REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION Mexico’s Electoral System and Political Parties

A LITTLE INTRODUCTION……

• Undergrad student at Wayne State University, majoring in political science.

• Chosen as a student researcher to study at Ibero Americano University in Mexico City and the Benito Juarez University in Oaxaca this spring.

• During my time in Mexico, I will be writing a thesis that focuses on Mexico’s electoral system and how it has impacted party competition among all political parties.

HOW TO THINK ABOUT AP COMPARATIVE POLITICS

• If you are going to do well on the AP Comparative Exam, you MUST think like a political scientist.

• Aristotle defined political science is defined as the “study of the state.”

• Political science is an INHERENTLY COMPARATIVE STUDY!

• You must compare two things and analyze them in political science. For example, compare government of Mexico with Great Britain. – (Hint—Presidential vs Parliamentary System)

THE MEXICAN LEGISLATURE

• Bicameral, meaning that it is composed of an upper chamber and a lower chamber.

• The upper house is known as the Senate and Senators are elected to a six year term (no term limits).

• The lower house is known as the Chamber of Deputies and Deputies are elected to a three year term (no term limits).

DUVERGER’S LAW IN PRE-1977 MEXICO

• Duverger’s Law states that plurality favors a two party system.

• For most of its history Mexico used plurality when electing Deputies and Senators.

• Therefore, for a long time, there were two main parties: the PRI and the PAN.

• This competition was not taken seriously, but two political parties still vied for seats in the legislature.

• That changed in 1977.

1977 REFORMS AND MMP

• In 1977, under President Lopez Portillo, reforms transformed the Mexican electoral system.

• There were two main reasons for this reform: to increase competition and the PRI itself.

• Under La Reforma, both the Senate and the Chambers of Deputies would be elected using a MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM.

MEXICO’S MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM

• 32 of the 128 Senators and 200 of the 500 Deputies are elected using this system.

• What is a Mixed Electoral System? – “Each voter has two votes, one for a district candidate

and one for a party list. The reason why this combination of methods qualifies as a PR system is that the list PR seats compensate for any disproportionality produced by the district seat results.” • “Patterns of Democracy” by Arend Lijphart (pg. 148)

EFFECTS OF A MIXED ELECTORAL SYSTEM

• MMP in Mexico has increased the number of parties in the legislature.

• More than anything, the mixed system resulted in the decline of the PRI.

• In 2006, the hegemonic PRI became, for the first time, the minority party in the legislature.

• Currently, in Mexico, there are seven parties seated in the Chamber of Deputies.

• In the Senate, there are also seven parties seated.

INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTION PARTY (PRI)

• Founded in 1929 and is usually called a state party. • For 72 years, Mexico was ruled by the PRI. – HEGEMONIC PARTY

• How did they do this? – Party organization. – Unfair, illegal election practices. – Centralized power.

• Following the 1977 reforms, PRI was challenged by parties. • Future of the PRI? Mix of good and bad.

CURRENT MEXICAN STATE GOVTS

THE PRI LOGO

THE NATIONAL ACTION PARTY

• Founded in 1939 as a center-right political party in opposition to PRI.

• Stronghold of the PAN is northern Mexico. • For many years, the PAN was not able to gain much

electoral traction because of the power of the PRI. However, in the 1980s and 90s, the PAN started to gain much traction. The culmination of which was in 2000 with the election of Vicente Fox and the end of a 72 year PRI rule.

THE PAN LOGO

DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION PARTY

• Founded in 1988 as a leftist political party. • Following 1988 elections, the PRD was a strong

contender of become the SECOND major Mexican party—hence, replacing the PRI.

• Constantly threatened by internal divisions and the inability to DEFINES ITS IDEAS.

• Gained power in 2000 after winning mayorship of Mexico City—Manuel Lopez Obrador.

• Was doing well—until the 2006 Election.

THE PRD LOGO

ELECTIONS

• PRI Voter: Rural areas, small towns, less education, poorer, and older.

• PAN Vote: Northern State, Urban area, middle-class, comfortable lifestyle, and educated.

• PRD Vote: Young, Political Activist, small town, central states, and little education.

• Election Institute founded in 1990 has made elections much fairer, and competitive.

• Example: 2006 Election.

MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR

FELIPE CALDERONE

PROTESTS IN MEXICO CITY

VERTICAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Term in political science that describes the relationship between constituents and government.

• For a long time, clientelism was the dominant form of constituent/government relations.

• Increasingly, more Mexicans are trying to negotiate with government officials on a non-personal basis. – This is illustrated by a rise in civil society activity.

• The media has also allowed for greater communication with government. – The media is much more free now than before (PRI).

PROTESTS

• For most of its history, Mexican political system has accommodated interests of various social groups. – The government has been especially respondent to

business.

• Mexico has a history of citizens working with one another at the grassroots level.

• An excellent example of this would be the Oaxaca Teacher Strike in May of 2006. • Clip: “Un Poquito Tanto de Verdad” <- “A Little Bit of So Much Truth”

QUESTION TIME!

• Since you must think like a political scientist and compare, answer this question like a political scientist.

• How would you compare political parties in Great Britain with parties in Mexico?

AP TEST ASSISTANCE

• If ANY of you have ANY questions about the AP American Government OR AP Comparative Exam, feel free to email, call, or text me! I would be happy to help!

• dominicnanni@wayne.edu 1-586-265-7614