5. STATE GOVERNMENTS

Patterned after the U.S. political system, Mexico is a federal republic composed of thirty-one states and one Federal District (i.e., Mexico City, commonly abbreviated D.F., meaning Distrito Federal). Each of the thirty-one states has its own Constitution, which closely parallels the substance and format of the Federal Constitution. The local legislature of each state enacts legislation (i.e., codes, laws, decrees and regulations) which apply within the territorial boundaries of the state in question.

In general, the legislative enactments of each State may be grouped under these four categories: (1) the Constitution; (2) the four major codes (civil code, code of civil procedure, criminal code, and code of criminal procedure); (3) local laws and statutes; (4) decrees, regulations and other administrative material. These legislative materials are available at the individual web site of each state.

5.1 Specific State Legislation

Although homepages for each individual State may be accessed directly by typing its respective homepage address, it is recommended to make the first contact with the State in question through "Precisa" because this federal clearinghouse provides an initial page with relevant information on local agencies and other useful links for each State.

www.precisa.gob.mx 
This E-portal is the clearinghouse for all of Mexico's federal agencies.

After selecting Enlaces a los Sitios del Gobierno Mexicano (Links to the Mexican Government Sites), this leads to the menu of State homepages and other links; click in the line titled: "Gobiernos Estatales" (State Governments) to access the desired State..

Individual State homepages of each of the 31 States is given in Appendix III of this Note.

This article (Electronic Guide to the Best Mexican Law Web Sites) was posted in early January 2004 in the electronic website LLRX (www.llrx.com) thanks to the generosity of Ms. Sabrina I. Pacifici.