| I didn't know that Mexico is a federal constitutional | | | | has a multi-party electoral system. Its major |
| republic much like the United States of America. | | | | political parties are Institutional Revolutionary |
| But in fact, its complete or formal name is | | | | Party, National Action Party, Party of the |
| Estados Unidos Mexicanos, or United Mexican | | | | Democratic Revolution, Green Ecological Party, and |
| States in English. When we say Mexico, we are | | | | Labor Party. |
| actually referring to a federation comprising of 31 | | | | I did not know, as well, that the Mexican |
| states and a Federal District, Mexico City, which is | | | | Federation has been dissolved twice already in |
| also the capital of Mexico. | | | | their history. In 1835, the federation was dissolved |
| Each state, which has the authority to create its | | | | and was replaced with a centralist form of |
| own constitution, is represented by three | | | | government in which power was concentrated in |
| senators--two are elected by their constituents, | | | | the president and his officers. In 1857, the form |
| and one seat is assigned to the first minority or | | | | of government was reverted back to federalism. |
| the runner-up candidate. | | | | Their federation was dissolved a second time |
| I also didn't know that Mexico used to be a really | | | | when French invaded Mexico in 1864. France |
| big nation. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, | | | | instituted a monarchy and installed Maximilian |
| parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and | | | | Ferdinand, Maximilian I of Mexico. That didn't last |
| Wyoming were, once upon a time, a part of | | | | very long, though. The monarchy only lasted until |
| Mexico. Unlike the United States, however, to | | | | 1867, and then Mexico was a federation again |
| which their form of government is similar, Mexico | | | | after that. |