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Josefina Vazuqez Mota (PAN). Enrique Pena Nieto (PRI). The Presidency. Head of government and state. One 6-year term ( sexenio ) Mexico’s government= Presidential System. Presidential Powers. VIRTUAL DICTATOR UNDER PRI I nitiate legislation All legislative ideas were passed
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The Presidency • Head of government and state. • One 6-year term (sexenio) • Mexico’s government= Presidential System
Presidential Powers VIRTUAL DICTATOR UNDER PRI • Initiate legislation • All legislative ideas were passed • Issue decrees • Authorize new expenditures • Appointed a large number of officials • Patron-Client system (CAMARILLAS) • Tasked to implement his ideas • Appointed his successor (DEDAZO) • Changed in 2000 • All parties have primaries
Bureaucracy • Based on Patron-Client Network • NOT merit-based • 1 out of every 5 Mexicans works for government (heavily PRI). • Loyal to bosses in the network. Process for securing a passport in Mexico. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/world/americas/09mexico.html
Struggles of Fox and Calderon LEGISLATIVE • PAN presidents did not have a legislative majority. • President’s initiatives often blocked. BUREAUCRATIC • PRI bureaucrats had all the experience • Couldn’t fill all high-level positions with experienced PAN. • Kept many corrupt PRI
Mexican Legislature BICAMERAL • Upper House: Senate • 128 seats • Six-year term • Lower House: Chamber of Deputies • 500 seats • Three-year term • Can only serve ONE TERM • Lack of legislative expertise
Mexico’s Electoral System MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL VOTING (MMP) • 1964: Proportional introduced • Chamber of Deputies (500 seats) • 300 SMD (FPTP) • 200 Proportional CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES: 2009
Mexico’s Electoral System • 32 States (Including federal district of Mexico City) • Each has 3 senators • Each party presents a list of two candidates. • Winning party gets 2. • Second place gets 1. • 32 other seats are proportional. SENATE: 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_mexico
JUDICIAL BRANCH • Federal and State Courts • Supreme Court • Power of Judicial Review (seldom used) • President nominates • Senate approves • Serve one 15-year term • Becoming more independent
2008 Judicial Reform CHANGES TO JUDICIAL SYSTEM
“Presumed Guilty Sheds Light” • Describe several of the “rights of the accused” citizens enjoy in the U.S. that are NOT protected in Mexico. • Mexican civil society is pressuring the government to end the violence in society. According to the reading how impacting the police and the courts? • What is the conviction rate in Mexico? • U.S. conviction rate is approx. 80%
Mexico: Federal System • Thirty-One States • Federal District (Mexico City) • Each State: • Constitution • Governor, legislature, and judiciary • Struggle to raise revenue
Interest Groups Corporatism Neo-Corporatism • Slowly developing of a separate Civil Society • PRI Era: Co-optation • Assimilate groups into the government • Labor, business, peasant organizations • Changes • PRI loss of power means more independent groups finding a voice • Example: • women’s movement
Mexican Media • Most of 20th Century • Little criticism of PRI • PRI “rewarded” sympathetic press and penalized critics. • 1980s to Present • Increasingly independent • Multiple major media outlets • Wide range of opinions and debates
Open Net Initiative http://map.opennet.net/filtering-pol.html
Mexico and the Catholic Church • 80-90% of Mexicans are Catholic SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE • 1917 Constitution: Anti-Clerical • Elites feared power of the Church • Church could not possess or administer property. • No Catholic schools • Church officials deprived of political expression and vote. • State could determine the number of priests per region. • Cannot wear religious garb in public. • 1992: Amended to remove anti-clericalism
Mexican Military • Up to 1930, military leaders dominated Mexican politics. • PRI era instituted a civilian-controlled military. • Today, military is heavily involved in drug wars. • Some concern about corruption • Does not intervene in Mexican politics
Mexico: What Type of Regime? Authoritarian in 20th century under PRI. Which of the following apply to Mexico TODAY? RATE MEXICO IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES (1=Excellent; 5=Poor) • Political Rights and Civil Liberties • Competitive Elections • Rule of Law • Civil Society • Civic Culture • Capitalism • Independent Judiciary • Civilian-controlled Military EMERGING/TRANSITIONAL DEMOCRACY