Nation Study Research Paper: Mexico

Nation Study Research Paper: Mexico

Mexico, a country filled with diversity and culture, has endured many political changes and threats throughout the course of history. Prosperity, independence, and democracy were prevalent during specific time periods in Mexico. However, Mexico faced a series of conflicts, economic distress, and inequality that led to political instability for many years. Ultimately, Mexico overcame these challenges to have a secure and stable government.

Preceding the 20th century, Mexico consisted of several pre-Columbian civilizations that existed for nearly 2700 years. The ancient civilizations inhabited Mesoamerica and relied on systems of theocracy and bartering. In 1427, the Aztecs rose to power, conquering lands

The 1917 Mexican Constitution has been in place for over 99 years, but has not fully adhered to the rights of individuals until the late 20th century. The supremacy of the PRI took control of the executive branch, limiting the power of the legislative and judicial branches. The Mexican government was seen as a procedural democracy because voters could not affect the PRI’s dominance. Once opposition parties began to grow, legitimacy increased because the PRI lost supreme control of the government. Presently, the executive branch is limited, as stated by the Constitution, by the legislative and judicial branches, creating a liberal

Since Mexico follows a system of presidentialism, the executive branch consists of the president, also known as the chief of state, head of government, and commander in chief of the armed forces. Article 82 of the Constitution explicitly states the policies for eligible candidates of the presidency. For example, they must be natural-born citizens, residents of Mexico for at least 20 years, and at least 35 years of age. The Constitution also emphasizes a secularized government, therefore mandating that candidates for the presidency can not be religious officials. The president is elected through direct votes from the citizens in a plurarity voting system, where the candidate who recieves the most votes is elected. Once elected, the president serves for a six-year term. However, the Constitution strictly prohibits re-election to avoid the rise of dictators. During the rise of the PRI in the 20th century, the president’s powers were seen as absolute because they were able to choose the next candidate for the presidency and had political influence over state and local governments as well. However, the rise of democratization in Mexico has checked the powers of the president. Currently, some key powers of the president are to appoint federal officials (Secretary of State, Attorney General, Mexican Ambassadors, etc.), declare war, veto laws and decrees by Congress, and introduce