Malcolm Rivera
The Mexican Constitution of 1917, also known as the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, is the current constitution of Mexico and has been in force for almost a hundred years. It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. The constitution was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917 and has been amended several times since then, including significant revisions in 1992 and 2015.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 5 February 1917 |
| Articles | 137 |
| Amendments | Several, including in 1992 and 2015 |
| Purpose | To legitimize the Mexican Revolution |
| Location of drafting | Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico |
| Key features | Separation of Church and State, land reform, human rights, social rights, workers' rights, women's rights, and indigenous rights |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Constitution of 1917 is still in force today
The Constitution of 1917 is still in force in Mexico today, almost a century after it was first ratified. It is the current constitution of Mexico, and was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, during the Mexican Revolution. The constitution was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917, and has been amended several times since.
The Constitution of 1917 is considered the legal triumph of the Mexican Revolution, and was the first document in the world to set out social rights. It defines citizenship, organises the government, mandates land reform, and enumerates basic human rights for all Mexicans. It also includes the social rights of citizens, such as the social, economic, and cultural well-being of its citizens. For example, Article 3 established free, obligatory, and secular public education, free from clerical supervision, and secularised the Mexican state. Article 27 mandated that land taken from the peasantry be returned, and that the government could take land not used "appropriately" and repurpose it for the public good. It also forbade foreigners from owning land within 100km of a national border or 50km of the sea. Article 123 established an 8-hour workday, a 6-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work. It also gave workers the right to organise, bargain collectively, and strike.
The Constitution of 1917 also includes provisions for indigenous peoples and communities, recognising their unique contribution to the multicultural nature of the Mexican nation. It also guarantees personal freedoms and civil liberties, and establishes economic and political principles for the country. For example, it includes the right to privacy, and the right to protection of personal data.
The Constitution of 1917 is a comprehensive and far-reaching document, and its continued relevance and applicability in Mexico today are a testament to its original authors.
White Planters' Reaction to Hawaii's New Constitution
You may want to see also
It was ratified on 5 February 1917
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was ratified on 5 February 1917. It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. The constitution-drafting process was relatively swift, taking only a few months from November 1916 to February 1917. The final draft was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917, and it has been amended several times since.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 is significant because it has lasted for almost 100 years and is still in force today. It comprises 137 articles that define citizenship, organise a government, mandate land reform, and enumerate basic human rights for all Mexicans. The constitution also includes social rights, serving as a model for the Weimar Constitution of 1919 and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Constitution of 1918.
One of the most important aspects of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 is its focus on social rights and economic, political, and cultural principles. It completely overturned the belief that the Mexican government should only play a limited, passive role. Instead, it asserted that the national government had an obligation to actively promote the social, economic, and cultural well-being of its citizens. This included guaranteeing workers' rights, such as an eight-hour workday, a six-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work. It also gave the government the right to confiscate land from wealthy landowners and return it to the peasantry, as well as to take land not used "appropriately" and repurpose it for the public good.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 also had a significant impact on the role of religion in the country. It included anticlerical and anti-monopoly clauses that restricted the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico. For example, Article 3 established free, obligatory, and secular public education, while Article 11 disallowed any religious corporation or ministry from establishing or directing schools of primary instruction. These articles led to attempts at strict enforcement by President Plutarco Calles, which resulted in the violent conflict known as the Cristero War.
Britain's Influence on the US Constitution
You may want to see also
It defines citizenship, organises government, mandates land reform and enumerates basic human rights
The Mexican Constitution of 1917, which was ratified on 5 February 1917, has been in force for almost 100 years. It contains 137 articles that define citizenship, organise government, mandate land reform, and enumerate basic human rights for all Mexicans.
Citizenship
The 1917 Constitution defines national citizenship and outlines the rights and freedoms of foreigners residing in Mexico.
Government
The Constitution establishes the government, public service, and social welfare. It also designates Mexico City as the capital, with the Federal District as a separate entity, independent of state jurisdiction.
Land Reform
Article 27 of the Constitution mandated that lands taken from the peasantry during the Porfiriato had to be returned, even if the peasants lacked written titles. It also empowered the government to seize land deemed not used "appropriately" and repurpose it for the public good. Additionally, Article 27 forbade foreigners from owning land within 100 km of a national border or 50 km of the sea.
Basic Human Rights
Article 3 established free, obligatory, and secular public education, independent of clerical supervision, and secularised the Mexican state. Article 123 established an 8-hour workday, a 6-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work. It also granted both labour and capital the right to organise, allowing workers to bargain collectively and strike.
US and Ohio Constitutions: Similarities and Shared Values
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It includes the social rights of citizens
The Mexican Constitution of 1917, still in force almost 100 years later, includes several social rights for citizens. The constitution was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917 and was later amended several times. The constitution is considered the legal triumph of the Mexican Revolution and served as a model for other progressive constitutions around the world, including the Weimar Constitution of 1919 and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Constitution of 1918.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 includes several social rights for citizens, such as the right to education, labour rights, and the protection of human rights. The constitution also addresses land reform, the role of the Catholic Church, and the establishment of a federal republic.
Article 3 of the constitution established the basis for free, mandatory, and secular education, while Article 11 further specifies that no religious corporation or person belonging to a similar association may establish or direct schools of primary instruction. It also makes primary instruction obligatory and free in official establishments. Article 27 laid the foundation for land reform in Mexico, mandating the return of lands taken from the peasantry during the Porfiriato and allowing the government to take land not used "appropriately" for the public good. It also forbade foreigners from owning land within 100 km of a national border or 50 km of the sea.
Article 123, also known as the Magna Carta of labour and social welfare, established an 8-hour workday, a 6-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work. It gave both labour and capital the right to organize, and workers gained the right to bargain collectively and strike. This article also included a comprehensive system of social security, including public health and welfare programs.
The constitution also includes provisions for the protection of human rights, guaranteeing that all individuals shall be entitled to the human rights granted by the constitution and international treaties signed by Mexico. It also establishes that human rights shall not be restricted or suspended, except for the cases and conditions established by the constitution itself. All authorities are obliged to promote, respect, protect, and guarantee human rights in accordance with the principles of universality, interdependence, indivisibility, and progressiveness.
In addition to these social rights, the Mexican Constitution of 1917 also addresses the rights of indigenous peoples, the role of the President, and the importance of public security. The constitution's 137 articles define citizenship, organize a government, mandate land reform, and enumerate basic human rights for all Mexicans.
America's Constitutional Values: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro
The Mexican Constitution of 1917, still in force almost a century later, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico. The constitution was the product of a long struggle of more than 200 years of the Mexican nation to conform as a nation. In 1916, President Venustiano Carranza convened a congress to revise the liberal constitution of 1857. However, the process ended up creating a new, more radical document.
Carranza chose Santiago de Querétaro as the site for the convention because it was where Emperor Maximilian of Mexico was executed, bringing an end to the Second French Intervention in 1867. Another view is that Mexico City was too conservative, and Querétaro was chosen because it was a quiet, peaceful place for such an important meeting. The congress opened in November 1916, with delegate elections and credentials fights preceding the drafting of the constitution. The delegates were young, ambitious, and relatively apolitical, and most were twentieth-century liberals.
The final draft of the constitution was approved on 5 February 1917, just a few months after the congress had opened. The Constitution of 1917 is considered the first social constitution of the early twentieth century, as it includes the social rights of citizens. It was also the first such document in the world to set out social rights, serving as a model for the Weimar Constitution of 1919 and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Constitution of 1918.
Free Copies of the US Constitution: Pocket-Sized Power
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 is still in force today, over 100 years later.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 defined citizenship, organised a government, mandated land reform, and enumerated basic human rights for all Mexicans. It also included the social rights of citizens, such as workers' rights, women's rights, and the right to education.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was drafted during the Mexican Revolution, which ended in 1917. It was the culmination of over 200 years of the Mexican nation's struggle to conform as a nation.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 has been amended several times. For example, in 1992, under the administration of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, there were significant revisions to the constitution, including modifying Article 27 to strengthen private property rights and end land redistribution.
