Mexico Flashcards
Central government structure
Presidential system, emphasis on balance of power
President acts as the chief executive and dominant authority, backed up by party support in the legislative branch.
PRI Rule
1920’s to 1990’s
Corrupt, no free fair competitive elections
state corporatism
created peasant and middle class
Media was not critical and independent due to excess of patron client system
Involvement with camarillas and the patron client system
Enrique Pena Nieto
Current president of mexico
Post PRI period
Pluralism
Influence of interest groups
Critical and independent media
Elections
In the past were not free/fair/competitive etc, resulting in large majorities
Now they are and elections are won by a close margin, creating a multi-party system
Key reforms mad in 1980’s/1990s
Federal electoral institute
Responsible for overseeing federal elections in Mexico to ensure no corruption
President voting system
Single round plurality
Election system for Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies
300 by single member district and 200 by proportional representation. 3 year terms
Three main political parties
PRI - traditional
PAN - Conservative, pro-business
PRD - Socialist
Maquiladora
Cheap factories in the north
Election system for senate
128 seats
half by proportional representation half by single member districts
Senate
Elected by single member district and proportional representation
Voting pattern
social class and education
Media
Under PRI media was not free from control due to patron-clientism but it was independently owned
post 2000 media is more independent and critical but doesn’t provide meaningful check on power of state
Dangerous career not due to politics but due to violence and drugs
Cleavages
Drug cartels
Aboriginal mexicans enjoy less opportunity and wealth
Unequal benefits from development+lack of rights (especially poorer south) = instability
