Chapter 3-Mexico Case Study

Mexico democratized, changing from an authoritarian, single party dominant state under the PRI to a democracy with the election of the PAN in 2000

The mexican government claims several sources of legitimacy, including a constitution and more free and fair elections, but it faces challenges to sovereignty

Patron-clientelism: when those in power offer benefits to citizens in exchange for political support

Mexico has a Presidential system of government with separate executive legislative and judicial institutions

Mexico's president is both head of state and head of government and serves a single six year term

 the Congress of the Union is bicameral with the lower house representing the people in the Upper House representing the states

 Mexico's Judiciary is becoming more independent but corruption especially at the local level hinders rule of law

 head of state: the symbolic representative of a country

 head of government: the key executive and the policy making process

 cabinet head: an official appointed to run a government Department with a specific policy area

Sexenio: the single six term year for the Mexican president

Non-governmental organization (NGO): a non-profit group outside the government's control 

Bicameral: a legislator with two Chambers

 chamber of deputies: the elected lower House of the Mexican Congress which has the power to pass legislation, Levy taxes, approve the budget, and certify elections

Lower house: the legislative body and a bicameral system that typically has more members, shorter terms, and less Prestige than the upper house, but it may be the more powerful body in the legislature 

Senate: the elected Upper House of the Mexican congress, which has the power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve Federal intervention in the states 

upper house: the legislative body and a bicameral system that typically has fewer members and may have more Prestige but less power than the lower house 

Mexico uses a plurality system for electing the president and a mixed system for electing the legislature

 Mexico has a multi-party system with three strong parties: MORENA, PRI, and PAN

Mexico is transitioning away from corporatism towards a pluralist system of interest group activity

 the Zapatista Movement was a successful social movement that called attention to the plight of indigenous people 

Civil society: groups that form outside the government's control

 mandate: the broad support of the people to carry out proposed policies

 mixed electoral system: a system for electing members of the legislator that includes both single-member districts and seats awarded through proportional representation

 proportional representation system: system in which seats in the legislature are awarded according to the percentage of votes a party receives

 Corporatism: a system in which the state controls interest groups and chooses the ones it wishes to recognize

 Peak Association: an organization authorized by the government to represent a group, such as labor, business, or agriculture

 pluralism: a system in which groups are allowed to form and advocate for their interests outside of government control 

Although the Mexican constitution protects civil rights and liberties, human rights abuses and lack of prosecution prevent Mexico from being a liberal democracy

 there is a social cleavage in Mexico between the North and south, and the north is better educated and more prosperous

 there's a social cleavage in Mexico between mestizos and Indigenous people, who are poorer and face discrimination 

Political culture: a set of collectively held attitudes values and beliefs about government and politics, and the normal behavior in the political system

 civil liberties:  fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement by the government

 civil rights: protections granted by the government to prevent people from being discriminated against when engaged in fundamental political actions, such as voting

 societal cleavage: a division and Society among social factors such as ethnicity, class, religion, or language

 political cleavage: a division among citizens according to political beliefs

In the past Mexico adopted protectionist economy policies, including import substitution industrialization

 in the 1980s Mexico adopted economic reforms including NAFTA and the USMCA

 social policies in Mexico include the decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City and Oaxaca and programs to provide poor people with cash, education, and health care 

Migration occurs within Mexico from the south to the north, and from rural areas to cities and from Mexico to the United States 

There are reasons to be both optimistic and pessimistic about Mexico's future

 economic liberalism: economic policies that support the free market and reduced trade barriers

 globalization: The increased interconnectedness of people, states, and economies

Protectionist economic policies: designed to protect domestic industry and reduce foreign influence

 nationalized industry: estate owned company controlled by the government

 import substitution industrialization: enacting High tariffs and providing incentives to encourage the growth of domestic Manufacturing

Privatization: when a government transfers ownership and control of a nationalized industry to the private sector