MEXICO+pd.+3+Government+Structure

Constitutionalm Provisions
 * the constitution came about durring Mexico's fight for independence against spain.
 * two documents were written as an introduction to the mexican r epublic.
 * //Los sentimientos de la nación// (1813)
 * the Constitution of Apatzingán (1814)
 * many other constitutions followed in the succeeding years due to the changing of power in Mexico until the constitution of 1917 became the final and functional constitution that is in effect today
 * the constitution is based on liberal political policies and respect for individual liberties
 * change to constitution in 1929, under rule of PRI
 * it includes similar components of the United States Constitution:
 * federalism
 * seperatio n of powers
 * bill of rights
 * seperation of church and state
 * otherwise, they practice:
 * universal sufferage (for males)
 * The three branches of government do not have equal power but are attempting to become more equal
 * Executive:
 * only the president may approve a law
 * the executive may veto a law that is passed in the legislature, it may be overridden, but it is not constitutionally possible that a bill passed by congress will become a law without the president's aproval
 * bills proposed by the executive take precident over all other bills
 * the constitution gives the president the power to issue fundemental rules that have the same authority as a law
 * Legislative:
 * bicameral congress
 * Senate
 * Chamber of Deputies
 * "The powers of the congress include the right to pass laws, impose taxes, declare war, approve the national budget, approve or reject treaties and conventions made with foreign countries, and ratify diplomatic appointments" ([])
 * controls government budget and foreign policy
 * Judiciary:
 * composed of the Suprime Court, federal courts and state courts
 * law is based on Spanish Civil Law and Common Law
 * does not have the power of judicial review, does not rule against the president
 * powers are separated and federalism is practiced; the central government has the most power and limits are placed on the powers of subunits at the disgression of the central government
 * government power grants individual liberties and the constitution contains a bill of rights (social and labor rights)

Constitution in Reality Executive [] []) Legislative Other the military is very small and has liitle political power Comparative Context Level of Democracy Legitimacy Transparency
 * the constitution is partially followed
 * when the state was under one-party rule fo the PRI party, the executive was almost authortarian and the government was very centralized
 * powers were claimed to be separated, but the legislature served as a rubber stamp to the executive and were expected to please the president
 * the judiciary had little meaning and did not hold any formal power or judicial review
 * the constitutionality of new laws was determined by the legislature according to executive desires; the constitution served as a guideline
 * with the approval of the new constitution and the upbringing of opposing parties, the government is becoming less centralized and subunits are given more power and it is slowly becoming more democratic; the constitution is taken more seriously when laws are approved and is undergoing reforms
 * Head of Government: Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa
 * elected in controversial election of 2006 (suspected fraud)
 * member of the PAN political party: social conservative, liberal
 * born of a political family
 * was a representative in the Chamber of Deputies
 * in 1996-1999 serves as a chairman for PAN party
 * married with three children
 * Important Issues
 * moving towards democracy, issues with the economy since the 1980s
 * Plane Crash 2008
 * War Against Cartels
 * Important Executives:
 * Hernan Cortez
 * captures Tenochtitlan 1519
 * spainish control of mexico
 * Catholicism
 * Benito Juarez
 * liberal president 1810
 * military general, very charasmatic
 * fights to form separate country of mexico
 * Porfirio Diaz
 * military coup in 1876
 * scientific and economic progress
 * stability, authortarian
 * gap between rich and poor
 * forign investment
 * Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa
 * revolution of 1910-1911
 * patron-client system
 * lead peasant armies
 * PRI: President Calles
 * brings caudillos together for agreement in 1929
 * one political party PRI
 * sexsenio, six year term
 * institutionalize revolution, bring leaders together
 * new constitution, PRI power
 * Lazaro Cardenaz
 * 1934 charasmatic president
 * stabilizes and radicalizes politics
 * redistribution of land (ejidos)
 * nationalization of industry
 * investment in public work
 * encourage civil society
 * concentrate power in presidency
 * Vicente Fox
 * PAN president in 2000
 * competitive elcetoral sysytem
 * PRI continues to lose power
 * Cabinet
 * The president confers broad powers on cabinet secretaries, although the cabinet rarely meets as a single body. There is a hierarchy of influence among the different cabinet posts, and the power of a minister or secretary varies, depending on the priorities set by a particular president as well as the resources available at the time.
 * president may freely appoint or dismiss cabinet members
 * []
 * Buraucracy
 * fill positions of state-owned industries, schools, local governments
 * great deal of power, paid little
 * parastatals, government agencies (PEMEX)
 * patron-client system, promote business deals (camarilas)
 * bicameral legislature
 * chamber of deputies, senate
 * both chambers are responsible for the discussion and approval of legislation and the ratification of high-level presidential appointments. In theory, the power of introducing bills is shared with the executive, although in practice the executive initiates about 90 percent of all legislation.
 * All members of the congress are barred from immediate reelection but may serve nonconsecutive terms.
 * The powers of the congress include the right to pass laws, impose taxes, declare war, approve the national budget, approve or reject treaties and conventions made with foreign countries, and ratify diplomatic appointments. The Senate addresses all matters concerning foreign policy, approves international agreements, and confirms presidential appointments. The Chamber of Deputies, much like the United States House of Representatives, addresses all matters pertaining to the government's budget and public expenditures. As in the United States, in cases of impeachment, the Chamber of Deputies has the power to prosecute, and the Senate acts as the jury. In some instances, both chambers share certain powers, such as establishing committees to discuss particular government issues and question government officials. The deputies have the power to appoint a provisional president. In the event of impeachment, the two chambers are convened jointly as a General Congress. Each legislative chamber has a number of committees that study and recommend bills. If there is disagreement between the chambers, a joint committee is appointed to draft a compromise version.
 * ([])
 * the legislative is becoming less of a rubber stamp of the executive as democracy increases
 * there have been no military coups in the twentieth century
 * police and military are responsible for:
 * indigenous uprisings
 * drug trade
 * civilian control and protection
 * US: legislative system, federal divisions
 * Britian: legislative system, divisions
 * Nigeria: federal system
 * Russia: goes through reforms, industrialization and privatization
 * experience coup de'tats as many other coutries in times of economic downturns, and revolutions
 * a less complex government structure than Russia, Iran and China
 * contains three seperate branches only, no extra parts
 * under one party rule for a time like Russia (PRD)
 * Mexico has a long history back to the Aztec empire as China does
 * Mexico experiences anti-clericism, to remove religion from having impact on the government,
 * Mexico created the pedulum theory between modernization and dependecy along with two models explaining the lack of economic development; the westernization model and the dependency theory
 * hosehold responsibility system: china, are like ejidos
 * "Reflecting the varied social backgrounds and political philosophies of its framers, the constitution of 1917 includes various contradictory provisions, endorsing within the same text socialism, capitalism, liberal democracy, authoritarian corporatism, and a host of unimplemented provisions for specific social reforms" ([])
 * constitutional reforms are in progress
 * devolution of the government and federalism is becoming more practiced
 * viewed as a transitional democracy
 * drug trafficing threatens the legitimacy
 * Revolution of 1910-1911:path to change, charisma
 * PRI stabilization of democracy and constitution 1929
 * holds officials accountable for law
 * citizens are aware of government issues
 * some corruption

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