Mexico City’s Civic Culture Law lists infractions against the dignity of persons. In its 2019 text, the first is to “vejar, intimidar o maltratar física o verbalmente a cualquier persona” (to humiliate, intimidate or mistreat any person, physically or verbally).
In 2019, the National Human Rights Commission challenged the words “o verbalmente” before the Supreme Court, in action of unconstitutionality 72/2019. The outcome of the challenge could not be confirmed.
The Manual de urbanidad y buenas maneras, a manual of civility and good manners, was written in 1854 by the Venezuelan Manuel Antonio Carreño. A chapter published by the UNAM’s Institute of Historical Research refers to it as “el texto más conocido y difundido a la vuelta del siglo” (the best-known and most widely circulated text at the turn of the century).
The chapter describes the manual as “un puente entre la socialización familiar y la socialización escolar” (a bridge between socialization in the family and socialization at school).
On December 9, 2014, at an event in Huixtla, Chiapas, Governor Manuel Velasco slapped his assistant, Luis Humberto, on the cheek. A video of the moment spread online. The governor’s name became a trending topic, and users posted images that mocked him.
On January 21, 2015, Velasco apologized in public for “el lamentable incidente accidental que pasó el día 9 de diciembre en Huixtla” (the regrettable accidental incident that took place on December 9 in Huixtla).
In the early hours of August 27, 2025, an employee of the legal department of Guadalajara’s police was arrested for driving drunk. During the arrest he shouted: “No me toquen, no saben con quién están hablando” (Don’t touch me, you don’t know who you are talking to).
Social media named him “Lord Qué Te Importa,” Lord None of Your Business. The police department announced: “El servidor público fue separado de su cargo y se abrió un procedimiento en su contra” (The public servant was removed from his post and proceedings were opened against him).
In a study of politeness published in Verbum et Lingua, a journal of the University of Guadalajara, Mexican speakers were asked what courtesy is. One answered: “La cortesía y la educación. De hecho, en algún punto hasta pueden considerarse sinónimos” (Courtesy and upbringing. In fact, at some point they can even be considered synonyms).
Another said that courtesy was “no precisamente para caer bien, sino por el hecho de tener educación” (not exactly to be liked, but because one has been brought up well).
On February 8, 2022, the Code of Ethics of Mexico’s federal public administration was published in the official gazette. It names among its values “respeto, liderazgo, cooperación” (respect, leadership, cooperation). Public servants who serve the public must give “un trato respetuoso y cordial” (respectful and cordial treatment).
En política, la forma es fondo. “In politics, form is substance.” UNAM Global attributes the phrase to the politician Jesús Reyes Heroles and quotes it in a longer form: “seremos inflexibles en la defensa de las ideas, pero respetuosos en las formas, pues en política, frecuentemente, la forma es fondo” (we will be inflexible in defending ideas but respectful in forms, because in politics, form is often substance).
The common short form drops the word frecuentemente, often. No original speech or date for the phrase could be found.
During the 2006 presidential campaign, President Vicente Fox criticized Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s plan to lower fuel prices. At an event in Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, López Obrador answered: “Cállate, chachalaca” (Shut up, chachalaca). The chachalaca is a noisy bird.
According to Expansión, many analysts later counted the remark among the mistakes of his campaign.
“Cuando llegues, o te vayas, saluda a todos” (When you arrive, or when you leave, greet everyone). This was one rule in a 2013 Chilango list on how to behave in the office.
The greeting is often physical. A 2025 Chilango column describes it: between women, a single kiss on the right cheek, and between men, a hug with a pat on the back.