POLI SCI 106 1st Edition Lecture 23 Outline of Last Lecture 1. 2006 Election in Mexico2. Incumbency Advantage3. Clientelism4. Interest Representation5. Electoral Fraud6. Why Elections, Parties, Legislatures?7. Beatriz Magaloni: Voting for Autocracy (2006)8. Jennifer Gandhi: Political Institutions Under Dictatorship (2008)9. Political Institutions Under Dictatorship10. The Wind of ChangeOutline of Current Lecture 1. Mexico Since 20002. Partido Accion Nacional (PAN)3. Partido de la Revolucion Democratica (PRD4. Mexico Since 2000 (continued):5. Mexico's Political System:6. Executive Under PRI:7. Executive Today8. Legislature9. Judiciary10. Federalism11. Election Reform12. National Electoral Institute (INE)13. INE's Tasks14. Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Branch (TEPJF)15. Office of the Special Prosecutor for Electoral Crimes16. Evolution17. Anti-Fraud MeasuresCurrent Lecture - Mexico IIMexico Since 2000:- Tolerance of undemocratic practices has declined.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Functioning of institutions scrutinized intensely.- Held to higher standards than before.- Higher profile of other political parties. Partido Accion Nacional (PAN):- Wins 2000 presidential elections (Felipe Calderon)- Also won 2006 elections- Places 3rd in 2012 presidential election- Importance - incumbents are kicked out of office- Conservative/Christian-Democratic Party -advocates free enterprise, smaller government, social-conservative positionsPartido de la Revolucion Democratica (PRD):- Leftist/Center-Left- Strongholds: less developed regions of central and southern Mexico- Lost 2006 by 0.58%- Second (32%) in 2012 -candidate: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador- Key players: Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderon, Andres Manuel Lopez ObradorMexico Since 2000 (continued):- More competitive and pluralistic political system- Remember: transition happened under a "veil of government continuity"- Hence: issue of institutional design not question of complete overhaul, but how to improve existing institutionsMexico's Political System:- On paper, Mexico's govt. structured much like US:-presidential system-3 branches of govt., checks and balances-federalism- Under PRI: very different in practice-little democratic accountability-office holders not elected, but effectively appointed by higher-ups in PRI-hence: not responsible to any broad constituency-highly centralized: president = dominantExecutive Under PRI:- During PRI era: use of "metaconstitutional" powers- "Presidentcialismo": describes range of formal and informal powers-president above the constitution-dominates institutions, the people in them, and their decisions-Supreme Court never questioned president-Congress never challenged presidential appointees-President had informal power to seat and unseat state governors, majors, and members of Congress, even next presidential candidateExecutive Today:- Presidential system-president directly elected-one 6-year term, nonrenewable-president's powers formally constrained- Key achievement of transition: constitution now being applied- President's powers legally and practically limited...- But: still the most powerful politician-head of state and govt.-leader of foreign policy-Supreme Commander of armed forces-selects Cabinet-appoints wide range of public officials-can initiate legislation-can veto a bill or request that it be amended (2/3 of both chambers can override)- Enrique Pena Nieto - began 6 year term as president of Mexico in 2012-member of the PRI, but not the same way it used to beLegislature:- Chamber of Deputies = lower house- 500 members serve 3-year terms, non-renewable- Mixed electoral system-300 members: SMD (single member districts)-200 members: PR (proportional representation)- responsible for nearly all public policy- high levels of party discipline- Senate = upper house- 128 members, 6 year terms, non-renewable- Mixed electoral system-96 elected in 3-member districts-2 seats for winning party, 1 for second place-32 elected using PR- Exclusive powers in foreign affairs, approves international treaties- can remove state governors and legislatures- high levels of party legislature- for legislation to pass, both chambers have to agree on identical final textJudiciary:- Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation- Justices nominated by president, approved by senate- 15 year terms, non-renewable- used to be subordinate, would not rule against president under PRI rule- remains weakest branch of govt. (legacy from PRI era), but ongoing reforms have been strengthening the courtFederalism:- Federal system, but still highly centralized- Each level of govt...-federal-31 states-2,378 municipios- ...has less power (and money) than the one above -federal govt. controls about 90% of total revenues- political centralism contributor to long-term political stability under PRI- Since 1984: some (limited) efforts to decentralize-some subnational revenue autonomy-devolution of authority for education and health care- Resistance to decentralization:-issue of funding-limited ability collect revenue (taxes) locally- State-level elections have no democratized like federal ones-some quasi-authoritarian local enclavesElection Reform:- One key to democratization: electoral reforms agreed in 1990s under popular pressure.- Goal: to end vote fraud-made traditional type of fraud virtually impossible.-created Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE)-organizing elections-provide access to media-allocating public funds for campaigns-training people to run polling places and count votes- 2000 election = "masterpiece of logistical and administrative efficiency" (Schedler 2000, see also Pastor 2000)-party reps at 93.8% of polling sites-36,000 national + 800 international observers-16,000 "asistentes" resolve 97.4% of complaints on the spot-sophisticated system publishes publicly computed results online as they come in.-public receives identical info. simultaneously with election authorities.- Before... -elections organized by Sec. of the Interior-no public trust-1988: challenger close to PRI candidate-computers "failed"-ballots burned afterwards-domestic and foreign pressure for reform:-1989 and 1990 - new election law; IFE and TRIFENational Electoral Institute (INE):- changed name from IFE - same thing- functions remain the same- independent from government - guarantee fairness - General Council - most