Politics of Mexico

Mexico is a federal presidential representative democratic republic. This means the people help choose their leaders through voting. The government is split into three main branches. The executive branch is led by the President. The President is both the head of state and the head of government. The legislative branch is called the Congress of the Union. It has two parts: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

Finally, the judicial branch handles justice. It includes the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. These rules were set by the Constitution of 1917. Each state in Mexico also has its own government.

History shows how these rules changed over time. The Mexican Revolution took place from 1910 to 1920. This happened after the rule of Porfirio Díaz ended. After the war, leaders like Alvaro Obregón and Plutarco Elías Calles held power. Calles helped start a political party in 1929 called the PNR. This party later became the PRI in 1946. Under President Lázaro Cárdenas, the party changed how it worked. It included groups for peasants and workers.

This period saw the government take control of the oil industry. They also gave land back to many peasants.

As years passed, people wanted more political freedom. In the late 1960s, students held many protests. This was because the PRI held so much power. Sadly, a violent event called the Tlatelolco Massacre happened in 1968. Later, in 1988, an election was held that many called fraudulent. Carlos Salinas de Gortari won that election against Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas. This event led to big changes in how Mexico votes.

In 1989, a new party called the PRD was formed. This helped move the country toward more democracy.

To make elections fairer, Mexico created the IFE in 1990. This group was separate from the government. Later, it became the Instituto Nacional Electoral, or INE. The INE now oversees all federal elections.

Political parties must register with the INE to run. They also need to get at least 3% of the votes. Today, many parties compete, such as the PAN and Morena. In 2000, a president from the PAN was elected. This was the first time a non-PRI president won since 1929.

Voting in Mexico is a very important task. All citizens 18 or older can vote. The vote is secret and direct. This means people pick their leaders themselves. Most elections happen every six years. The President serves a six-year term.

People living in other countries can also vote. The INE works hard to keep the process organized. Even though some people still distrust results, many believe in the system. This system helps the people of Mexico participate in their own future.