战略与国际研究中心-Mexican-Congressional-Report-Series_-The-Spring-2005-Term-of-the-Mexican-Congress_41页_2mb

Summary of the Spring 2005 Term of the Mexican Congress

Core Content

The Spring 2005 term of the 59th Legislature of the Mexican Congress was marked by high legislative productivity, with the partisan divisions from the previous term having diminished. This period, from February 1 to April 28, 2005, saw the approval of a record number of bills and treaties, as well as a special session in June to address the presidential veto of the 2005 budget. The term also included the ratification of several international agreements and significant constitutional and legal reforms.

Main Points

• Legislative Productivity: The spring 2005 term was the most productive in the previous 10 years, with 212 bills or treaties introduced. The Senate approved 106 of these, while the Chamber of Deputies approved 106 as well, indicating a balanced legislative output.
• Constitutional Reforms: A total of 28 constitutional amendments were introduced, with 23 approved by the Senate. The most notable was the declaration of the death penalty as unconstitutional, passed by a vote of 79 to 2.
• Legal Reforms: The Senate approved several legal reforms, including amendments to the Federal Criminal Code, Federal Fiscal Code, and the Federal Fees Law. These reforms aimed to enhance criminal justice, increase transparency, and reduce the tax burden on PEMEX.
• International Treaties: President Vicente Fox submitted 27 treaties to the Senate, including bilateral agreements with several countries and multilateral agreements with international organizations. Some treaties were ratified by the end of 2005, while others were pending.
• Special Session: A special session was called on June 21 to resolve the presidential veto of the 2005 budget. It also addressed other bills such as public safety, voting rights abroad, and commemorative coin legislation.
• State Legislatures: State legislatures introduced four bills, including a constitutional amendment to increase their influence in the reform process. This amendment proposed the inclusion of non-voting delegates in constitutional discussions.
• Executive Involvement: President Fox introduced 39 bills and 27 treaties, representing 18.4% of the total legislative activity. His legislative agenda included military, economic, and public safety-related bills.
• Presidential Travel Authorization: President Fox requested and received authorization for five international trips during the term, all approved by the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
• Comparative Context: The legislative activity in the spring 2005 term was significantly higher than in previous years, with a 21% increase compared to 2004 and more than four times the average during the Zedillo administration.

Key Information

• Session Dates: The spring term ran from February 1 to April 28, 2005, and the special session from June 21 to July 20, 2005.
• Constitutional Amendment on Death Penalty: The Senate approved a constitutional amendment that declared the death penalty unconstitutional, combining an executive proposal with four senator bills.
• Commemorative Coin Legislation: The Senate approved four bills for the minting of commemorative coins, marking historical and cultural events.
• Judicial Reform: Several bills related to judicial reform were approved, including the creation of a new system of federal district judges and the extension of legal assistance to crime victims.
• Rome Statute Ratification: The Senate ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on June 20, 2005, after a constitutional amendment was passed in May 2005.
• Chamber of Deputies Influence: The Chamber of Deputies played a significant role in shaping legislation, with 69 bills submitted to the Senate, and 30 approved. This reflects the increasing influence of the lower chamber.
• Rejected Bills: The Senate rejected 30 bills, including several amendments to the General Health Law and a proposed chapter on sports crimes in the Federal Criminal Code.
• Legal and Constitutional Implications: The legislative activity had major implications for Mexico's legal framework, including changes to the criminal justice system, public safety measures, and international obligations.

Conclusion

The Spring 2005 term of the Mexican Congress was a period of substantial legislative activity, reflecting the evolving role of the legislative branch in shaping national policy and international relations. The term saw a shift in the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches, with the Chamber of Deputies becoming more active. The reforms approved had lasting impacts on Mexico's legal and constitutional structure, as well as its international commitments.