Mexico
- This articleaboutcountry Mexico. For other meanings, see Mexico (disambiguation)
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| National motto: None | |||||
| image:LocationMexico.png | |||||
| Official language | Spanish | ||||
| Capital | Mexico City | ||||
| Largest City | Mexico City | ||||
| President | Vicente Fox | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 13th 1,972,550 km² 2.5% | ||||
| Population - Total (2000) - Density | Ranked 11th 103,400,165 54/km² | ||||
| Independence - Declared - Recognised | From Spain September 16, 1810 December 28, 1836 | ||||
| Currency | Mexican peso (MXP) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC -6-8 | ||||
| National anthem | Mexicanos, al grito de guerra | ||||
| Internet TLD | .mx | ||||
| Calling Code | 52 | ||||
| Tablecontents |
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2 Politics 3 States 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links |
History
Main article: HistoryMexicoMexico wassiteseveral advanced Native American civilisations, ofMesoamerican cultures, such asMaya andAztecs. The arrival ofSpanish inearly 16th centurytheir defeat ofAztecs1521 markedbeginning ofcolonial periodMexico aspartNew Spain.
In 1810, independence from Spain was declared, causinglong war that eventually ledindependence1821. After independence, Mexico's territory slowly decreasedsize,land lostsold toUnited States (see Mexican-American War) andsecessionCentral America. In1860scountry sufferedmilitary occupation by France, fought off by Mexican patriot Benito Juárez.
The long, undemocratic regimePorfirio Díaz led toMexican Revolution1910. Revolutionary forces defeatedfederal army, but were leftinternal struggles, leavingcountryconflicttwo more decades. Atend ofrevolutionInstitutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) controlledcountry untilend of20th century.
Politics
Main article: PoliticsMexicoThe 1917 constitution provides forfederal republicpowers separated into independent executive, legislative,judicial branches. Historically,executive isdominant branch,power vested inpresident, who promulgatesexecuteslaws ofparliament,federal congress or Congreso de la Unión.
The Congress has played an increasingly important role since 1997 when opposition parties first made major gains. The president also legislates by executive decreecertain economicfinancial fields, using powers delegated fromCongress. The presidentelected by universal adult suffrage for6-year termmay not hold officesecond time. Thereno vice president; inevent ofremoval or death ofpresident,provisional presidentelected byCongress.
The bicameral National Congresscomposed ofSenate (Cámara de Senadores) andChamberDeputies (Cámara de Diputados). Consecutive re-electionprohibited. Senatorselected6-year terms,deputies serve 3-year terms. The Senate's 128 seatsfilled bymixturedirect-electionproportional representation. Inlower ChamberDeputies, 300 oftotal 500 deputiesdirectly electedrepresent single-member districts, andremaining 200selected bymodified formproportional representation from five electoral regions. The 200 proportional representation seats were createdhelp smaller parties gain access toChamber.
States
Main article StatesMexicoMexicodivided into 31 states (estados) andMexican Federal District (Distrito Federal), which containscapital, Mexico City:
Geography
Main article: GeographyMexicoMexico borders two major bodieswater,Pacific Ocean (withSeaCortesbetweenmainland andBaja California peninsula) towestoneastGulfMexico andCaribbean Sea that lead toAtlantic Ocean. Herefound coastal plains, whereas central Mexico consistshigh plateausrugged mountains, including volcanoes,highestwhich isPico de Orizaba at 5,700 m.
The terrainclimate vary from deserts innorthtropical rain forest insouth. Mexico's major rivers includeRio Bravo (known inUS asRio Grande),Grijalva,Balsas andYaqui.
Economy
Main article: EconomyMexicoMexico hasfree-market economy withmixturemodernoutmoded industryagriculture, increasingly dominated byprivate sector. The numberstate-owned enterprisesMexico has fallen from more than 1,0001982fewer than 2001999. The administrationPresident Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León continuedpolicyprivatizingexpanding competitionsea ports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity, natural gas distribution,airports which was initiated by his predecessors Miguel de la MadridCarlos Salinas de Gortari.
A strong export sector helpedcushioneconomy's decline1995ledrecovery1996-1999. Private consumption becameleading drivergrowth, accompanied by increased employmenthigher wages. Mexico still needsovercome many structural problems asstrivesmodernize its economyraise living standards. Income distributionvery unequal, withtop 20%income earners accounting55%income.
Following 6.9% growth2000, real GDP fell 0.3%2001, withUS slowdownprincipal cause. Positive developments2001 includeddropinflation6.5%,sharp fallinterest rates, andstrong peso that appreciated 5% againstUS dollar. Trade withUSCanada has tripled since NAFTA was implemented1994. Mexicopursuing additional trade agreementsmost countriesLatin Americahas signedfree trade deal withEuropean Union, putting more than 90%trade under free trade agreementslessening its dependence onUS.
Demographics
Main article: DemographicsMexicoMexico ismost populous Spanish-speaking country inworld andsecond most populous countryLatin America after Portuguese-speaking Brazil. Some 60% ofpopulationofmixed ethnicity known as mestizo,30% being Amerindian9%European descent. The countrypredominantly Roman Catholic (89%),6% adheringvarious Protestant faiths andremaining 5% eitherother smaller religions orunaffiliated.
Culture
Main article: CultureMexico
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Año nuevo | First day ofyear. |
| February 5 | Constitution Day | Día de la Constitución | Celebratesratification ofConstitution1917, adopted afterMexican Civil War. |
| March 21 | Benito Juárez's Birthday | Natalicio de Benito Juárez | President Benito Juárez's Birthday, popularly regarded as an exemplary politician who stood againstFrench invasion (see Batalla de Puebla) |
| May 1 | Labour Day | Día del Trabajo | MournsHaymarket Riot(1886). |
| May 5 | Cinco de Mayo | Batalla de Puebla | Celebratesvictory against French forces incityPuebla, on May 5, 1862. Italso widely celebrated inUnited States among Mexican-Americans. |
| September 16 | Independence Day | Día de la Independencia | CelebratesGrito de Dolores, an event that markedstart ofindependence war against Spain oneveSeptember 16, 1810. See also Fiestas Patrias. |
| November 20 | Revolution Day | Día de la Revolución | Celebratesbegining ofMexican civil war1910 (see also Fiestas Patrias). |
| December 25 | Christmas | Navidad | CelebratesnativityJesus Christ, also celebrated as secular winter holiday. |
Miscellaneous topics
- CommunicationsMexico
- TransportationMexico
- MilitaryMexico
- Foreign relationsMexico
- Zapatista uprisingChiapas, Mexico
- ListcitiesMexico
- ListMexican Universities
- ListPresidentsMexico
- MusicMexico
External links
- Mexico News
- Gob.mx - Official governmental portal (in Spanish)
- Presidencia - Official presidential site
- Cámara de Diputados - Official ChamberDeputies site (in Spanish)
- Cámara de Senadores - Official senatorial site
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