AP COMP GOV UNIT 5: MEXICO

What are the three challenges of Mexico’s democracy?

Need to establish political order; need to implement strategies for economic development; need to establish political transparency and rule of law.

Who was Enrique Pena Nieto?

First PRI member to be elected president since the return of democracy.

What are the major geographic features of Mexico?

Two major mountain ranges (East and West Sierra Madres); 12% arable land, mostly in the North; minerals and oil.

Who are Mestizos?

Mexicans with mixed ancestry, born in the Americas, descendants from Spain; 60% of Mexico's population.

What is Maya?

Largest indigenous group in Mexico, located in the South.

What is Nahuatl?

Second largest indigenous group in Mexico, located in Central Mexico.

What percentage of the Mexican population resides in urban areas?

Three-quarters (75%).

Who was Hernan Cortes?

Spanish conquistador who arrived in Mexico in the 1500s and found the advanced indigenous civilizations (Maya, Aztecs, Toltecs).

Who was Cuauhtemoc?

Aztec military leader.

Who are Criollos?

Mexican-born descendants of Spaniards during the period of Spanish colonial rule.

What was Mexico’s War of Independence?

11-year conflict that resulted in Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821.

Who are latifundistas?

Large landholders with significant power.

Who are Caciques?

Local military strongmen who generally controlled local politics in Mexico during the 19th Century.

Who was General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna?

Mexico’s first great caudillo who dominated politics for 3 decades in the mid-19th century.

Who are Caudillos?

National military strongmen who dominated Mexican politics in the 19th and early 20th century.

What was the Mexican-American War?

Conflict between Mexico and the USA (1846-48) where the USA gained ½ of Mexico’s territory.

What was the War of the Castes?

Massive 19th Century Uprising of Mexico’s indigenous population against the Mexican state.

Who was Benito Juarez?

19th Century Mexican president who is considered an early proponent of modern secular democratic Mexico.

Who was Porfirio Diaz?

Mexican dictator who ruled from 1876 to 1910 and was deposed by the Mexican Revolution.

What is the significance of the Porfiriato?

Authoritarian rule that brought stability and foreign investment into Mexico.

What was the Mexican Revolution?

Conflict in Mexico from 1910-1917 that established the PRI regime; middle class anti-Diaz, more democratic, capitalist vs the radical socialist reformers (agrarian reform) over state control.

Who was Francisco Madero?

Initial leader of the Mexican Revolution and a landowner who sought moderate democratic reform; led middle-class reformers.

Who was Francisco (Pancho) Villa?

Mexican revolutionary who led peasants in the North.

Who was Emiliano Zapata?

Mexican revolutionary who led peasants in the south.

What was the Constitution of 1917?

Document established by the Mexican Revolution that continues to regulate Mexico’s political system; was written by the middle class and included regular elections, decreased influence of the Catholic Church, devolution of power, federalism, term limits, indigenous protection, land reform, and nationalist property rights.

What are some main characteristics of the PRI authoritarian regime?

Regular elections for President every 6 years with directly elected presidents; named successors; not many checks of power; dominated parties and civil society and the economy; electoral fraud, protest suppression, political parties encouraged/tolerated, civil liberties.

Who was Vicente Fox?

PAN president, first non-PRI president after the fall of the PRI authoritarian regime.

Who was Felipe Calderon?

PAN successor to Vicente Fox.

What led to the deterioration of the PRI?

1970s illegitimacy: decreased economic activity and disregard for the rule of law; 1977 electoral law changed to implement proportional representation; Ernesto Zedillo = president who made political reforms that paved the way for fair elections.

What did Article 59 of the Constitution do?

Legislatures cannot be elected for consecutive terms (overruled in 2014).

Who was Lazaro Cardenas?

PRI president who implemented land reform and nationalized Mexican oil companies.

Who was Cuaulitemoc Cardenas?

PRI member who led the separation of the leftist PRI faction.

Who was Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador? (AMLO)

Mexican leftist who lost the 2006 and 2012 elections and challenged the legitimacy of the Mexican electoral process.

What is Mexico’s regime?

Democratic.

What division of power does Mexico have?

Symmetric Federal system.

How many houses does Mexico’s legislature have?

2 houses (bicameral).

What are the lower and upper houses in Mexico’s legislature?

Lower House: Chamber of Deputies; Upper House: Senate.

How many people are in the Chamber of Deputies?

500.

How many people are in the Senate?

128.

How are the representatives in both legislative houses elected?

Mixed proportional and SMD. Lower: 500 total = 300 SMD + 200 PR. Upper: 128 total = 3 from each state and Mexico City (2 from majority party and 1 from 2nd place party) + 32 PR.

What are the term lengths/limits for the lower house?

3 years (1 term), 4 terms.

What are the term lengths/limits for the upper house?

6 years (1 term), 2 terms.

What are the powers of the lower house?

⅔ vote to impeach president, ⅔ votes to override veto, pass laws, levy taxes, verify election outcome.

What are the powers of the upper house?

Confirm appointments to the supreme court, approve federal intervention in state matters, treaties.

Who does the electorate get to directly elect?

State government officials, President, Lower House.

What executive system does Mexico have?

Presidential.

What electoral system does Mexico have?

Mixed.

How is the President elected?

Direct election by Plurality.

How long is Mexico's presidential term?

6 years.

Are there term limits for Mexico presidents?

Yes, they only have one term.

What are the powers of the president?

Propose laws, sign/veto laws, Commander in Chief, Appoint supreme court justices.

Who is the current president of Mexico?

Claudia Sheinbaum.

What party is Mexico’s current president from?

MORENA.

What is Mexico’s highest court?

National Supreme Court of Justice.

What is distinct about Mexico’s judiciary compared to that of China and Russia?

Rule of Law.

Who appoints the supreme court justices?

The president.

Who confirms the supreme court justices?

The Senate.

How many justices are there in Mexico’s supreme court?

11 Justices.

What is a major difference between Mexico’s supreme court and the US supreme court?

Justices have term limits.

How long are the terms for supreme court justices?

15 years.

What is the majority required for supreme court justices to make rulings?

8/11 supermajority.

What type of party system does Mexico have?

Multi Party system.

What allows for Mexico to have this party system?

Proportional representation.

What are the 4 major parties in Mexico?

PAN (Far right), PRD (Center-left), MORENA (Far left), and PRI (Center-right).

What is the PRI?

Partido Revolucionario Institucional = Mexican political party that emerged from the Mexican revolution to preside over an authoritarian regime that lasted until 2000.

What is the PRD?

Partido de la Revolución Democrática = Left-leaning political party.

What is PAN?

Partido Acción Nacional founded in 1939, far-right-leaning political party.

What are the major demographics of each of the parties?

PAN: North, upper class, business owners; PRI: South, North, rural areas, poorer; PRD: South, intellectuals, middle class; MORENA: South, intellectuals, middle class.

What is the significance of land reform in Mexico?

Original to the 1917 constitution, redistributed over 50% of land back to peasants.

What are Ejidos?

Communal plots of land.

What is El Dedazo?

Practice where the president or other top officials have significant influence over who gets appointed to key positions within the government or public institutions.

What is the significance of El Dedazo in Mexico?

Under PRI rule, incumbent would choose successor; the president would choose a Secretary of Government who would run the elections and rig them.

What is PEMEX?

Parastatal oil company owned by the government with some political power; funded ⅓ of the budget in the past.

How has PEMEX been reformed?

Privatization and more international investment.

What is the controversy behind opening PEMEX to foreign investors?

Reduces budget/profit and reduces sovereignty.

What institution was established against electoral fraud?

National Electoral Institute (IFE).

How has the judicial system been reformed?

From Inquisitorial to Oral/jury system and increased transparency.

What is the Camarilla system?

Reliance on a network of relationships for political progress (patron clientelism) in universities, jobs, etc.; more prevalent under PRI.

What is the equivalent to the camarilla system in China and Russia?

China: Guanxi and Russia: Nomenklatura.

How has international trade played an increasing role in Mexico?

Increased involvement in supranational organizations like the WTO, IMF, and NAFTA (USMCA).

What are maquiladora zones?

Factories that import parts then export manufactured goods; 50% of Mexico’s exports and located close to the US border.

How has the location of maquiladora zones affected wealth distribution in Mexico?

Increased wealth disparity between North and South because they are located closer to the US border and boost the economy of the North.

What is the North American Free Trade Agreement?

Trade agreement with the USA and Canada. A portion of exports have to be made with US materials. Opened the economy and increased liberalization.

What were the effects of NAFTA?

Decreased tariffs, increased trade with the USA by 500%, cut costs of goods for Mexican consumers by ⅕, increased wealth gap, increased exports to the USA, increased access to US markets, diversified economy, negatively impacted farmers, and increased competition in the economy.

What is import substitution industrialization? (ISI)

Political economic model characterized by protectionist policies like tariffs in order to promote industrial growth.

What is the Mexican Miracle?

Spectacular economic growth in Mexico from 1940-1980s.

What is the informal sector?

Sector of the economy that is not regulated or taxed by the state; ¼ labor force underground, about 13% of GDP.

Describe the middle class in Mexico?

Growth due to increased economic stability, anti-poverty government programs, and NAFTA.

What are the main cleavages/social issues in Mexico?

Gender, religion, ethnic, separatists, drug cartels, and North vs. South economically and ethnically.

What are the main characteristics of Mexico's political culture?

Catholicism, dependency on others (first on Spain, now on America), Machismo, distrust of state and government, and little to no interest in politics.

What are the main ethnic groups in Mexico?

62% Mestizo, 28% Indigenous, and 10% other.

What is the party alignment of Mexico?

20% left, 23% right, and 40% center.

What are the relevant gender issues in Mexico?

Violence against women and abortion (as of 2021 not a federal crime, varied by state, as of 2023 states cannot penalize).

What is the major religion in Mexico?

Catholicism.

How does religion impact Mexican society?

Early revolution tried to limit religion (no land owning, no processions, no wearing garb in public), people revolted, and 83% are Catholic.

What is Mestizo?

Mexicans with mixed ancestry, born in the Americas, descendants from Spain; 60% of Mexico.

How much of Mexico is indigenous?

30%.

How are indigenous Mexicans treated?

Marginalized, and agricultural communities hit hard by neoliberal reforms.

What is the major separatist movement of Mexico?

Zapatista Army of National Liberation.

What is the Zapatista army of national liberation?

Mayan militant separatist group that has occupied parts of the south since the 90s.