There are two Mexican patriotic national holidays this month. El Dia del Constitucíon (Constitution Day) is February 5 and the tricolor flag of Mexico is feted on the February 24 El Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day) is the 24th. Constitution Day is a paid holiday for employees, and schools and some businesses here at Lake Chapala closed last Monday.
Mexico's current constitution affects the lives of foreigners living and visiting Mexico far more than most folks realize. Over the years, Mexico has functioned under six different constitutions which evolved in just 100 years. The first was written in 1812, during the country’s war for independence from Spain. The most current document was promulgated on Feb. 5, 1917, at the conclusion of the most recent revolution (the one with Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata).
The current Constitution of 1917 evolved from the same extreme discontent of the poor and ordinary people which had led them during the revolution. For years the country suffered from economic and political instability and a reign of dictators, assassins, and revolutionaries. All during this time, privilege continued to be determined by wealth, class and lineage.
By 1900, workers and former small farmers were struggling and kept poor in a system that had them dependent on company stores and deprived of any way to protest or defend their rights. These tragedies became rampant during the 34-year rule of Military Dictator Porfirio Díaz who remained in office through fraud, violence, and deceit, while campaigning with promises to change the law to forbid re-election.
On November 20, 1910, revolution erupted led by guerrilla chiefs Pascual Orozco, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. After the fall of Díaz, a series of presidents led the country. Many of their names are familiar to Lake Chapala’s foreign community from street signs—among the list were Francisco Madero, Alvaro Obregon, and Venustiano Carranza. When the revolution ended in 1916, the country’s leaders began to convey the ideals they had fought to obtain into the framework of the February 5, 1857 constitution.
Mexico’s current constitution, adopted in 1917, is focused on the rights of the individual and it includes provisions for social welfare, labor and the distribution of land. The very first section explains that these rights are the same for all individuals, including foreigners. The listing of civil rights and the rules to govern Mexicans form half of the constitution.
The actual structure of the government into legislative, executive and judicial branches is reserved for the second half of the document, which also outlines the duties and powers of the congress, states, and elected officials. Mexico is declared by its constitution as a representative, democratic and federal republic composed of 31 sovereign states with a Federal District as the seat of federal government.
Among the many listed rights are the freedoms of thought and speech, religion, press, education, assembly, choice of occupation, and the opportunity to present petitions, own property, and freedom from slavery and the privileges determined by race, creed, class or sex.
Mexico Insights Tip:
Be sure you read the constitution so that you know your rights as a foreigner , and also know what you are not allowed to do as a foreigner in Mexico. Be especially careful about becoming involved in any form of politics – that is strictly forbidden to foreigners.
You can read the entire Constitution of the United States of Mexico, in understandable English, with this easy to read translation.
Learn About the Revolution
Learn more about Mexico’s civil war -- the Revolution which began on November 20, 1910 -- in the November 2009 Mexico Insights article, “Villa, Zapata, and the November 20 Revolution “written by retired history teacher, Lakeside resident Jim Cook.
The Anniversary Year Events
Stay tuned, right here and at Mexico Insights Living at Lake Chapala as we report on the year-long events planned by Mexico to celebrate the Centennial of the 1910 Mexican Revolution and the Bicentennial of the 1810 War of Independence from Spain.
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