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States of Mexico

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The United Mexican States (Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos) is a federal republic composed of 32 federal entities (Spanish: entidades federativas) (31 states and 1 federal district).

According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign, they have a congress and a constitution of their own, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with local Congress and own government. The territory of the Federal District does not belong to any state but to the Federation as a whole, of which it serves as capital.

Contents

History

Constitutional Empire

First Mexican Empire.

On September 27, 1821 after three centuries of Spanish rule, Mexico reached its independence. The Treaty of Córdoba recognized part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain as an Independent Empire, which was recognized as "Monarchist, constitutional and moderate." The new country adopted the name of Mexican Empire.

A minority of the Constituent Congress in search of stability elected as monarch Agustín de Iturbide and thus he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on May 18, 1822.[1] However, the Constitutional Empire soon demonstrated the incompatibility of its two main parts, the Emperor and the Constituent Congress. The deputies were imprisoned simply for expressing their disagreements with Iturbide and finally, Iturbide decided to permanently eliminate the Congress, establishing instead a National Junta Board.

The lack of Congress, the arbitrary nature of the Emperor and the absence of solutions to the serious problems that the country was facing increased conspiracies to change the imperial system. Antonio López de Santa Anna proclaimed the Plan of Casa Mata which was later joined by Vicente Guerrero and Nicolás Bravo. Iturbide then was forced to reestablish the Congress and in a vain attempt to save the order and keep the situation favorable to his supporters, he abdicated to the crown of the Empire on March 19, 1823.[2]

However, the Congress nullified the designation of Iturbide and therefore the recognition of the abdication and made seem the coronation of Iturbide as a logic error in the consummation of Independence.[2]

The dissolution of the Empire gave birth to the first political realignment of independent Mexico.

The Federal Republic

Mexico's territorial division, under the Constitution of 1824.

After the fall of the Empire the Supreme Executive Power surges, which would be responsible for the creation of the Federal Republic, was in effect from April 1, 1823 to October 10, 1824.

The agitation in the provinces was such that on May 21, 1823 the article 6. of the basic project of the Federal Republic states that: The component parts of the Republic are free, sovereign and independent States in what concerns their administration and government. In other words, they were free to follow their destiny as they saw fit. However, most of the now Free States who were summoned to form part of the Federal Republic, joined the Union except for the whole of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala which formed its own Federal Republic.

On January 31, 1824 the decree was issued which created the Constitutive Act of the Mexican Federation, which incorporated the article 6. of the basic project of the Federal Republic. To determine the country's territorial division the criterion was used that states invited to the federation,... Weren’t so few that by its size and wealth in a few years could aspire to become independent nations, breaking the federation, nor so many that lack of manpower and resources come to be an unworkable system.[3]

Between 1823 and 1824 some of the free states that would form part of a future federation had begun developing their own constitutions and others had already installed its Constituent Congress. Special cases were those of Yucatan, that on December 23, 1823 decided to join the federation but as a Federated Republic and Chiapas that decided by referendum to join the federation on September 14, 1824.[4]

Finally, the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was enacted on October 4, 1824 by which the United Mexican Stateswere officially born. The country was composed of 19 states: Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila y Texas, Durango, Guanajuato, México, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla de los Ángeles, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sonora y Sinaloa o Estado de Occidente, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Jalisco, Yucatán and Zacatecas. In addition, 4 federal territories were formed: the Alta California, Baja California, Colima and Santa Fe de Nuevo México.[5] After the publication of the constitution, in the same year on November 18, the Federal District was created.[6] Tlaxcala which had retained a special status since the time of the spanish conquest, was incorporated as a territory on November 24.[7]

On October 10, 1824, Guadalupe Victoria took office as the first President of Mexico.[8]

Centralist Republic

Separatist movements generated by the dissolution of the Federal Republic.

The political structure of the Republic was amended by Law on October 3, 1835, when the centralist system. was established.

The entities which formed the Republic thus lost its freedom, independence and sovereignty, being totally subordinated to the central government. However, the territorial division itself remained the same, because the text of Article 8 of the Law determined only: The national territory is divided into departments, on the basis of population, location and other leading circumstances : their number, extent and subdivisions, will be detailed by constitutional law.[9]

The Seven Constitutional Laws (Spanish: Siete Leyes Constitucionales) were promulgated on December 30, 1836.[10] It was the sixth law which dealt with the territorial configuration in the articles 1 and 2; the 1st determined, confirming the view of the law of October 3, 1835, that the Republic be divided into departments, these in districts and the districts in parties. The 2nd article provided that the division of the Republic in departments would be under a special law with constitutional character.[11] On December 30, 1835 a transitory decree was added to theSeven Laws wich stated that the states would become departments. The territory of Tlaxcala and the Federal District would become a part of the Department of Mexico. The territories of Alta and Baja California would form the department of the Californias. Coahuila y Texas would be divided into two departments. Colima would form part of Michoacán and Aguascalientes would be declared a department.

During this period of political instability several regional problems and conflicts between the center and the entities of the country also began. Rebellions were raised in several locations, including:[12]

Restoration of the Republic and Second Empire

The Federal Republic was restored by the interim president José Mariano Salas on August 22, 1846, as modifications to the territorial structure the state of Guerrero was erected in 1849 (provisionally) conditioned by the acceptance of the legislatures of the State of México, Puebla and Michoacán which were the regions affected. On February 5, 1857 a new constitution was promulgated known as the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857. On 1864, however, after the French intervention, the conservative mexicans restored the constitutional monarchy, known as the Second Mexican Empire, led by the emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and supported by the french army under Napoleon III. He would be deposed in 1867 and the Federal Republic would be restored again under the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857. The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 that would arise from the Mexican Revolution confirmed the federal system of government that has lasted until today.[13]

United Mexican States

Main article: Territorial evolution of Mexico
Entity Official name Flag Area Population (2009)[14] Date of establishment
Ciudad de México Distrito Federal 1,485 km2 (573.4 sq mi) 8,720,916 18-11-1824[15]
State Official Name

Estado Libre y Soberano de:

 Flag Capital Largest city Area[16] Population (2009)[14] Order of Admission to Federation Date of Admission to Federation
Aguascalientes Aguascalientes Aguascalientes Aguascalientes 5,618 km2 (2,169.1 sq mi) 1,135,016 24 05-02-1857[17]
Baja California Baja California Mexicali Tijuana 71,446 km2 (27,585.5 sq mi) 3,122,408 29 16-01-1952[18]
Baja California Sur Baja California Sur La Paz La Paz 73,922 km2 (28,541.4 sq mi) 558,425 31 08-10-1974[19]
Campeche Campeche San Francisco de Campeche San Francisco de Campeche 57,924 km2 (22,364.6 sq mi) 791,322 25 29-04-1863[20]
Chiapas Chiapas Tuxtla Gutiérrez Tuxtla Gutiérrez 73,289 km2 (28,297.0 sq mi) 4,483,886 19 14-09-1824[21]
Chihuahua Chihuahua Chihuahua Ciudad Juárez 247,455 km2 (95,542.9 sq mi) 3,376,062 18 06-07-1824[21]
Coahuila1 4 Coahuila de Zaragoza Saltillo Torreón 151,563 km2 (58,518.8 sq mi) 2,615,574 16 07-05-1824[21]
Colima Colima Colima Manzanillo 5,625 km2 (2,171.8 sq mi) 597,043 23 09-12-1856[22][23]
Durango Durango Victoria de Durango Victoria de Durango 123,451 km2 (47,664.7 sq mi) 1,547,597 17 22-05-1824[21]
Guanajuato Guanajuato Guanajuato León 30,608 km2 (11,817.8 sq mi) 5,033,276 2 20-12-1823[21]
Guerrero Guerrero Chilpancingo de los Bravo Acapulco de Juárez 63,621 km2 (24,564.2 sq mi) 3,143,292 21 27-10-1849[24]
Hidalgo Hidalgo Pachuca de Soto Pachuca de Soto 20,846 km2 (8,048.7 sq mi) 2,415,461 26 16-01-1869[25]
Jalisco Jalisco Guadalajara Guadalajara 78,599 km2 (30,347.2 sq mi) 6,989,304 9 23-12-1823[21]
México México Toluca de Lerdo Ecatepec de Morelos 22,357 km2 (8,632.1 sq mi) 14,739,060 1 20-12-1823[21]
Michoacán Michoacán de Ocampo Morelia Morelia 58,643 km2 (22,642.2 sq mi) 3,971,225 5 22-12-1823[21]
Morelos Morelos Cuernavaca Cuernavaca 4,893 km2 (1,889.2 sq mi) 1,668,343 27 17-04-1869[26]
Nayarit Nayarit Tepic Tepic 27,815 km2 (10,739.4 sq mi) 968,257 28 26-01-1917[27]
Nuevo León4 Nuevo León Monterrey Monterrey 64,220 km2 (24,795.5 sq mi) 4,420,909 15 07-05-1824[21]
Oaxaca Oaxaca Oaxaca de Juárez Oaxaca de Juárez 93,793 km2 (36,213.7 sq mi) 3,551,710 3 21-12-1823[21]
Puebla Puebla Puebla de Zaragoza Puebla de Zaragoza 34,290 km2 (13,239.4 sq mi) 5,624,104 4 21-12-1823[21]
Querétaro Querétaro Santiago de Querétaro Santiago de Querétaro 11,684 km2 (4,511.2 sq mi) 1,705,267 11 23-12-1823[21]
Quintana Roo Quintana Roo Chetumal Cancún 42,361 km2 (16,355.7 sq mi) 1,290,323 30 08-10-1974[28]
San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí 60,983 km2 (23,545.7 sq mi) 2,479,450 6 22-12-1823[21]
Sinaloa Sinaloa Culiacán Rosales Culiacán Rosales 57,377 km2 (22,153.4 sq mi) 2,650,499 20 14-10-1830[29]
Sonora2 Sonora Hermosillo Hermosillo 179,503 km2 (69,306.5 sq mi) 2,499,263 12 10-01-1824[21]
Tabasco5 Tabasco Villahermosa Villahermosa 24,738 km2 (9,551.4 sq mi) 2,045,294 13 07-02-1824[21]
Tamaulipas4 Tamaulipas Ciudad Victoria Reynosa 80,175 km2 (30,955.7 sq mi) 3,174,134 14 07-02-1824[21]
Tlaxcala Tlaxcala Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl Vicente Guerrero 3,991 km2 (1,540.9 sq mi) 1,127,331 22 09-12-1856[30]
Veracruz Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave Xalapa-Enríquez Veracruz 71,820 km2 (27,729.9 sq mi) 7,270,413 7 22-12-1823[21]
Yucatán3 Yucatán Mérida Mérida 39,612 km2 (15,294.3 sq mi) 1,909,965 8 23-12-1823[21]
Zacatecas Zacatecas Zacatecas Fresnillo 75,539 km2 (29,165.8 sq mi) 1,380,633 10 23-12-1823[21]

Notes:

  1. Joined the federation with the name of Coahuila y Texas.
  2. Joined the federation with the name of Estado de Occidente also known as Sonora y Sinaloa.
  3. Joined the federation as República Federada de Yucatán[31] (English: Federated Republic of Yucatán), on May 29, 1823; formed by the current states of Yucatan, Campeche and Quintana Roo, however, it lasted until December 23, 1823, when it was admitted as part of the federation. It became independent in 1841 thus creating the second Republic of Yucatán and it definitely rejoined the nation in 1848.
  4. States of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Coahuila became independent de facto in 1840 to form the República del Río Grande (English: Republic of the Rio Grande); never consolidated its independence because independent forces were defeated by the centralist forces.[32]
  5. State of Tabasco seceded from Mexico on two occasions, the first on February 13, 1841, rejoining again on December 2, 1842. And the second time was from November 9, 1846 to December 8 of that year.

Mexican states

The states of the Mexican Federation are free, sovereign, autonomous, and independent of each other. They are free to govern themselves according to their own laws; each state has a constitution that cannot contradict the federal constitution, which covers issues of national competence. The states cannot make alliances with other states or any independent nation without the consent of the whole federation, except those of defense and security arrangements necessary to keep the border states secure in the event of an invasion. The political organization of each state is based on a separation of powers in a congressional system: legislative power is vested in a unicameral congress (the federal congress has two chambers); executive power is independent of the legislature and vested in a governor elected by universal suffrage; and judicial power is vested in a Superior Court of Justice. Since states have legal autonomy, each has its own civil and penal codes and judicial body.

In the Congress of the Union, the federative entities • the States and the Federal District • are each represented by 3 senators, 2 elected by universal suffrage on the principle of relative majority and 1 assigned to the party which obtains the largest minority. In addition, the federation makes up a constituency in which 32 senators are elected by the method of proportional representation. Federal Deputies, however, do not represent the states, but rather the citizens themselves. The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate together comprise the Congress of the Union.

Internal Organization of States

Main articles: Municipalities of Mexico and Settlement classification in Mexico

The states are internally divided into municipalities. Each municipality is autonomous in its ability to elect their own council. The council is headed by a Mayor elected every 3 years with no possibility of immediate reelection. Each municipality has a council composed of councilors in terms of population size. The council is responsible, in most cases, to provide all utilities required for its population. This concept, which arises from the Mexican Revolution, is known as a "free municipality". In total there are 2438 municipalities in Mexico, the state with the highest number of municipalities is Oaxaca, with 570, and the state with the lowest number is Baja California, with only 5.[33]

Distrito Federal

Mexico City has a special status within the federation. According to Article 44 of the federal constitution, Mexico City is the Federal District, seat of government of the Union and the capital of the United Mexican States. The city is coextensive with the Federal District territorially and administratively. If the federal government moves to another city, the Federal District would be transformed into another state of the Union, called "State of the Valley of Mexico" with new borders and area that the Congress of the Union would give it.

Mexico City was separated from the State of Mexico, of which it was the capital, in November 18, 1824, to become the capital of the federation. As such, it does not belong to any state in particular but to all (i.e., to the federation). Therefore, it was the president of Mexico, in representation of the federation, who designated its head of government (previously called regente, "regent" or jefe del departamento del Distrito Federal, "head of the department of the Federal District"). However, the Federal District received full autonomy in 1997 and its citizens now elect directly their chief of government, the head of the boroughs (or delegaciones) and the representatives of the unicameral legislature called the Asamblea Legislativa, "Legislative Assembly". It does not have a constitution but a statute of autonomy. Nonetheless it enjoys many privileges as the capital of the federation.

Internal divisions of the Federal District

Main article: Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District

For administrative purposes, the Federal District is divided into 16 delegaciones or boroughs. While not fully equivalent to a municipality (nor the concept of a municipio libre), the 16 boroughs have gained significant autonomy and since 2000 the heads of government of the boroughs are elected directly by plurality (they were previously appointed by the head of government of the Federal District). Given that Mexico City is organized entirely as a Federal District most of the city services are provided by the Government of the Federal District and not by the boroughs themselves, while in the constituent states these services would be provided by the municipalities. It should be noted that while other cities within the constituent states of the federation exercise their autonomy through the municipal council, some, like Querétaro, have further subdivided the municipality into delegaciones or boroughs for administrative purposes as well.

Self-determination of the Indigenous Peoples

The second article of the constitution recognizes the multicultural composition of the nation founded upon the indigenous peoples to whom the government grants the right of self-(free) determination and autonomy. According to this article the indigenous peoples are granted

The nation commits to and demands the constituent states and municipalities to promote the economic and social development of the indigenous communities as well as an intercultural and bilingual education. According to the Law of Linguistic Rights, the nation recognizes 62 indigenous languages as "national languages" with the same validity as Spanish in the territories in which they are spoken and the indigenous peoples are entitled to request public services in their languages.

Notes

See also

Mexico portal
Mexico

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Mexico
Other countries • Atlas Politics portal view • talk •

References

  1. ^ Álvarez Cuartero, Izaskun Op.cit. p.266
  2. ^ a b "La Transicion del Imperio a la Republica o la Participacion Indiscriminada" (in Spanish). http://www.iih.unam.mx/moderna/ehmc/ehmc11/136.html.
  3. ^ "Acta constitucional presentada al soberano Congreso Constituyente por su comisión." (in Spanish). http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1823_122/Acta_constitucional_presentada_al_soberano_Congres_183.shtml.
  4. ^ "Aniversario de la Federación de Chiapas a México" (in Spanish). http://www.blogsentrelagente.com.mx/blog_home.asp?idU=230&idP=5871.
  5. ^ "Decreto. Constitución federal de los Estados-Unidos Mexicanos." (in Spanish). http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1824_121/Decreto_Constituci_n_federal_de_los_Estados-Unidos_Mexicanos.shtml.
  6. ^ "Decreto. Se señala á México con el distrito que se expresa para la residencia de los supremos poderes de la federación" (in Spanish). http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1824_121/Decreto_Se_se_ala_M_xico_con_el_distrito_que_se_expresa_para_la_residencia_de_los_supremos_poderes_de_la_federaci_n.shtml.
  7. ^ "Decreto. Se declara á Tlaxcala territorio de la federación" (in Spanish). http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1824_121/Decreto_Se_declara_Tlaxcala_territorio_de_la_federaci_n.shtml.
  8. ^ "Biography of Victoria, Guadalupe.". http://www.archontology.org/nations/mex/mex2/victoria.php.
  9. ^ "Bases Constitucionales Expedidas por el Congreso Constituyente", en Felipe Tena Ramírez", Op.cit. p. 203
  10. ^ "La Suprema Corte en las Constituciones Centralistas." (in Spanish). http://www.bibliojuridica.org/libros/2/721/37.pdf.
  11. ^ "Division Territorial de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos de 1810 a 1995 (Page 27)." (in Spanish). http://www.inegi.org.mx/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/integracion/pais/divi_terri/1810-1985/eum/ESTADOS%20UNIDOS%20MEXICANOS.pdf.
  12. ^ "Division Territorial de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos de 1810 a 1995 (Page 28)" (in Spanish). http://www.inegi.org.mx/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/integracion/pais/divi_terri/1810-1985/eum/ESTADOS%20UNIDOS%20MEXICANOS.pdf.
  13. ^ "Division Territorial de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos de 1810 a 1995 (Page 29)" (in Spanish). http://www.inegi.org.mx/prod_serv/contenidos/espanol/bvinegi/productos/integracion/pais/divi_terri/1810-1985/eum/ESTADOS%20UNIDOS%20MEXICANOS.pdf.
  14. ^ a b CONAPO
  15. ^ "Conmemora la Secretaría de Cultura el 185 Aniversario del Decreto de Creación del Distrito Federal". http://www.cultura.df.gob.mx/index.php/sala-de-prensa/boletines/2536-601-09-.
  16. ^ "INEGI". http://cuentame.inegi.gob.mx/monografias/default.aspx?tema=me.
  17. ^ "Calendario de Eventos Cívicos - Febrero". http://www.yucatan.gob.mx/servicios/c_civico/fechas.jsp?mes=2.
  18. ^ "Transformación Política de Territorio Norte de la Baja California a Estado 29". http://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/portal/nuestro_estado/historia/transformacion.jsp.
  19. ^ "Secretaria de Educación Publica". http://www2.sepdf.gob.mx/efemerides/consulta_efemerides.jsp?dia=8&mes=10.
  20. ^ "Secretaria de Educación Publica". http://www2.sepdf.gob.mx/efemerides/consulta_efemerides.jsp?dia=29&mes=4.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "La Diputación Provincial y El Federalismo Mexicano". http://books.google.com.mx/books?id=i_GK_-6deKIC&lpg=PA227&ots=eyvDzsrMIz&dq=22%20De%20Mayo%20De%201824%20durango&pg=PA227#v=onepage&q=&f=false.
  22. ^ "Portal Ciudadano de Baja California". http://www.bajacalifornia.gob.mx/portal/nuestro_estado/historia/efemerides/en-diciembre.jsp.
  23. ^ "Universidad de Colima". http://elcomentario.ucol.mx/Noticia.php?id=1260333428.
  24. ^ "Erección del Estado de Guerrero". http://www.guerrero.gob.mx/?P=readart&ArtOrder=ReadArt&Article=2177.
  25. ^ "Congreso del Estado Libre y Soberano de Hidalgo". http://www.congreso-hidalgo.gob.mx/index.php?historia-de-las-divisiones-territoriales-de-los-municipios-del-estado-de-hidalgo-1.
  26. ^ . .
  27. ^ "Gobierno del Estado de Tlaxcala". http://www.tlaxcala.gob.mx/tlaxcala/enero-febrero.html.
  28. ^ "Gobierno del Estado de Quintana Roo". http://www.qroo.gob.mx/qroo/Estado/Historia.php.
  29. ^ "500 años de México en documentos". http://www.biblioteca.tv/artman2/publish/1830_135/Ley_Reglas_para_la_divisi_n_del_Estado_de_Sonora_y_Sinaloa.shtml.
  30. ^ "Portal Gobierno del Estado de Tlaxcala". http://www.tlaxcala.gob.mx/tlaxcala/nov-dic.html.
  31. ^ "La historia de la República de Yucatán". http://www.sobrino.net/Dzidzantun/la_historia_de_la_rep_yuc.htm.
  32. ^ "República de Río Grande, el País que no pudo ser." (in Spanish). http://www.ambosmedios.com/releases/2005/12/prweb321680.htm.
  33. ^ "CATALOGO DE MUNICIPIOS Y LOCALIDADES POR ESTADO". http://portal.veracruz.gob.mx/portal/page?_pageid=433,4078171&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL.

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v • d • Political divisions of Mexico
States of Mexico

Aguascalientes • Baja California • Baja California Sur • Campeche • Chiapas • Chihuahua • Coahuila • Colima • Durango • Guanajuato • Guerrero • Hidalgo • Jalisco • México • Michoacán • Morelos • Nayarit • Nuevo León • Oaxaca • Puebla • Querétaro • Quintana Roo • San Luis Potosí • Sinaloa • Sonora • Tabasco • Tamaulipas • Tlaxcala • Veracruz • Yucatán • Zacatecas
Mexico City (Federal District)
v Mexican States Indicators
Geography Area • Population • Population density
Economy GDP • GDP per capita • GDP participation
Social indicators Literacy rate • Infant mortality • HDI • Life expectancy • Poverty rate
Others Flags • Coats of arms • Governors

Categories: Subdivisions of Mexico | Lists of country subdivisions | Country subdivisions of the Americas | Mexico-related lists

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