The constitution of Mexico : a contextual analysis

Author(s)

    • Serna de la Garza, José María

Bibliographic Information

The constitution of Mexico : a contextual analysis

José María Serna de la Garza

(Constitutional systems of the world / co-edited by Peter Leyland and Andrew Harding)

Hart, 2013

  • : pbk

Available at  / 8 libraries

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Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This book provides an overview of Mexico's political evolution since it became independent from Spain in 1821, and its current constitutional arrangements, principles and structures. The aim is to explain this evolution as the result of struggles between the interests and ideologies of different groups within Mexican society, each with a different political vision of how the State should be organised. Chapter 1 reviews Mexico's constitutional trajectory, and explains why democracy, republicanism, federalism, separation of state and church, protection of fundamental rights and the Nation's ownership of mineral resources first became constitutional principles. Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 deal respectively with democracy and the electoral system, and the legislative, executive and judicial branches of federal government. Chapter 6 introduces the institutional structure of Mexico's federal system, while Chapter 7 discusses the rules, principles and institutions for the protection of human rights. Chapter 8 examines the constitutional regime of Mexico's economy. The conclusion explains how a series of factors has combined to produce a gap between the formal Constitution and what can be seen as the living Constitution; bridging that gap presents Mexican politics and society with one of its great contemporary challenges.

Table of Contents

1: Mexico's Constitutional Trajectory I. Introduction II. Democracy III. Republicanism IV. Federalism V. Separation of State and Church VI. Fundamental Rights VII. The Nation's Ownership of Mineral Resources VIII. Conclusion 2: Democracy and the Electoral System I. Introduction II. Institution-building and the Transition to Democracy III. The Judicialisation of the Electoral-Political Process IV. The Impact of the Inter-American System on Human Rights V. Conclusion 3: The Legislative Branch of Government I. Introduction II. Bicameralism III. Rules on the Integration of the Two Chambers of Congress IV. Organising the Work of Both Chambers of Congress V. The Committee System of Congress VI. Parliamentary Groups in Congress VII. The Permanent Committee of Congress VIII. The Powers of Congress IX. The Legislative Process X. Congress's Powers to Check the Executive XI. Jurisdictional-like Functions of Congress XII. The 'Superior Audit of the Federation' XIII. Conclusion 4: The Executive Branch of Government: Presidencialismo I. Introduction II. The Formation of the Tradition of a Strong Executive Power III. Social Change, Economic Reorganisation and Constitutional Reform: The End of the Hegemonic Party System IV. Election of the President and his Position as Both Head of State and Head of Government V. The President and the Legislative Process VI. The President and the Fiscal Process VII. Conclusions 5: The Judicial Branch of Government: Courts and Judicial Review I. Introduction II. The Structure and Organisation of the Judicial Power in Mexico III. Judicial Power, Control of Constitutionality and the Writ of Amparo in Mexico IV. Backlog as the Consequence of the Amparo Casacion: 'The Impossible Task of the Court' V. Towards a Constitutional Court: The Reform of 1994 VI. The Court's Article 97 Investigative Power VII. Conclusion 6: The Federal System I. Introduction II. The Constitutional Formula for Allocating Legislative Competences III. Fiscal Federalism IV. Mechanisms of Collaboration in Mexico's Federal System V. Municipal Government VI. The Constitutional Status of the Federal District VII. Recent Developments in State Constitutionalism VIII. Conclusion 7: The Protection of Human Rights I. Introduction II. Domestic and International Pressures and the Shift Towards a New Human Rights Policy in Mexico III. Changes in the Supreme Court's Interpretation of Human Rights IV. Constitutional Reform Relative to the Criminal Justice System V. The Emergence of a New Paradigm on Human Rights VI. Freedom of Religion and the Separation of State and Church VII. Conclusion 8: The Constitution and the National Economy I. Introduction II. The Constitutional Regime of Property Rights in Mexico III. Public Property IV. Planning V. Agrarian Reform and Social Property VI. Expropriation of the Oil Industry VII. The Electric Power Sector VIII. Conclusion Concluding Thoughts: Democratic Transition and Constitutional Change in Mexico

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