The Fall of the Dominant Presidency: Lawmaking under Divided Government in Mexico

This article studies lawmaking under a divided Mexican government. It begins with the argument that the transition to democracy has weakened the conditions that made centralization of power in the presidency possible. It shows that the president of Mexico is one of the least powerful in Latin America, based on his constitutional powers to influence policy outcomes and encourage congressional action. It then notes the changes in lawmaking patterns and presents a model for the new era of divided government.

This article studies lawmaking under a divided Mexican government. It begins with the argument that the transition to democracy has weakened the conditions that made centralization of power in the presidency possible. It shows that the president of Mexico is one of the least powerful in Latin America, based on his constitutional powers to influence policy outcomes and encourage congressional action. It then notes the changes in lawmaking patterns and presents a model for the new era of divided government.