In 2017, an Expansión article on Carlos Slim included the sentence “El ingeniero es propietario de la gigante de telecomunicaciones América Móvil” (The engineer is the owner of the telecommunications giant América Móvil). Slim graduated as a civil engineer from the Faculty of Engineering of the UNAM.
The Table of Deans
A new Chamber of Deputies is installed by the Mesa de Decanos, the Table of Deans. Under Article 15 of the Organic Law of the Congress, its members are the deputies-elect “que hayan desempeñado con mayor antigüedad la responsabilidad de legislador federal” (who have served longest as federal legislators).
If two have equal seniority, the one who has belonged to more legislatures comes first. If they are still tied, the older one does. The Table swears in the new legislators and presides over the session that elects the chamber’s first leadership.
Do Not Grumble
Article 11 of the Law of Discipline of the Mexican Army, Air Force and National Guard reads: “El militar se abstendrá de murmurar con motivo de las disposiciones superiores o de las obligaciones” (A soldier shall refrain from grumbling about the orders of superiors or about duties). Article 3 names the bases of military discipline: “la obediencia, y un alto concepto del honor” (obedience and a high concept of honor).
Article 14 sets a limit. It forbids a soldier to give orders whose execution would be a crime.
Don and Doña
Don and doña are placed before a first name. The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy defines don as a “tratamiento de respeto que se antepone a los nombres de pila” (a form of respect placed before first names).
In the television comedy El Chavo del 8, two of the adult neighbors are Don Ramón and Doña Florinda.
Levers and Good Trees
For a study published in 2009, two researchers asked 500 adults in Aguascalientes about 60 popular sayings related to corruption. One was Más vale tener palancas que dinero, “it is better to have levers than money.” 83 percent of respondents linked it to corruption.
Another was El que a buen árbol se arrima, buena sombra le cobija, “whoever draws close to a good tree is sheltered by good shade.” 76 percent said they had used it.
Claiming Influence
Article 221 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code defines the crime of tráfico de influencia, influence peddling. It also covers the private person who, without legal authority to take part in a public matter, “afirme tener influencia” (claims to have influence) over the officials who decide it. The penalty is two to six years in prison and a fine.
Five Letters of Reference
For the election of judges by popular vote, Article 96 of the Constitution asks candidates for the Supreme Court for an essay and for five letters of reference. They must send “cinco cartas de referencia de sus vecinos, colegas o personas que respalden su idoneidad para desempeñar el cargo” (five letters of reference from their neighbors, colleagues or persons who vouch for their suitability for the office). The call for candidates repeated the requirement.
In November 2024, Magistrate Maribel Méndez de Lara, of the evaluation committee of the Legislative Branch, said that the committees would check the letters by telephone with the people who had signed them.
Under the Employer’s Authority
Article 134 of Mexico’s Federal Labor Law lists the duties of workers. Fraction III requires them to “desempeñar el servicio bajo la dirección del patrón o de su representante, a cuya autoridad estarán subordinados en todo lo concerniente al trabajo” (perform the service under the direction of the employer or the employer’s representative, to whose authority they are subordinate in everything that concerns the work).
Article 47 lists the reasons for which an employer may dismiss a worker without liability. Fraction XI names “desobedecer el trabajador al patrón o a sus representantes, sin causa justificada, siempre que se trate del trabajo contratado” (disobedience of the worker toward the employer or the employer’s representatives, without justified cause, when it concerns the work contracted for).
With Your Permission, Mr. President
In 1988, Porfirio Muñoz Ledo interpellated President Miguel de la Madrid. El Siglo de Torreón calls the interpellation unprecedented. Muñoz Ledo began with the words “Con su permiso, señor presidente” (With your permission, Mr. President). A member of the PRI tried to hit him to stop him from speaking.
The Boss Is Not Always Right
In July 2021, El Financiero published an article titled “Tu jefe no siempre tiene la razón: ¿de qué manera puedes contradecirlo?” (Your boss is not always right. How can you contradict him?). It notes that “el jefe siempre tiene razón” (the boss is always right) is a golden rule for many people, and it says that this is not true.
Its advice for disagreeing: “Manifiesta el mayor respeto hacia tu jefe, pero di lo que verdaderamente piensas” (Show the greatest respect toward your boss, but say what you truly think).