mexico

President:

• Elected by plurality vote (no runoff).

• Serves a single six-year term (sexenio) with no re-election.
  Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) – 500 members:
  
  

• 300 elected by single-member districts (FPTP).

• 200 elected by proportional representation (PR) using party lists.

• Term: 3 years; members can be re-elected up to 4 consecutive terms.

Senate (Upper House) – 128 members:

• 96 elected (3 per state): 2 go to the majority party, 1 to the second-place party (FPTP-style).

• 32 elected by proportional representation (PR) on a national party list.

• Term: 6 years; senators can be re-elected once.

Electoral system promotes multiparty competition, especially through PR.

INE (National Electoral Institute): Independent body that organizes elections and ensures fairness.

PRI

• Founded in 1929 (not 1924) after the Mexican Revolution to unify factions and stabilize the country.
  
  

• Ruled Mexico as a dominant-party regime for 71 years (1929–2000) through a mix of clientelism, patronage, and corporatism.
  
  

• Created PEMEX (state-owned oil company) in 1938, asserting state control over natural resources.
  
  

• Maintained tight control over media, unions, and electoral processes (including vote manipulation) until democratic reforms in the late 20th century.
  
  

• Practiced a “dedazo” system—the outgoing president selected the next PRI candidate.
  
  

• Lost presidency in 2000 to Vicente Fox (PAN), marking the first peaceful transfer of power to opposition.
  
  

• Returned briefly to power with Enrique Peña Nieto (2012–2018), but has since lost influence.

Explain how the PRI lost power?

1994 Chiapas Rebellion (Zapatista uprising) exposed deep inequality and indigenous marginalization, challenging the PRI’s image of national unity.

Assassination of PRI presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio (1994) shook public confidence and revealed internal divisions within the party.

Economic crises, including the 1994 peso crisis, led to public discontent and skepticism of PRI leadership.

Growing demand for democratic reform: Citizens and opposition parties pushed back against election manipulation and lack of political competition.

Electoral reforms in the 1990s (e.g. creation of the independent INE) made elections more transparent and competitive.

Corruption and poor governance led to rising protest movements and loss of legitimacy.

2000 presidential election: PRI lost to Vicente Fox (PAN), marking the first peaceful transition of power to an opposition party.

The patron-client system was important to building their power base.

PAN- National Action Party 

Founded in 1939 in opposition to the ruling party’s socialist policies.

Center-right party that supports free-market economic policies and limited government intervention.

Has traditional ties to the Catholic Church, influencing its stance on social issues.

Gained support in northern Mexico and won its first governorship in Baja California in 1989.

Won the presidency for the first time in 2000 with Vicente Fox, ending 71 years of PRI rule.

Held the presidency again from 2006–2012 under Felipe Calderón.

Known for promoting democratic reforms, anti-corruption efforts, and a tougher stance on crime and drug cartels.

Lost the presidency in 2012 and currently holds a minority of seats in the legislature and governs a few states.

PRD- Party of the Democratic Revolution

• Founded in 1989 by former PRI members and leftist activists, including Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, after a disputed presidential election in 1988.
  
  

• Left-leaning party that supports social justice, expanded welfare programs, and stronger government involvement in the economy.
  
  

• Longtime opposition party advocating for democratic reforms and indigenous rights.
  
  

• Strong support in southern and central Mexico, especially in Mexico City.
  
  

• Competed closely with PAN and PRI in the 1990s and early 2000s, but began losing influence after 2012.
  
  

• Lost major support when Andrés Manuel López Obrador left the party to form Morena in 2014.
  
  

• Currently holds a small share of legislative seats and has limited political influence compared to its past.
  
  

Social Cleavages:

1. Ethnic Cleavage:
   
   

   • Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous: The indigenous population, primarily in the south and southeast, faces economic, educational, and social disparities compared to the predominantly mestizo (mixed-race) population.
     
     

   • Indigenous groups have historically been marginalized, with calls for greater representation and autonomy.
     
     

2. Regional Cleavage:
   
   

   • North vs. South: The northern states, closer to the U.S., are more economically developed, industrialized, and aligned with neoliberal economic policies. The southern states, particularly Chiapas and Guerrero, are less developed and have higher levels of poverty.
     
     

   • Regional inequality contributes to political and economic divides.
     
     

3. Class Cleavage:
   
   

   • Wealthy Elites vs. Working Poor: A significant wealth gap exists between the rich (often urban elites, business owners, and those involved in the oil industry) and the impoverished rural and urban working classes.
     
     

   • The working class and poor are concentrated in southern states and urban slums.
     
     

4. Urban vs. Rural Cleavage:
   
   

   • Urbanization: Mexico's urban centers (Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara) are wealthier and more politically active, while rural areas face issues of poverty, lack of infrastructure, and underdevelopment.
     
     

   • Rural populations are often more conservative, while urban centers tend to lean more progressive.
     
     

5. Religious Cleavage:
   
   

   • Catholic vs. Secular: While Mexico is officially secular, the Roman Catholic Church has historically had significant influence over social and political life, especially in rural areas. Secularism has gained ground in urban centers.
     
     

6. Gender Cleavage:
   
   

   • Men vs. Women: Mexico has made progress in gender equality, but traditional gender roles remain strong, especially in rural areas. Women, particularly in the workforce and political spheres, still face significant challenges in achieving equality.
     
     

Status of Civil Society:

Historical Role: Mexican civil society has historically acted as a safeguard against governmental misconduct, often facing restrictions such as denial of legal recognition for their activities. ​

Legal Framework: The Mexican Constitution guarantees freedom of association, supporting the existence and activities of civil society organizations (CSOs).

Current Challenges: Proposed legislation aiming to heavily regulate CSOs has raised concerns about potential violations of international legal obligations and threats to the autonomy of these organizations. ​

Public Perception: Civil society is generally viewed favorably by the public, with many organizations working to promote social development and human rights. ​

Political Economy:

State-Owned Oil Company (PEMEX): Established in 1938, PEMEX is Mexico's state-owned oil company, playing a significant role in the national economy by contributing to revenue and employment.​

Maquiladoras: Initiated in the 1960s, maquiladoras are manufacturing plants that import materials duty-free, assemble products, and export them, primarily to the U.S. They have been pivotal in job creation and industrial development, especially in border regions

Mexico

• Executive Branch:
  
  

  • Presidency:
    
    

    • Elected for one non-renewable six-year term (sexenio).
      
      

    • Considered both a head of state and government.
      
      

    • Powers include appointing cabinet members and signing legislation into law.
      
      

    • Extra Note: Unlike parliamentary systems, the Mexican president does not face a parliamentary no-confidence vote.
      
      

• Legislative Branch:
  
  

  • Chamber of Deputies:
    
    

    • Mixed electoral system: combination of first-past-the-post in single-member districts and proportional representation.
      
      

    • Represents both local interests (via district representatives) and overall party support (via party lists).
      
      

  • Senate:
    
    

    • Designed to represent the regions of Mexico.
      
      

    • Members are elected at-large to ensure broad geographic representation.
      
      

• Political Party System:
  
  

  • Historically dominated by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which maintained power for most of the 20th century.
    
    

  • Recent multi party system includes PAN (Partido Acción Nacional), MORENA (Movimiento Regeneración Nacional), and PRD (Partido de la Revolución Democrática).
    
    

Additional Point: PAN’s breakthrough in 2000 with Vicente Fox signified a major shift in Mexican political dynamics.