrast the Mexican President with the British Prime Minister in terms of their relationship with the electorate and their respective legislatures.
Why do you think Mexico instituted the no re-election law for its political office holders? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this unique law?
Which other political party system that we have studied most closely represents Mexico’s system under PRI rule, and today?