An overview of the Mexican Government for Political science 124
Population
128 million
Homogenous language and religion
Catholicism
Patron-Clientelism
System based on “Who you know”
Citizens support local elites(politicians/business leaders) to?
get need/wants furnished
Is Mexico corrupt?
Yes
PRI
Political Party, Institutional Revolutionary Party
Which Political party controlled Mexico for 70 years?
The PRI
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement
NAFTA is a…
important supranational organization
Supranational
Multiple countries belong to the organization
Maquiladoras
Factories that are tariff free (tax free) and duty free
What does the NAFTA help to flourish?
Maquiladoras
Constitution (1917) is…
the source of power and legitimacy
Mexico has a strong…
presidential system
What weakened the presidential system?
electoral reform (1993)
State corporatism
The government sets up the interest group, you can’t start your own
What does the state corporatism represent?
peasants, labor unions, and etc.
Mexico is a more…
pluralistic society
Pluralistic society
A society that has the freedom to join groups
Parastatals
Government owned corporations
What economy does Mexico have?
free market economy
Mexico has a small…
middle class
What is the foundation of Mexico’s economy?
Oil
Federal system
multiple levels of government
How many states does Mexico have?
32
Which state has legislative and governor bodies?
every state
Centralization
Power and money are more centralized
Ernesto Zedillo
(1994-2000)
Ended PRI
Wouldn’t assume party leadership
Wouldn't name successor
Promoted a more open electoral system
Vincent Fox
(2000 -2006)
First non-PRI President (PAN Party)
Felipe Cauldron
(2006-2012)
PAN party
Taking on Drug Cartels
Enrique Pena Nieto
(PRI 2012-2018)
Who created his own political party and won?
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador
(AMLO)
Left PRD→made MORENA party
Socialist Leftist
Chamber of Deputies
Lower house
How many members are in the chamber of deputies?
500
How many parties are in the Chamber of deputies?
3
Senate
upper house
How many members does the Senate have?
128 members
The Senate can…
check chamber on legislation
Presidency is based on a…
plurality system
SMD
Single Member district
Chambers are elected by?
SMD an proportional rep systems
Proportional representation
You don’t vote for a person but a party flag
What percentage of votes do you need to get seat in the Chamber?
5%
300 ___ is selected by plurality
SMD
200 elected by…
national party
The Senate is elected by…
MMS and proportional rep systems
MMS
Multi member state
How many states get 3 senators?
every state
Candidates run in…
pairs
How many seats does the winning team get?
3 seats (64 total)
The team in second place gets how many seats?
32 total
PRI dominated till…
1999
PRI is…
center right
Corporatist
more state control
strong in rural areas.
PAN is…
 center right
Business oriented
Tied to Cath. Church
Strong in North and educated classes
MORENA is the most…
leftist party
Judicial review
Power to check the other branches
Is there real independent Judiciary?
No
Is there real judicial review?
No
Zapistitas (EZLN)
Kickstarted a Movement in Chiapas for indigenous rights since 1990
Chiapas is the …
poorest city
Who started a movement for Chiapas?
Subcommadate Marcos
Mexico’s biggest political change occured in?
1993
IFE
Federal Election commision
INE
National election commission
Since the 1980s economic change happened around?
Cuts in govt. Spending
Reducing debt
Marketization-increased privatization
What percentage of Mexico is poor?
50%
Who is Mexico still economically dependent on?
the U.S