THE ABSENCE OF DIVISION OF POWERS IN THE MUNICIPALITY. A WEAKNESS IN MEXICAN FEDERALISM

Abstract

Federalism as a life project, as well as a tool to organize a government, has democratic institutions whose main role is to represent its people. In the case of Mexico, federalism is also empowered by the existence of governments with autonomous jurisdictions, administrative and political principles. This paper aims at
analyzing the principal practices of federalism in Mexico, where some weaknesses are evident enough as it can be seen how power is whether present or absent in different levels of the government, let alone in those which are closer to the citizens.
It is described how the political and administrative power and rules in a municipality are put into practice in an ambiguous legal way by a single person: The Mayor. This person usually plays different roles, since he is not only at the top of the executive, but also of the legislative and judicial powers in the community. This
situation in the municipal governments has not just weakened the federalism in Mexico, but it also justifies a harmful centralism in the country.