1997 English CE01009
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Date Printed: 04/21/2009 JTS Box Number: 1FES 66 Tab Number: 11 Document Title: 1997 Federal Election process Basic information Document Date: 1997 Document Country: Mexico Document Language: English 1FES 10: CE01009 *~I~ A 1997 Federal Electoral Process Basic Information -IFE INSTITUTO FEDERAL ELECTORAL IINISlfllf!UllfO IF!EDIERAIL !E1L!EClfORAIL UPDATING THE MEXICAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM • In the last few years, a systematic process of revision and Code of Electoral Institutions and Procedures currently in place. who formed the governing bodies of the Federal Electoral updating of the electoral rules, institutions and procedures has One of its main innovations was the creation of the Federal Institute, as well as the attributions of these collegiate bodies. been conducted in Mexico, with the purpose of answering with Electoral Institute as a permanent and autonomous institution The most recent reform was completed on the second semester of certainly and opportunity the social mandate to strengthen responsible for the state function of organizing elections. 1996, making important contributions regarding the strengthening democratic plurality, to consolidate a competitive party regime The main contributions and innovations of the second reform, of a competitive regime of political parties, as well as better and to attain the highest degree of transparency, impartiality and approved in 1993, were related to the widening of spaces for conditions for an equal electoral contest, thus consolidating the trust in the organization of elections. plural representation and participation in the conformation of the attributions of independence and autonomy of the institution This important process has involved the active and co·responsible Congress, and the guarantee of greater equality in the political endowed with electoral authority. Other important innovations effort of the Executive and Legislative Branches of the Union, the contest. are related to electoral justice and electoral regimes on the local political parties and the citizenry, which is gradually becoming The third process of reform was developed from the commitment level. more plural, critical and participating. The magnitude and reach of of leaders and presidential candidates of eight national parties In sum, a systematic effort has been developed -not without the changes agreed upon has been expressed in the approval of four contending in the 1994 federal election, in order to ensure a difficulties- in order to build a juridical and institutional projects of constitutional and legal reforms between 1989 and 1996. credible and legal election. This culminated in May of that year framework adequate to answer the social imperative of The first of these reforms, developed in 1989 and 1990, resulted with a new package of changes and additions, mainly a guaranteeing transparent, impartial, fair and legal elections. in the adoption of a new legislation in the matter: the Federal significant increase in the influence of independent councillors 1997 FEDERAL ELECTIONS In Federal elections to be held on Sunday July 6th, 1997, organized There are eight national political parties with the required register legislation, and they are also organized by the state's electoral and conducted by the Federal Electoral Institute, the following to participate in the next federal election: institutions, with the sole exception of the Federal District. positions of national representation will be renewed: National Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional, PAN). In six states (Campeche, Colima, Nuevo leon, Queretaro, • The 500 members of the chamber of Deputies, 300 of which are Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario San luis Potosi, and Sonora) there will be elections for elected by the principle of relative majority in 300 single member Institucional, PRJ). governor, local congress and city councils. districts, and 200 by the principle of proportional representation, Democratic Revolution Party (Partido de la Revolucion In Guanajuato only the local congress and the city councils who are elected by lists in five muhi·member districts. Democratica, PRO). will be renewed. • A quarter of the 128 members of the Senate. This time 32 Cardenista Party (Partido Cardenista, PC). In the Federal District for the first time the Mayor will be senators will be elected by the principle of proportional labor Party (Partido del Trabajo, PT). elected, instead of being appointed by the President of the representation, by means of lists to be voted in a single multi· Green Ecological Party of Mexico <Partido Verde Ecologista Republic, and the 66 seats of the legislative Assembly will be member district, which is an innovation introduced by the 1996 de Mexico, PVEM). renewed. \ electoral reform. The other 96 seats of the Senate will be renewed Popular Socialist Party (Partido Popular Socialista, PPS). Since the Federal District will now have its own legislation and until the year 2000, three of them in each of the 32 states; two by Mexican Democratic Party (Partido Democrata Mexicano, PDM). electoral authorities, like the other 31 slates, the 1997 local elections the principle of relative majority, whereas the third one will be On the same day local elections will be conducted in eight states. will be the last ones to be organized by the Federal Electoral assigned to the first minority. These local elections are regulated according to each state's Institute. NATURE AND ATTRIBUTIONS OF THE FEDERAL ElECTORAL INSTITUTE The Federal Electoral Institute, formally created on October 11 th of principles of certainty, legality, independence, impartiality and Since organization and functioning of the Institute are ruled by 1990, is the public, autonomous and permanent institution objectivity. the principle of decentralization, these three kinds of bodies are responsible for the slate function of organizing federal elections. In the structure and functioning of the Institute there are three represented on the central and slale levels (a delegation per each of This Institute is endowed with legal status and patrimony of its kinds of bodies: the 31 states and the Federal District), on the district levels (a sub own, is independent for its decisions and functioning, has a Direction, with the collegiate structure of councils, where only delegation per each of the 300 single member districts), which allows professional performance, and is constituted by the Legislative Branch Councillors without party links or state links have the right to ilto cover the whole country. of the Union, the national political parties and the citizenry. vote. Electoral reforms developed since the creation of the Institute In order to ensure a professional development of its activities, the Technical-Executive, formed mainly by members of the have significantly affected its integration and attributes. The 1996 Institute relies in a group of officials who are recruited, trained and Professional Electoral Service organized in Executive Boards. electoral reform reinforced its autonomy and independence by systematically evaluated in a civil career service. • Surveillance, formed by representatives of political parties separating completely the Executive Branch from its integration and By constitutional mandate, the exercise of functions performed grouped in Commissions who have exclusive attributions related reserving the right to vote to independent councillors in direction by the Federal Electoral Institute is to be governe~ by the ruling to the registry of electors. bodies. COMPOSITION OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL The General Council is the highest direction body of the Federal with party affiliation represented in congress); representatives of the To count the total votes for elections of senators and deputies Electoral Institute, responsible for surveying the fulfillment of national political parties (presently eight, one per each party) and the of proportional representation, and to conduct the constitutional and legal dispositions in electoral matters, as well as Executive Secretary of the Institute, who is appointed by a two-thirds corresponding appointments. ensuring that principles of certainty, legality, independence, impartiality vote at the General Council after her/his candidacy is presented by To establish the general programs and policies of the Institute. and nbjectivity guide all activities performed by the Institute. the President Councillor. The General Council will form as many commissions as it deems II is formed by members with voice and vote (always nine) and Among its main attributions conferred by law are the following: necessary in order to perform its functions. These commissions are to members with voice but no vote (currently 13). The nine members To appoint the presidents of the direction bodies on the local be presided by an Electoral Councillor. The la\\' also establishes the with voice and vole are the President Councillor and eight Electoral level (local Councils) and on the district level (District permanent functioning of five commissions which are to be formed Councillors, who are elected for a seven year term (initiated on Councils). exclUSively by Electoral Councillors as follows: October 3151 of 1996), by a two-thirds vole at the Chamber of To decide on the granting and revoking of register for Control of Resources of Political Parties and Political Groups. Deputies, after being presented as candidates by the parliamentary political parties and political groups. Prerogatives, Political Parties and Broadcasting.