Mexico is a federal country with a representative democracy and a presidential system without a runoff election. The citizens directly elect the president and members of the congress every six years.

Mexico, as one of the largest and most influential countries in Latin America, operates as a representative democracy where citizens elect officials periodically. The Mexican state is organized as a federal system, with significant autonomy given to separate states or political entities.

Mexico is composed of 31 states and a federal district, with the city of Mexico serving as the center of power for all branches of the federation. The country operates under a presidential system where the citizens directly elect the president and members of the congress every six years.

In Mexico, the president is elected based on the principle of relative majority, where the candidate with the most votes becomes the president for a six-year term without the possibility of reelection. This system differs from countries like Peru and Chile, where elections are governed by the principle of absolute majority, requiring a candidate to win over half of the votes or face a runoff with the top two candidates.

The chapter discusses the Mexican presidential system, highlighting the absence of a second round in elections and the president's key responsibilities such as enacting laws, appointing officials, and leading foreign policy. It also touches on the complexity of electing members of the Mexican Congress.