Constitutions Prior to 1917

Throughout the nineteenth century, Mexico, like many other western nations, developed its constitutional system in a climate of political instability, economic crisis, and conflicts with foreign powers. The principal inspirations of the Mexican constitutional movement were the Constitution of the United States, the several constitutions of the French Revolution, and the Spanish Constitution of 1812. There were four constitutions in Mexico before 1917: the Federal Constitution of 1824, amended in 1847; the centralist constitutions of the Seven Laws (1836) and Organizational Foundations (1843); and the Federal Constitution of 1857. The Constitution of 1824 established a federal system similar to the United States's, but with many limitations on the powers of the president. The Seven Laws of 1836 formed a fourth power, known as the Supreme Conservative, to regulate the acts of the other branches of government. This constitution divided the republic into departments with restricted responsibilities and subject to central control. The Foundations of 1843 proposed a centralism that gave more liberties to the departments than did the Seven Laws. The Constitution of 1857 was written following the triumph of the Ayutla Revolution (1854–1857), and in it the liberals became a symbol of struggle against the Conservative Party, the French invasion, and the empire of Maximilian (1857–1867). The Constitution of 1857 enshrined the liberal principles of the previous constitutions and definitively established federalism in the nation. It also included reformist measures aimed at secularizing the state and society. Although it did not establish freedom of worship, this constitution abolished ecclesiastical immunity, declared freedom of teaching, and forced the sale of property belonging to civil and religious organizations. Until 1917 the Constitution of 1857 was the symbol of the freedoms that were lost under the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz (1877–1911).

See alsoFederalism .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cosío Villegas, Daniel. La Constitución de 1857 y sus críticos. México: Editorial Fondo de Cultura Económica-Clío-El Colegio Nacional, 2007.

Galeana, Patricia, ed. México y sus constituciones. México: Editorial Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2003.

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