|
The 1917 Constitution of Mexico provides for a federal republic with powers separated into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Historically, the executive is the dominant branch, with power vested in the president, who promulgates and executes the laws of the Congress. Congress has played an increasingly important role since 1997 when opposition parties first formed a majority in the legislature. Government and politics of Mexico takes place in a framework of a federal presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Mexico is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. President of Mexico is both the head of state and head of government, as well as the commander-in-chief of the military. The president is elected directly from eligible votes and serves for six years, called a sexenio. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the Congress of the Union.The powers of the congress include the right to pass laws, impose taxes, declare war, approve the national budget, approve or reject treaties and conventions made with foreign countries, and ratify diplomatic appointments. The Senate addresses all matters concerning foreign policy, approves international agreements, and confirms presidential appointments. The Chamber of Deputies, much like the United States House of Representatives, addresses all matters pertaining to the government's budget and public expenditures. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. There are 3 important political parties in Mexico: PAN: the National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional). The PAN is a conservative liberal party. President Vicente Fox is a member of the PAN. PRI: the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional). When it was founded it was somewhat socialist, currently it's a liberal party. PRD: the Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolución Democrática). The PRD is a left wing, somewhat socialist party. Important members of the PRD are Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, the son of Lázaro Cárdenas and Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (Spanish: Partido Revolucionario Institucional or PRI) is the Mexican political party that wielded hegemonic power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. New hopes for democratic development were given rise by the electoral defeat of the long governing political party, PRI, in 2000, by Vicente Fox from the center-right party PAN. In 2006, Felipe Calderon Hinojosa defeated Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador "El Pejelagarto" in a very close election. As of August 2006, the results of this election remained contested by leftist protests despite the calls of former President Vicente Fox for an end to the protests |
Mexico Information: Inside |