Mexico: A Federal Republic of 32 States
Mexico is a federal republic — officially the United Mexican States (Estados Unidos Mexicanos) — composed of 31 states + Mexico City (autonomous entity, equivalent to a state since 2016).
Federal Structure
| Level | Responsibilities | Examples |
|---|
| Federal | National defense, foreign policy, currency, immigration, interstate commerce, telecommunications, federal highways, criminal law (federal crimes) | Secretariats: Hacienda (Treasury), Relaciones Exteriores, Defensa, Marina, Seguridad |
| State | Education (basic), public health, state police, intra-state transport, civil/family law, local taxation, cultural heritage | 31 state governors, unicameral legislatures, state courts |
| Municipal | Water, waste, parks, markets, paving, public lighting, civil registry, building permits | 2,469 municipios — ayuntamientos (councils) headed by presidente municipal |
Key Federal Features
- President: Head of state & government, single 6-year term (sexenio), no re-election.
- Congress: Bicameral — Senate (128: 3 per state + 32 proportional) + Chamber of Deputies (500: 300 FPTP + 200 PR).
- Judiciary: Supreme Court (11 ministers), Electoral Tribunal, federal circuit/district courts.
- Fiscal federalism: ~80% state revenue from federal transfers (participaciones, aportaciones) — creates central leverage.
Why "Federal Republic" Matters
- Distinguishes from unitary (France, UK) or confederal (Switzerland-ish) models.
- States have constitutionally guaranteed powers — not devolved by grace of center.
- But: PRI's 71-year hegemony (1929–2000) centralized power de facto; post-2000 alternation (PAN, PRI, MORENA) testing federalism's reality.
Mexico's federalism is constitutional, asymmetric (CDMX), and evolving — shaped by revolution, authoritarian party rule, and democratic transition.
Wanderlust World