Federal Government

Mexico is a federal republic with an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch or court system. The executive branch, headed by a president, is the decision-making center of the government. It establishes government policies, proposes laws, and controls the distribution of federal tax revenues. Mexico has 31 states and 1 federal district. Each state has an elected governor and legislature. The president appoints the governor of the Federal District. All Mexicans who are at least 18 years old can vote.

Mexico's president has tremendous influence over the government. All prominent political figures in the executive branch depend indirectly on the president for their jobs. The president introduces many pieces of legislation. Many presidents also have used constitutional amendments to support government policies.

The president appoints a cabinet that directs government operations. Important cabinet members include the secretary of government and the secretary of planning and federal budget. The president is elected by the people to a six-year term and may serve only one term of office. If the president does not finish the term, the legislature chooses a temporary president to serve until a special or regular presidential election is held.

Mexico's legislature is called the General Congress. It consists of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 64 members who are elected to six-year terms. The Chamber of Deputies has 500 members. Three hundred of the deputies are elected from the country's electoral districts. The remaining 200 seats are filled by deputies who do not represent a particular electoral district. Members of the Chamber of Deputies serve three-year terms. Members of the General Congress can serve more than one term, but they may not serve consecutive terms.

Local government.

State governors are elected by the people to six-year terms and state legislators to three-year terms. The president can remove governors from office with the approval of the Senate. Each of Mexico's states is divided into municipios (townships). Each municipio has a president and a council elected to three-year terms. Less than 10 percent of all tax revenues go directly to state and local agencies. State agencies depend on the national government, and local authorities on state agencies, for funds to carry out public works projects.

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