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the army. More recently, organized labor has
of the sessions, from 1 September to 31 De-
been added as a source of power without, how-
cember each year, are spent in debate on in-
ever, displacing the army as an important
significant questions with the major work
factor. The machinery through which much
being transacted hurriedly in the last two
of this power is exercised is the official govern-
weeks merely to "rubber-stamp" the program
ment party, through selection of the senators,
of the administration. The President does
deputies and state governors, and through the
not use his veto power, since measures that
President's appointive powers over the judici-
might incur presidential disfavor are not en-
ary, cabinet and many other officials.
acted by Congress. Furthermore, the wide
The roots of one-man rule are buried deep
discretion given to the administrative depart-
in Mexico's political history. Rule by a gen-
ments to issue detailed decrees having the
eral has been inseparable from caudillismo, as
force of law has restricted the legislative power
most of the early dictators were "men-on-
of Congress vis-à-vis the executive branch.
horseback" who rose to power by barracks revo-
Members of the Judiciary are very respon-
lution (cuartelazo). They carried with them
sive to the influence of the Chief Executive.
to the presidency a nucleus of armed support,
Theoretically the change in tenure of Minis-
and they employed terror and violence to
ters of the Supreme Court in 1944 from 6 years
maintain themselves in power, holding office
to life terms granted them independence of
until death or defeat overcame them. They
action, but in practice such is not the case.
usually followed constitutional forms so long
They are still appointed by the leader of the
as it served their interests to do SO. Though
official party for basically political reasons,
the manifestations of caudillismo tended to
SO that a change of President does not affect
take a less violent form after the Revolution
the party relationship of the executive and
of 1910, it has persisted.
judicial branches. Clear examples of the sub-
The President selects as members of his
servience of the judicial to the executive have
Cabinet persons completely subject to his dom-
been refusals of the Supreme Court to use its
ination. This is particularly true as regards
Constitutional authority to investigate po-
the important post of Minister of Gober-
litically important cases of abuse of executive
nación, who exerts federal authority over the
powers. In fact, there are no known cases
states, territories and Federal District. Since
where the court has over-ruled an executive
it is chiefly through this Ministry that the
decree. Supreme Court appointments of
President maintains his tight control over the
justices and magistrates of lower courts are
country, the Minister is generally the second
even dictated by the executive.
most powerful individual in Mexico.
Local Government. State governors are of
The legislative branch is under the complete
two types-those who are selected and imposed
domination of the executive. Official party
as puppets of the national government, and
candidates for the Senate and Chamber of
those who are selected through negotiation
Deputies are usually hand-picked or at least
with the national government on basis of
approved by the President or his designated
strong local political support.
representatives, SO that he will be assured of
In many cases where the governor is a pup-
the absolute loyalty of the members of Con-
pet of the national administration, the Mili-
gress. Major projects of law are initiated by
tary Zone Commander in the state acts as the
the Executive Branch, each Ministry having
tool of the governor in maintaining order and
the authority to present to Congress proposed
subservience of the citizenry. In other cases,
legislation regarding its own operations. In
the governor is kept in line through the power
the past several sessions, every law enacted
of the Army quartered in the state. State
had been drafted in the Executive Branch and
governors who do not faithfully follow the
passed with very little debate, and, it is un-
national party line-unless they are backed
derstood, in many cases without the legis-
by strong political machines-are ousted as a
lators even having the opportunity to read
result of national interference in state politics
the measures and without the bills having
through the Ministry of Gobernación, and re-
been referred to Committees for action. Most
placed by supporters of the administration.
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"ocrText": "8\nthe army. More recently, organized labor has\nof the sessions, from 1 September to 31 De-\nbeen added as a source of power without, how-\ncember each year, are spent in debate on in-\never, displacing the army as an important\nsignificant questions with the major work\nfactor. The machinery through which much\nbeing transacted hurriedly in the last two\nof this power is exercised is the official govern-\nweeks merely to \"rubber-stamp\" the program\nment party, through selection of the senators,\nof the administration. The President does\ndeputies and state governors, and through the\nnot use his veto power, since measures that\nPresident's appointive powers over the judici-\nmight incur presidential disfavor are not en-\nary, cabinet and many other officials.\nacted by Congress. Furthermore, the wide\nThe roots of one-man rule are buried deep\ndiscretion given to the administrative depart-\nin Mexico's political history. Rule by a gen-\nments to issue detailed decrees having the\neral has been inseparable from caudillismo, as\nforce of law has restricted the legislative power\nmost of the early dictators were \"men-on-\nof Congress vis-à-vis the executive branch.\nhorseback\" who rose to power by barracks revo-\nMembers of the Judiciary are very respon-\nlution (cuartelazo). They carried with them\nsive to the influence of the Chief Executive.\nto the presidency a nucleus of armed support,\nTheoretically the change in tenure of Minis-\nand they employed terror and violence to\nters of the Supreme Court in 1944 from 6 years\nmaintain themselves in power, holding office\nto life terms granted them independence of\nuntil death or defeat overcame them. They\naction, but in practice such is not the case.\nusually followed constitutional forms so long\nThey are still appointed by the leader of the\nas it served their interests to do SO. Though\nofficial party for basically political reasons,\nthe manifestations of caudillismo tended to\nSO that a change of President does not affect\ntake a less violent form after the Revolution\nthe party relationship of the executive and\nof 1910, it has persisted.\njudicial branches. Clear examples of the sub-\nThe President selects as members of his\nservience of the judicial to the executive have\nCabinet persons completely subject to his dom-\nbeen refusals of the Supreme Court to use its\nination. This is particularly true as regards\nConstitutional authority to investigate po-\nthe important post of Minister of Gober-\nlitically important cases of abuse of executive\nnación, who exerts federal authority over the\npowers. In fact, there are no known cases\nstates, territories and Federal District. Since\nwhere the court has over-ruled an executive\nit is chiefly through this Ministry that the\ndecree. Supreme Court appointments of\nPresident maintains his tight control over the\njustices and magistrates of lower courts are\ncountry, the Minister is generally the second\neven dictated by the executive.\nmost powerful individual in Mexico.\nLocal Government. State governors are of\nThe legislative branch is under the complete\ntwo types-those who are selected and imposed\ndomination of the executive. Official party\nas puppets of the national government, and\ncandidates for the Senate and Chamber of\nthose who are selected through negotiation\nDeputies are usually hand-picked or at least\nwith the national government on basis of\napproved by the President or his designated\nstrong local political support.\nrepresentatives, SO that he will be assured of\nIn many cases where the governor is a pup-\nthe absolute loyalty of the members of Con-\npet of the national administration, the Mili-\ngress. Major projects of law are initiated by\ntary Zone Commander in the state acts as the\nthe Executive Branch, each Ministry having\ntool of the governor in maintaining order and\nthe authority to present to Congress proposed\nsubservience of the citizenry. In other cases,\nlegislation regarding its own operations. In\nthe governor is kept in line through the power\nthe past several sessions, every law enacted\nof the Army quartered in the state. State\nhad been drafted in the Executive Branch and\ngovernors who do not faithfully follow the\npassed with very little debate, and, it is un-\nnational party line-unless they are backed\nderstood, in many cases without the legis-\nby strong political machines-are ousted as a\nlators even having the opportunity to read\nresult of national interference in state politics\nthe measures and without the bills having\nthrough the Ministry of Gobernación, and re-\nbeen referred to Committees for action. Most\nplaced by supporters of the administration."
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