Article 80 of the Mexican Constitution reads: “Se deposita el ejercicio del Supremo Poder Ejecutivo de la Unión en un solo individuo, que se denominará ‘Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos'” (The exercise of the Supreme Executive Power of the Union is vested in a single individual, who shall be called “President of the United Mexican States”). The article has kept its original wording since the Constitution was published in February 1917.
government
Settling with the Superior
The Interior Regulation of Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior, in its 2019 version, lists the general powers of its officials. For the heads of the undersecretariats, the first one is “Acordar con la persona Titular de la Secretaría los asuntos de su competencia” (to settle with the head of the Ministry the matters within their competence).
For the heads of the administrative units listed in section B of Article 2, Article 10 begins in the same way: “Acordar con su superior jerárquico la resolución de los asuntos a su cargo” (to settle with their hierarchical superior the resolution of the matters in their charge).
Twenty Percent
Mexico’s Law on Acquisitions, Leases and Services of the Public Sector, published in a new form on April 16, 2025, sets fixed prices as the rule. Article 65 allows “decrementos o incrementos a los precios” (decreases or increases in prices) under an agreed adjustment formula. When prices rise or fall generally, government agencies “deberán reconocer incrementos o requerir reducciones” (must recognize increases or require reductions).
Article 74 allows contracts in force to be increased, as long as the changes do not exceed “en conjunto, el veinte por ciento” (altogether, twenty percent) of the original amount or quantity. Under Article 77, instead of rescinding a contract, an agency may give the supplier “otro plazo, que le permita subsanar el incumplimiento” (another deadline, which allows the supplier to correct the breach).
Taxes in Installments
Article 66 of Mexico’s Federal Tax Code states that the tax authorities, at the taxpayer’s request, may authorize “el pago a plazos” (payment over time). The payment can be deferred for up to twelve months, or paid in installments over up to thirty-six months.
Complaints by Phone
Profeco, Mexico’s consumer protection agency, runs a service called Conciliaexprés. A consumer with a complaint calls Profeco or files a written complaint on its website, and a Profeco representative contacts the supplier to look for an agreement. The supplier must be registered in the system.
In 2025, the legal publication IDConline described the service as “una herramienta de conciliación rápida para resolver de forma ágil, reclamaciones en materia de consumo” (a tool for quick conciliation, to resolve consumer complaints swiftly).
Eight from the City
In July 2024, Expansión reported that Claudia Sheinbaum would bring eight people from her time as head of government of Mexico City into her federal cabinet.
Among them were Rosa Icela Rodríguez, her first secretary of government in the capital, and Omar García Harfuch, whom she named the city’s security secretary in 2019. Ernestina Godoy had led the city’s prosecutor’s office. Jesús Esteva had run its public works ministry since the start of her administration in December 2018.
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.
The Council of Elders
In ruling SUP-REC-39/2017, Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal described the system of posts in a Chatino community in Oaxaca, governed by its own customs. “Para pasar de un cargo a otro, los ciudadanos esperan de uno a cuatro años” (To move from one post to the next, citizens wait one to four years). “El cargo confiere prestigio a quien lo cumple” (The post confers prestige on the person who fulfills it).
The posts come before membership in the Consejo de Ancianos, the Council of Elders.
Lord None of Your Business
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).
The Commercial Bureau
Mexico’s consumer protection agency, Profeco, runs the Buró Comercial. According to Expansión, it is a website that shows which companies have a registered adhesion contract, and “también si han tenido quejas u otros procedimientos” (also whether they have had complaints or other proceedings).