AP Comp Gov - Mexico Short Answer

Mexico Short Answer

1. The office of executive consists of a head of government and a head of state.

1. The head of government is head of the executive branch of that country, and generally runs the government, enforces laws, and creates laws. The head of state is mostly a figurehead and carries out ceremonial functions.
2. In Great Britain, the Prime Minister is the head of government. In Mexico, the head of state is the President.
3. In Great Britain, the Prime Minister is in the legislature; in Mexico, the President is separate. Mexico has a multiparty system in which the candidate who receives the most votes is elected president for one six-year term, regardless of whether it’s an absolute majority or not. In Britain, elections are called before 5 years and citizens vote for the party rather than the candidate. Britain uses the first past the post voting method, meaning that the winner with the most votes is elected. In Mexico, the President is the most powerful part of the government and can directly introduce legislation in Congress, veto legislation initiated by Congress, declare war and peace, etc. In Great Britain, the PM is the highest political authority and has legislative as well as executive powers.

2. Mexico and Great Britain have experienced economic liberalization and democratization.

1. Economic liberalization is the process of reducing government interference in the economy. Democratization is when a state transforms to a more democratic state by developing the characteristics of democracy: free and fair elections, basic rights for citizens, political freedom, often a capitalist economy, etc.
2. In Mexico, an example of economic liberalization is the privatization of banks. In Great Britain, an example of this is the transition from Thatcher’s time, when the government controlled a large part of the economy, to the late 1990s when it sold off many business that were previously owned by the government.
3. In Mexico, electoral reform, the fall of the PRI and subsequent development of a true multiparty system, and the establishment of an electoral tribunal have all contributed to making Mexico more democratic. Things such as the Keynesian welfare state and joining the European Union have led to Great Britain’s democratization.
4. Economic liberalization in Mexico, in the case of NAFTA, widened the gap between the poor and rich because many small farmers went out of business due to the low price of US corn.

6. The patron-client system that exists in Mexico is an informal network of political loyalty in which patrons essentially bribe the clients into supporting them politically. Patrons receive votes from the clients, and the clients may receive certain benefits when that leader is elected—for example, the patron may promise a union or an interest group benefits. This has led to behind-the-scenes conflict resolution, distribution of political rewards, and the President’s cabinet to be filled by supporters of camarillas he/she wants to appease.

7.

1. There is a multiparty system in Mexico, with the main parties being the PRI, the PAN, and the PRD. There is direct election of government officials—proportional and first past the post. The main parties have evolved from the PRI’s prolonged rule, some splitting off and some developing as opposition.
2. Because there are multiple parties represented in Congress, it may take longer to pass laws or parties may team up against other parties to get what they want passed.
3. Most importantly, the other major parties have been better represented in elections and congress due to the fall of the PRI and the establishment of electoral reform.

8.

1. The lower house of Congress is the Chamber of Deputies; there are 300 seats directly elected by plurality from single-member districts, and 200 “party deputies” assigned through proportional representation. The Senate (upper house) is composed of 128 senators—2 for each of the 31 districts, and 3 for the federal district. The party with the most votes gets 2 seats, and the party finishing second gets one seat. One benefit is that there is greater representation for the parties due to the electoral process; however, it may be harder to get things done due to the large number of opinions represented in Congress.
2. There are about 750 members in the House of Lords, most of which are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the PM or are hereditary peers. The House of Commons consists of 646 MPs that are democratically elected by voters and represent different constituencies. The political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons is the governing party and its leader becomes the PM. The FPTP system questions the whole issue of “democratic elections” in that the majoritywill of the people within one constituency may be reflected in the electoral outcome, but more people may vote against a candidate than for them. However, FPTP is simple and effective, the majority of people get what they want and it’s a much easier process than proportional.