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Mexico Central Government Institutions . Modern Mexico City. Seat of the national government of Mexico Quintessential primate city One in four Mexicans live in the metropolitan area . The Zócalo: Heart of the Primate City . Political Structure and Institutions.
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Modern Mexico City • Seat of the national government of Mexico • Quintessential primate city • One in four Mexicans live in the metropolitan area
Political Structure and Institutions • Nature of the regime? Three-party democracy evolving toward “true” democracy? • Hybrid: part-free, part authoritarian • Democratic breakthrough election of 2000 • On paper: a presidential system, three autonomous branches of government with checks and balances, and federalism with considerable autonomy at the local level • In practice: decision-making highly centralized; president dominated the legislative and judicial branches
National Executive of Mexico • Presidential term – 6 years • Calderon – won with a plurality of .5% over his nearest rival • Immigration to the United States divisive issue • Power of drug cartels threatens the legitimacy of his government Felipe Calderon: President 2006-2012
Senate Cámara de Senadores or Senado • Composed of 128 senators • Two for each of the 31 states • two for the Federal District • Elected under the principle of relative majority • Thirty-two national senators elected at-large • At large senators divided among the parties in proportion to their share of the national vote.
Senate of Mexico • Main Senate Chambers at corner of Donceles and Xicotencatl Streets in the historic center of Mexico City. Party Composition • PAN 52 (40.6%) • PRD 33 (25.8%) • PRI 29 (22.7%) • Green 6 (4.7%) • Others • 8 (6.3%)
Chamber of Deputies of Congreso de la Unión • Popular legislative branch of the Mexican national government. • Structure and responsibilities are defined in the 1917 Constitution
The Chamber of Deputies • One "deputy" for every 200,000 citizens. • 500 deputies as of 2006 election • 300 -directly elected by plurality from single-member districts • 200 "party deputies" assigned through proportional representation. • PAN • 206 • 41.2% • PRD • 126 • 25.2% • PRI • 104 • 20.8% • Green • 19 • 3.8% • Other • 45 • 9% .
Chamber of Deputies after 2006 Election • PAN has largest number of deputies • Lacks majority • Negotiations for alliances under way • PRD congressmen more open to cooperating with PAN than is Lopez Obrador • Once dominant PRI plays increasingly important role
Supreme Court of Mexico • Eleven members • President • 10 associate justices • 15 year terms • President nominates three candidates • Elected by two-thirds vote of senate • Not elgible for second term
ESTABLISHING THE RULE OF LAWA Work in Progress • Law traditionally enforced to favor powerful and wealthy • 1994 Zedillo judicial reforms • Power of judicial review expanded • Courts kept on short leash • Police often are participants in crime rate • Violence has increased and people in general don’t feel safe