AP COGO Unit 5 - Mexico Notes

Brief History:

Mexico was under colonial rule starting in 1519. Spain exploited Mexico for its gold and silver and indigenous people were used for labor. Mexico finally became a sovereign state in 1821 following the War of Independence. Since then, the state has became divided between North and South by ideological differences. This created a weak state and allowed for Mexico to be easily defeated in the Mexican-American War where Mexico was forced to sell half of its territory to the United States. Since then, Mexico has experienced a lot of Political Instability under the rule of the dictator Porfirio Diaz and under the rule of the PRI political party.

PRI Rule (1929-2000):

  • Held power through corruption, bribery, intimidation, voter mobilization, and patron-clientism

    • Patron-Clientism: When those in power offer benefits to citizens in exchange for political support

  • Following the election of 1988, PRI had to adopt policies making elections freer and fairer, inevitably leading to the end of one-party rule

Democratization & Legitimacy/Challenges

Mexico completed its transition into a democracy in 2000. Mexico is still currently a democracy that faces challenges to its internal sovereignty from indigenous groups in the south and from drugs cartels possessing a lot of power within the country.

Federalism

Mexico has a federal system divided into 31 states and Mexico city, the capital.

  • Each state has a governor and unicameral legislature

    • Power over taxation, police, education, etc.

  • federalism was weak under PRI but in 2000, federalism strengthened

    • Governors created a national association

  • Corruption and clientism still plague some states

    • State governors and local leaders implicated for supporting cartels

Institutions of Government

The Executive

Mexico’s president serves as both the head of state and the head of government. During PRI rule there was few checks on presidential power because they controlled both the legislative and judicial branches. Since the end of PRI control, presidents have often faced a divided government, which makes it more difficult to get policies passed. Despite checks on power, Mexico’s president still remains powerful.

Powers of the executive:

  • Power to appoint cabinet heads

    • Cabinet Head: Official appointed to run a gov. department with a specific policy area (Ex. treasury, defense)

  • Commander-in-chief of the military

  • Sign/vetos bills

  • Issue decrees with the force of law, bypass legislature

  • Chief diplomat

Despite the powers the president has, they are limited to a single 6 yr term (sexenio).

  • Prevents executive from consolidating too much power

  • Policy may change fairly quickly

President López Obrador was able to issue decrees and pass reforms quickly early in his term due to congressional majorities and little opposition.

  • Populist appeals

  • Anti-corruption campaign

    • Cut funding for NGOs

  • Appointed friends and allies to handle delivery of social programs

  • Criticized media

  • Expanded executive power

    • Gave military stronger role in battling cartels

  • Handled COVID-19 pandemic poorly

The legislature may remove the executive but this is difficult in a presidential system

  • Can be charged with treason and serious crimes of the common order

The Legislature

Mexico’s congress is bicameral (two chambers). The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate make up congress.

  • Chamber of Deputies: Elected lower house of Mexican congress; passes legislation, levies taxes, approves budget, and certifies elections

    • Lower House: Legislative body in bicameral system typically having more members, shorter terms, less prestige, but may be more powerful

  • Senate: Elected upper house of the Mexican congress; power to confirm appointments, ratify treaties, and approve federal intervention in states

    • Upper House: Legislative body typically having fewer members, may have more prestige but less power

Congress has been able to limit presidential power, initiate legislation, amend president’s legislative initiatives, form coalitions, pass policy, etc.

  • Independent congressional cans with no party affiliation allowed to stand for election

  • Divided legislatures provide more checks on presidential power

    • In 2021 MORENA lost supermajority needed to pass constitutional amendments

The Judiciary

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Elections & Political Parties

Elections

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Political Parties

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Civil Society & Political Culture/Participation

Interest Groups & Social Movements

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Civil Rights & Civil Liberties

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Divisions in Mexico

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Economic & Social Change/Development

Globalization

Globalization: Increased connectedness of people, states, and economies.

In the 1980s, Mexico moved away from protectionist economic policies in favor of liberalization policies.

  • Protectionist economic policies used under PRI

    • Oil industry nationalized

    • Land redistributed to peasants

    • Adoption of ISI policies

    • Oil revenue funded public programs

Recent Mexican Economy

Mexico’s government is very intertwined with the U.S. and leads to economic hardships, especially with the treat of tariffs by Trump. ALMO wanted to strengthen economic nationalism and move away from economic liberalization policies.

Social Policies

Mexico has adopted social policies to help assist women, the elderly, and the impovershed

  • Ex. Abortion policy

    • Varies by state but is protect despite Catholic majority

  • Mexico’s prospera program

    • Conditional cash transfer program administered by the federal government that gave families resources to send their children to school

    • Provided healthcare & food

    • Ended in 2021 with program being opposed by the general public

Shifting Demographics

As trade has increased so have regional disparities between the North and South.

  • Migration from South to North/rural to urban

  • Many migrating to the U.S.

Mexico & the Future

There is hope for Mexico that democratic institutions will continue to evolve and consolidate. Mexico has a growing middle-class and there is the hopes that the economy will continue to grow despite setbacks.

  • COVID-19 Pandemic led to economic hardships and setbacks

Pluralism has been replacing the currently established corporatist system in civil society where citizens have had a stronger voice in the government. Despite this, Mexico continues to face challenges:

  • Quality of democracy is not ideal

  • Drug violence & corruption

  • Human rights abuses

  • Poverty & income inequality

Vocabulary

  • Patron-Clientism: When those in power offer benefits to citizens in exchange for political support