| Federal Government Of The United Mexican States |
Index for Federal |
Website Links For Federal |
Information AboutFederal Government Of The United Mexican States |
This article describes the government of the United Mexican States. For political issues, see Politics Of Mexico . The United Mexican States or ''', Legislative , and Judicial . Executive branch See Also: President of Mexico Article 80 of the Constitution establishes the Executive branch of Government. The 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''. The president is elected by direct popular vote every six years without possibility of Reelection . Upon election, presidents acquire expansive authority because they also control the selection of officials in their party for political offices. Within the executive branch itself, the President has broad constitutional powers to manage national affairs and the workings of the Federal Government , and may issue Executive Order s to effect internal policies. He can declare war on other countries, but to do so, he needs the authorization of Congress. The executive branch also consists of various departments including departments for Agriculture , education, and tourism. If the presidential office falls vacant during the first two years of a ''sexenio'', the congress designates an Interim president, who, in turn, must call a special presidential election to complete the term. If the vacancy occurs during the latter four years of a ''sexenio'', the congress designates a Provisional president for the remainder of the term. Legislative branch Article 50 of the Constitution grants all legislative powers of the federal government to the Congress Of The Union , which is divided into two chambers, the Chamber Of Senators and the Chamber Of Deputies . The Senate consists of 128 seats (three-quarters are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and one quarter is allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote). The Chamber Of Deputies consists of 500 seats (300 members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote, also for three-year terms). 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. Judicial branch Article 94 of the Constitution provides that the judicial power of the United Mexican States shall be vested in one Supreme Court , one electoral court, and various "lower" or "inferior courts," among which are the district courts. The federal judiciary consists of the Supreme Court Of Justice Of The Nation , whose eleven justices are appointed for fifteen years by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Mexico's does not have the political influence as the Supreme Court Of The United States as a result of the president's vast power. The Supreme Court of Justice may meet in joint session or in separate chambers, depending on the type of case before it. The high court is divided into four chambers, each with five justices. These are the Penal Affairs Chamber, Administrative Affairs Chamber, Civil Affairs Chamber, and Labor Affairs Chamber. A fifth chamber, the Auxiliary Chamber, is responsible for the overload of the four regular chambers. Court rulings of both the whole, or plenary, court and the separate chambers are decided on the basis of majority opinion. Rulings by the separate chambers may be overturned by the full court. In practice, the justices, along with the entire federal judiciary, traditionally submit their resignations at the beginning of each ''sexenio''. The most powerful juridical instrument is the writ of ''amparo'', which can be invoked against acts by any government official, including the president. Unlike the United States system, where courts may rule on basic constitutional matters, the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice is prohibited by the Constitution from applying its rulings beyond any individual case. Within this restricted sphere, the Supreme Court of Justice generally displays greater Independence in relation to the president than does the Legislature , often deciding against the executive in ''amparo'' cases. See also
|