The political reform of 1996 caused that since that year the reforms came into force and effect that, as has already been said, gave back the citizens from the capital the possibility to choose their local governmental authorities.

The cpeum as well as the egdf were modified and in both laws the authorities of these governmental instances were set forth.

In the CPEUM as regards to the government of the Federal District can be located at its Article 122, which sets forth that the local authorities of the Federal District are:

- Legislative Assembly,

- The Head of Government of the Federal District, and

- The Supreme Court of Justice for the Federal District

The authorities that each one of these local powers has regarding the government of the Federal District are set forth in the cpeum and in the Government Statute of the Federal District (EGDF), and which are the following:

Legislative Assembly of the Federal District (ALDF)

The ALDF is entrusted with the legislative function in the Federal District. It is integrated by 66 deputies that are elected every three years by universal free, direct and secret vote. Of those deputies, 40 are elected according the voting principle of plurality system and 26 by the principle of proportional representation (articles 122 cpeum and 37 EGDF).

According to the provisions of articles 122 of the cpeum and 42 of the egdf, among others, the ALDF has the authorities to:

• Issue its organic law;

• Annually approve the budget of expenses and the law of revenues of the DF;

• Revise the public account of the previous year;

• Name the substitute of the Head of Government of the Federal District;

• Issue the provisions that govern the local elections in the DF, in which only the political parties with national registry can participate;

• Legislate regarding the local Public Administration;

• Legislate in civil and penal subjects;

• Present bills or decrees regarding the Federal District, before the Federal Congress;

• Legislate in matters of planning, urban development and zoning;

• Remove the heads of the boroughs, by the events established by the egdf, and designate, with the proposal of the Head of Government, the substitute to conclude the term.

Head of Government of the Federal District

The Head of Government of the Federal District is entrusted with the local executive power and the public administration of the entity. It is elected by universal, free, direct and secret vote every six years. Articles 122 of the cpeum and 67 of the EGDF set forth its authorities, among which the following stand out:

• Present bills and decrees before the Legislative Assembly;

• Enact, publish and execute the laws issued by the Legislative Assembly, and issue the corresponding regulations, decrees and resolutions;

• Comply and enforce the laws issued by the Federal Congress within its scope of competence and in its organizations;

• Freely name and remove the heads of the units, organizations and entities of the Public Administration of the Federal District

• Formulate drafts of regulations over the laws of the Federal Congress regarding the Federal District and submit them to the consideration of the President of the Republic;

• Present before the ALDF the bill of Law of Revenue and the Draft Budget of expenses for the immediate following year;

• Exercise the functions of direction of the services of public security;

• Call for a plebiscite

Territorial Localities

Article 122 of the Constitution also sets forth that an administrative political organization will be established in each one of the territorial localities in which the Federal District is divided into. The heads of these organs will be elected in a universal, free, secret and direct manner. In its article 104, the egdf sets forth that these organizations will be generically named as Boroughs.

The Boroughs will have, within their jurisdiction, competence in matters of: government administration, legal affairs, constructions, services, social activities, civil protection, public safety, economical, cultural and sports promotion. Its authorities are developed according to the law and the budgetary assignations.

The responsibilities of the heads of the boroughs are established at article 117 of the egdf and are the following:

• Direct the activities of the public administration of the Borough;

• Provide public services and carry out constructions

• Give their opinion regarding the concession of public services and of the agreements executed between the Federal District and the Federation or the states or the neighboring municipalities that directly affect the Borough;

• Grant and revoke, in its case, licenses, permits, authorizations and concessions;

• Impose administrative sanctions for infractions to the laws and regulations.

It is important to mention that in 1973 the territory of the Federal District was divided into 16 Boroughs, same ones which remain up to this date. 

CONDENSED MAP OF THE FEDERAL DISTRICT