The Government of Mexico

1. The Government of Mexico Mark Crawford Erika Garcia Timothy Hudson Erika Romero Sarah Stepanski

2. History • Porfirio Díaz was elected president in 1877, but was ultimately recognized as a dictator who favored rich land-owners • Activists such as Emiliano Zapata, Francisco “Pancho” Villa, and Francisco Madero emerged as a response to corruption in the government • The Mexican Revolution (1910) was led by rebel leaders and specific interest groups • In 1917, the Mexican Constitution was written, establishing labor codes and term limits Emiliano Zapata and “Pancho” Villa

3. History • In 1929, the first President from the National Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, or PRI) was elected • The PRI ruled Mexico as a one-party state, stifling opposition voices • Their 70 year dominance was tainted by electoral fraud and partisan interests • In 2000, Vicente Fox of the PAN/PVEM alliance became the first member of an opposition party to be elected Political graffiti in Mexico City Former Mexican President Vicente Fox

4. Corruption • Numerous electoral irregularities in PRI-dominated elections were suspected • In 1996, the Popular Revolutionary Army launched attacks on police forces and military targets • Corruption costs the Mexican economy almost $60 billion per year • Drug cartels are charged with killing more than 6,300 people since January 2008. Oftentimes, civilians are caught in the crossfire A woman protesting police corruption

5. Economy • In 1964, the U.S. government eliminated the seasonal Mexican worker program • The Mexican economy struggled throughout the 70s and 80s with the failure of numerous economic stimulus plans, the growth of foreign debt, failing oil prices, and the devaluation of the peso • In 1992, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada signed theNorth American Free Trade Agreement • In 2002, the Partnership for Prosperity initiative was established between Mexico and the United States. Attempted to: • Alleviate poverty through regional investments • Provide security for housing markets • Train 200 Mexican small business owners to use electronic commerce to expand and access new global markets

6. U.S.-Mexico Relations • Close commercial and military ties were established throughout World War II with the “Good Neighbor Policy” • In 1952, the U.S. passed its first bill ensuring fines or imprisonment to employers who willfully hired those who entered the country unlawfully • In 1964, the U.S. government eliminated the seasonal Mexican worker program • In 1992, NAFTA was signed • In the early 2000s, Presidents George W. Bush and Vicente Fox attempted a plan that would have legalized millions of undocumented immigrants • After 9/11 and the establishment of a stricter homeland security system, the plan was abandoned

7. Policy • The Bracero Program (brokered between the U.S. and Mexico) ran between the years 1942-1964, and encouraged migrant labor when U.S. worker quotas were not being met • However, a high volume of remittances were sent to Mexico • There are instances where the Mexican Government seems to encourage illegal immigration (i.e. circulating border-crossing pamphlets) • The Merida Initiative provides $400 million over two years to strengthen law enforcement intelligence and equipment in Mexico • Many Mexican politicians continue to fight for the mass legalization of Mexican immigrants within the U.S. • A conclusive bilateral agreement has yet to be reached