Specifics on the Political Reform

Calderón's political reform proposal is in; here are the ten points (paraphrased):

1) Reelection of local legislators and mayors

2) Reelection of the national Congress

3) A reduction in the size of both houses of Congress, from 128 to 96 legislators in the Senate, and 500 to 400 in the Chamber of Deputies

4) A minimum of 4 percent for political parties to maintain their registration before the IFE (it had been 2 percent)

5) The proposal of laws by private citizens

6) Independent candidacies for office

7) A second round in presidential races in which no one reaches 50 percent

8) The proposal of laws by the Supreme Court

9) The use of popular referenda on proposed constitutional amendments in cases where Congress refuses to take up the matter

10) A modified veto

As far as the last one, the language is a bit confusing, but I believe it's a line-item veto for budget bills. With the caveat that I just read this for the first time, and the devil is as ever in the details, here are some initial thoughts: the proposal of laws by citizens seems like a gimmick that has the potential to turn into a circus. The 4 percent minimum seems fair, especially when coupled with the long-overdue protection of independent candidacies. The second round of presidential voting will hopefully bring a sense of legitimacy to three-way presidential elections that is absent today, although I'm not as convinced that a lack of legitimacy is as big a problem for Mexican presidents as some argue that it is. Selfishly speaking, the second round will also provide followers of Mexican politics with more fodder. I'm a fan of reelection, and very skeptical about the inherent improvement of a smaller legislature. (There's some very good reading on that subject here.) The Supreme Court being able to propose laws is intriguing (are there other nations where this is part of the system?), but I wonder if, between the Court's investigative functions and its law-making powers, are too many democratic chores being concentrated in a mere eleven people? Also, as a child of American politics, I feel compelled to add: Activist judges! Activist judges! Activist judges!

That's all for now.