Mexico's Constitution of 1917 with Amendments Through 2007
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PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:39 constituteproject.org Mexico's Constitution of 1917 with Amendments through 2007 © Oxford University Press, Inc. Translated by Rainer Grote Prepared for distribution on constituteproject.org with content generously provided by Oxford University Press. This document has been recompiled and reformatted using texts collected in Oxford’s Constitutions of the World. constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:39 Table of contents FIRST TITLE . 3 CHAPTER I: Individual Guarantees . 3 CHAPTER II: Mexicans . 28 CHAPTER III: Foreigners . 30 CHAPTER IV: Mexican Citizens . 30 SECOND TITLE . 32 CHAPTER I: National Sovereignty and Form of Government . 32 CHAPTER II: Integral Parts of the Federation and the National Territory . 39 THIRD TITLE . 40 CHAPTER I: Division of Powers . 40 CHAPTER II: Legislative Power . 41 Section I: Election and Installation of Congress . 41 Section II: Initiation and Formation of the Laws . 47 Section III: Powers of Congress . 49 Section IV: Permanent Commission . 58 Section V: Superior Financial Authority of the Federation . 58 CHAPTER III: Executive Power . 60 CHAPTER IV: Judicial Power . 64 FOURTH TITLE: Responsibility of Public Officials and the State . 80 FIFTH TITLE: States of the Federation and the Federal District . 84 SIXTH TITLE: Labor and Social Security . 103 SEVENTH TITLE: General Provisions . 113 EIGHTH TITLE: Amendments to the Constitution . 116 NINTH TITLE: Inviolability of the Constitution . 116 TRANSITORY ARTICLES . 117 ANNEXES . 119 Transitory Provisions . 120 Mexico 1917 (rev. 2007) Page 2 constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:39 FIRST TITLE CHAPTER I: Individual Guarantees Article 1 Every individual in the United Mexican States shall enjoy the guarantees granted by this Constitution, which cannot be restricted or suspended except in such cases and under such conditions as herein provided. • Prohibition of slavery Slavery is forbidden in the United Mexican States. Slaves who enter the national territory from abroad shall, by this act alone, obtain their freedom and enjoy the protection afforded by the laws. • Human dignity • General guarantee of equality All discrimination motivated by ethnic or national origin, gender, age, handicaps, • Equality regardless of gender social condition, health, religion, opinions, preferences, marital status, or any other • Equality regardless of creed or belief • Equality regardless of social status discrimination that violates human dignity and has the objective of restricting or • Equality regardless of origin • Equality regardless of religion diminishing the rights and liberties of persons is prohibited. • Equality regardless of age • Equality for persons with disabilities Article 2 • Right to culture • Integration of ethnic communities The Mexican Nation is one (única) and indivisible. • Reference to country's history The Nation has a multicultural composition which has its roots in its indigenous peoples, comprising those who have descended from the people who inhabited the present territory of the country at the beginning of the colonization and who have preserved at least partially their own social, economic, cultural, and political institutions. The awareness of their indigenous identity shall be an essential criterion in determining to whom the provisions on indigenous peoples apply. • Indigenous right to self governance Communities of indigenous people are those which constitute a social, economic, and cultural unit, are situated in a territory, and have their own authorities in accordance with their traditions and customs. The right of indigenous peoples to self-determination shall be exercised within a constitutional framework of autonomy that ensures national unity. The indigenous peoples and communities shall be recognized in the constitutions and laws of the federal entities, which shall take into consideration, in addition to the general principles established in the previous paragraphs of this article, ethno-linguistic criteria and physical location. • Right to self determination A. This Constitution recognizes and guarantees the right of indigenous peoples and communities to self-determination and, as a result, their autonomy with regard to: I. Deciding their forms of group life and internal social, economic, political, and cultural organization. II. Applying their own systems of rules in the regulation and resolution of their internal conflicts, so long as these are consistent with the general principles of this Constitution, respecting the guarantees of the individual, human rights, and in particular the dignity and integrity of women. The law will establish the mechanisms and procedures of enforcement by the appropriate judges or courts. Mexico 1917 (rev. 2007) Page 3 constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:39 • Indigenous right to self governance III. Electing in accordance with their traditional customs, procedures, and practices, the authorities or representatives charged with the exercise of self-government, guaranteeing the participation of women in conditions of equality with men and within a framework that respects the federal pact and the sovereignty of the States. • Protection of language use IV. Preserving and developing their languages, knowledge, and all the elements that constitute their culture and identity. • Protection of environment V. Protecting and improving their living environment and preserving the integrity of their territories in accordance with the terms established by this Constitution. VI. Having access to the preferential use of natural resources in the territories that these communities occupy and in which they live, except for those that correspond to strategic areas as determined by this Constitution, while respecting the forms and categories of property and land usage established by this Constitution and the relevant laws as well as any rights acquired by third parties or by members of the community. To this end Communities may merge with others in the terms provided for by the law. • Indigenous right to vote • Indigenous right to representation VII. Electing, in municipalities with an indigenous population, representatives to the municipal governments. The constitutions and laws of the federal entities shall recognize and regulate these rights in the municipalities with the objective of strengthening participation and political representation in a manner consistent with their traditions and internal rules. • Trial in native language of accused VIII. Having full access to the court system of the State. In order to guarantee this right in all trials and proceedings in which they take part, individually or collectively, their customs and cultural particularities shall be taken into account, while respecting the principles of this Constitution. Indigenous people have at all times the right to be assisted by translators and counsel who know their language and culture. The constitutions and laws of the federal entities shall establish the characteristic elements of self-determination and autonomy which best correspond to the circumstances and aspirations of the indigenous people in each entity, as well as the rules on the recognition of the indigenous communities as entities of public interest. Mexico 1917 (rev. 2007) Page 4 constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:39 • Provisions for wealth redistribution B. In order to promote equal opportunity for the indigenous people and to eliminate any discriminatory practices, the Federation, states, and municipalities, shall establish the institutions and determine the policies required to guarantee the effectiveness of the rights of the indigenous population and the comprehensive development of their peoples and communities. They shall be conceived and applied in coordination with them. In order to address the hardship and lack of development that affect the indigenous peoples and communities, these authorities have the obligation to: I. Stimulate the regional development of indigenous zones, with the objective of strengthening the local economies and enhancing the quality of life of their peoples, through coordinated actions of the three branches of government and with the participation of the communities. The Municipal authorities shall equitably determine budget allocations that the communities will administer directly and for specific ends. II. Guarantee and increase the levels of schooling, favoring bilingual and inter-cultural education, literacy, completion of basic education, vocational training, and middle and higher education. Establish a scholarship program for indigenous students at all levels. Define and develop educational programs of regional content that recognize the cultural heritage of their peoples, in accordance with the relevant laws and in consultation with the indigenous communities. Stimulate respect and knowledge of the diverse cultures that exist in the Nation. III. Ensure effective access to health care services by expanding the coverage of the national system, making good use of traditional medicine, and support the nutrition of indigenous people through food programs, especially for the child population. IV. Improve the conditions of indigenous communities as well as their living and recreational areas through initiatives that facilitate access to public and private financing of construction and improvement of housing, as well as the expansion of the coverage of basic social services. V. Promote the incorporation of indigenous women into the development