Powers and Duties of the President of Mexico

The President of the United Mexican States serves as **Head of State, Head of Government, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces**. The 1917 Constitution (as amended) grants broad powers:

Legislative & Policy

• Veto legislation (Congress can override with 2/3).
• Issue decretos (decrees) with force of law in specific areas.
• Propose legislation; initiate constitutional amendments (require 2/3 Congress + majority of state legislatures).
• Present annual federal budget to Congress.
• Dissolve Chamber of Deputies (limited circumstances).

Executive & Administrative

• Appoint/remove Cabinet secretaries, senior officials, ambassadors, consuls.
• Appoint Supreme Court justices (Senate confirms).
• Appoint federal judges, Attorney General (Fiscal General).
• Manage federal public administration.

Security & Defense

• Commander-in-Chief of Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard.
• Declare war (with Congress approval).
• Declare states of emergency / constitutional suspension (strict limits, Congress oversight).
• Grant pardons, amnesties.

Foreign Affairs

• Negotiate/sign/ratify international treaties (Senate approves).
• Appoint diplomatic corps.
• Grant asylum/refugee status.
• Represent Mexico at summits (G20, UN, USMCA, OAS, CELAC).

Accountability & Civic

• Annual State of the Union address (Informe de Gobierno).
• Duty to protect human rights.
• Cannot serve consecutive terms (single 6-year term, sexenio).

The presidency is powerful but constrained by Congress, judiciary, federalism, and the sexenio term limit—designed to prevent the personalist rule of the Porfiriato era.