The Government in Mexico

Mexico is a federal presidential republic which is based on a congressional structure. Based on the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917, its government is divided into 3 branches – executive, legislative and judicial. The political affairs of Mexico are ruled by 3 major political parties namely the National Action Party (PAN), the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

The president of Mexico is elected for a 6-year term with no opportunity of being reelected. There is no position for the vice-president. The Congress of the Union shall elect an interim president in case of “absolute absence” or incapacity of the President. The legislative branch comprises of the Senate (Cámara de Senadores or Senado) and the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados). There are 128 senators elected every 6 years through a parallel voting system. The Chamber of Deputies on the other hand has 500 representatives for a 3-year term. The judicial branch is represented by the Supreme Court of Justice with 11 judges or ministers selected by the President. Supreme Court judges serve for 15 years and cannot serve for more once. Other bodies under the judiciary are the Electoral Tribunal, Council of the Federal Judiciary, collegiate, unitary and district tribunals.

Mexico is composed of 31 free and autonomous states. The governor of the state is given the executive authority. Each state is independent and sovereign in their internal administration. No state can make an alliance with any foreign command or any other state. Unless its territory is under attacked, the state cannot declare war against a foreign state.