by Jesus E. Ibarra
In Mexico, the election of federal and local legislators held every three years without the possibility of reelection. Article 59 of the U.S. Constitution prohibits the re-election Mexican federal deputies and senators, while Article 116 forbids the local deputies. Legislators who served as local representatives, usually seek to be federal deputies, federal representatives for their part, looking for a place in the Senate, and vice versa. They can make as many times as they like, provided they be favored by popular vote. This is not precluded by the Constitution, so it is normal to see MPs to campaign before the end of his term. If allowed the reelection, this is not necessary, obviously. Because people can not re-elect their representatives, some legislators (not to generalize) become representatives of his party and not "elected representatives" as it marks our constitution. In doing so, disregard the interests of the people that elected them very rarely visit the communities of his district and not conducive to the needs of Congress people who gave the vote of confidence. In this way, completely lost the concept of popular representation of representative democracy.
The above is perhaps the main reason why many states have put aside what other developed democracies have implemented for years: referendum. The Dictionary of the Real Academia defines it thus: "Legal process by which are submitted to popular vote laws or administrative acts by the people whose ratification is proposed."
use the state of Sonora as a reference. The figure of the referendum appears two times in the Constitution of the State of Sonora:
Article 57 (3rd paragraph) - The creation, alteration, addition, repeal and repeal of laws or decrees issued by Congress may undergo referendum pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the law of matter.
Article 64, section A XXXV - The Congress shall have power to "... regulation and encourage public participation in the state and its municipalities to regulate the figures of their own choosing among which should be considered referendum, popular initiative and local consultation, participation and basic institutions. "
To legislate for this, in the Sonora State Congress have introduced several bills that propose to give life to the referendum, but all without success. are introduced, they take turns to committee and never know of them.
In the neighboring state of Arizona in the U.S., for example, since 1912, in which adopted the State Constitution, the referendum has been given the cornerstone of the political history of that state. Every two years, coupled with the election of representatives, the people vote for or against the various legislative proposals that impact on their daily lives. Even to make changes to the constitution, the people have to pass through voting changes arising (Article 21, Section 1 - CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA ). Why this has not been adopted in Mexico? Are we not yet fully developed democracy? What are you afraid of elected officials? ... To the view public?
- Jesús Ernesto Ibarra Quijada
Student of Political Science at the University of Arizona
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