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Envelopes, Notes and Posters

On his tours, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador received requests directly from citizens. In March 2019, the newspaper Eje Central reported: “Las peticiones a López Obrador a veces llegan a gritos, en cartas” (Petitions to López Obrador sometimes arrive shouted, or in letters). “Estos voluntarios van recibiendo sobres, recados y cartulinas” (These volunteers collect envelopes, notes and posters).

Before he took office, his transition team had already received “29,499 documentos con peticiones de la ciudadanía” (29,499 documents with citizens’ petitions), Expansión reported in December 2018.

The Dark Figure

INEGI’s national victimization survey, ENVIPE, measures the share of crimes that are never reported or never investigated. INEGI calls it the “cifra oculta o cifra negra” (hidden or dark figure). In the 2024 edition, covering 2023, it was 92.9 percent.

Among the reasons for not reporting that INEGI attributes to the authorities, victims named “pérdida de tiempo” (a waste of time) at 34.4 percent, “desconfianza en la autoridad” (distrust of the authorities) at 12.7 percent, and “trámites largos y difíciles” (long and difficult procedures) at 9.8 percent.

Abbreviated Titles

The style manual of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE) sets a rule for titles: “Los tratamientos se escriben abreviados, con inicial mayúscula, cuando acompañan al nombre” (Titles are written abbreviated, with a capital initial, when they accompany the name). Its examples are “Dr. Gustavo González Ortiz,” “Mtra. María Rosa Madrigal Hernández” and “Ing. Rodolfo Contreras Martínez.” Its examples of titles written out in full are in lowercase, as in “licenciado Armando Contreras.”

Knowledge and Aptitude

Section B of Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution covers the workers of the federal Powers of the Union. Fraction VII states: “La designación del personal se hará mediante sistemas que permitan apreciar los conocimientos y aptitudes de los aspirantes” (Staff shall be appointed through systems that allow the knowledge and aptitudes of the applicants to be assessed).

Fraction VIII gives them rights to a promotion ladder, the escalafón, “a fin de que los ascensos se otorguen en función de los conocimientos, aptitudes y antigüedad” (so that promotions are granted on the basis of knowledge, aptitude and seniority).

The Law Against Paperwork

Mexicans use the word tramitología for excessive paperwork. On April 22, 2025, Excélsior headlined: “Presidenta envía a diputados ley contra tramitología” (President sends deputies a law against tramitología). Expansión headlined the same bill: “Sheinbaum propone nueva ley para abatir tramitología y burocracia” (Sheinbaum proposes a new law to cut tramitología and bureaucracy).

The National Law for the Elimination of Bureaucratic Procedures was published in the official gazette on July 16, 2025.

Respectful and Cordial Treatment

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).

Thank You for Not Smoking

“POR FAVOR APAGUE SU CIGARRO antes de entrar” (Please put out your cigarette before entering). “Gracias por no fumar” (Thank you for not smoking). These are among the model signs in the Manual de Señalamientos y Avisos of the State of Mexico, part of its program against tobacco use. They mark spaces where smoking is not allowed.

The same manual also offers the plain sign “PROHIBIDO FUMAR” (no smoking).

The Paperwork Coyote

In Mexico, a coyote de trámites is “el intermediario informal que se ofrece a resolver gestiones ante oficinas de gobierno” (the informal middleman who offers to sort out procedures at government offices), according to Cultura Colectiva. The coyote does this for money. In formal language, the same person is a gestor informal.

Minutes of Tolerance

The working conditions of Mexico’s Supreme Court grant its staff “una tolerancia de quince minutos,” a tolerance of fifteen minutes, after the start of the working day. Four ordinary late arrivals in a month cost half a day’s pay.

The Mexico City government’s working conditions of 2010 give ten minutes. An arrival up to minute 20 is a minor delay, and up to minute 30 a serious one. After minute 30, the employee may work only with the supervisor’s permission.

Tequio

Tequio comes from the Nahuatl tequitl, work or tribute. It is the work that members of a community give to their community. Article 12 of the Constitution of the State of Oaxaca says that municipal and community authorities “preservarán el tequio como expresión de solidaridad,” will preserve tequio as an expression of solidarity. Tequio for works of common benefit may be counted by law as payment of municipal contributions.