What type of government runs Mexico?
Mexico is a federal presidential republic led by a president elected for a six-year term, who serves as both head of state and head of government.
The Mexican political system
Mexico operates under a federal presidential republic system. This political system combines a federal organization (with 32 federal entities) and strong executive power concentrated in the hands of the president.
The role of the president
The Mexican president is elected by direct universal suffrage for a single six-year term (sexenio). He cannot be re-elected. He holds two major functions:
- Head of State: he represents Mexico on the international stage
- Head of Government: he directs government action and appoints ministers
Key points to remember
This strong presidential system distinguishes Mexico from European parliamentary systems, where these two functions are generally separated between a president/monarch and a Prime Minister.