The governmental structures of Nuevo León, a Mexican state, are organized according to artcle 30 of the state constitution, which provides for a republican, representative and popular government, divided into three independent branches (executive, legislative and judicial) that cannot be joined together in a single person or institution. Nuevo León's relation with the federal government of Mexico places it in a similar relation to that federal government as any other Mexican state, but it retains certain aspects of sovereignty with respect to other Mexican states and even toward foreign countries, especially with reference to its own internal affairs.

Executive power

Executive power rests in a governor, who is directly elected by the citizens, using a secret ballot, to a 6-year term with no possibility of reelection. The position is open only to a Mexican citizen by birth, at least 30 years old with at least 5 years residency in Nuevo León. As of 2004, the office is held by José Natividad González Paras (PRI/PVEM), who took office October 4, 2003 for a term that will end October 4, 2009.

The executive branch includes various institution, which can be divided into two basic types: centralized public administration and parastatal public administration. Centralized public administration consists of the state-level secretaries of departments, statewide procurement, and their subordinates. Parastatal public administration consists of decentralized public entities, such as enterprises in which the state government has majority control and public trusteeships.

Nuevo León has not always had a democratically elected governor; see Governors of Nuevo León.

Legislative power

Legislative power rests in a unicameral legislature composed of 42 deputies, also elected via secret ballot by the citizenry, 26 of whom are directly elected and 16 chosen according to a plurinominal system involving proportional representation. As of 2004 the LXX Legislature consists of 23 PRI deputies, 11 from PAN, 3 from PT, 3 from PVEM, 1 from PRD and an independent. To become a deputy, one must be a Mexican citizen by birth, at least 21 years old with at least 5 years residency in Nuevo León. The president of the Permanent Commission of the Congress for the period 2003–2006 is César Santos Cantú (PRI).

Judicial power

Judicial power is invested in the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Nuevo León , along with 7 ministers elected to a Consejo de la Judicatura for a term of 10 years, with the possiblity of succeeding themselves once. These are elected by the state congress from a list presented by the governor. The Tribunal and the Council supervise 12 judicial districts. Membership of the Tribunal is limited to Mexican citizens by birth, at least 35 years old, with at least ten years practicing law with the title of Licenciado en Derecho, and at least 5 years residency in Nuevo León. As of 2004, the Presiding Minister is Genaro Muñoz Muñoz .

Political parties

In accord with article 40 of the State Electoral Law, official recognition of a political party is determined by the State Electoral Commission only after verifying that the party has received 1.5% or more of the votes in a local election. As of 2004, the recognized parties are PRI, PAN, PRD, PVEM, PT and CD.

Municipalities

Nuevo León consists of 51 autonomous municipalities, each headed by a mayor ('presidente municipal / alcalde) with a 3-year term; mayors can serve no more than two consecutive terms. Mayors must be Mexican citizens by birth, at least 21 years old with at least one year residency in the municipality. As of 2004, the municipalities are:

• Abasolo
• Agualeguas
• Los Aldama
• Allende
• Anáhuac
• Apodaca
• Aramberri
• Bustamante
• Cadereyta Jiménez
• El Carmen
• Cerralvo
• China
• Ciénega de Flores
• Doctor Arroyo
• Doctor Coss
• Doctor González
• Escobedo
• Galeana
• García
• General Bravo
• General Terán
• General Treviño
• Guadalupe
• Los Herreras
• Hidalgo
• Higueras
• Hualahuises
• Iturbide
• Juárez
• Lampazos de Naranjo
• Linares
• Marín
• Melchor Ocampo
• Mier y Noriega
• Mina
• Montemorelos
• Monterrey (capital)
• Parás , Pesquería
• Los Ramones
• Rayones
• Sabinas Hidalgo
• Salinas Victoria
• San Nicolás de los Garza
• San Pedro Garza García
• Santa Catarina
• Santiago
• Vallecillo
• Villaldama
• Zaragoza
• General Zuazua .

Citizenship

According to the state constitution, a Nuevoleonese citizen is a person who was either born in Nuevo León or a Mexican citizen who has maintained residency in the state for more than two years and has not indicated to the municipal authorities a desire to preserve his/her previous citizenship. Citizenship can be lost or suspended, among other reasons, for being or becoming an Mexican army officer in charge of federal troops entering or stationed inside the state borders or for committing certain crimes. noble titles are not recognized and individual rights and freedoms are protected by the Title I of the state constitution.

References

This article draws heavily on the corresponding article in the Spanish-language wikipedia.

Enlaces externos

• State Congress de Nuevo León (in Spanish)
• Portal of the Nuevo León government (in Spanish)
• State Electoral Commission of Nuevo León (in Spanish)
• Constitution of Nuevo León (in Spanish)
• Encyclopedia of Mexican Municipalities: Nuevo León (in Spanish)