The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917 Page: 21
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The Sources of the Mexican Acta Constitutiva
Article 3. "The sovereignty re- Article 3. "The sovereignty re-
sides essentially in the nation sides originally and absolutely in
and to it belongs the right to the nation and to it belongs the
establish the fundamental laws." exclusive right to adopt and to
establish by means of its repre-
sentatives the form of government
and the fundamental laws that
appear most convenient for its
conservation and greater prosper-
ity, modifying and varying them
according to its convenience."
In the proposed organization of the legislative branch of gov-
ernment, the displacement of the Spanish unicameral system by
the bicameral is at once noticed. From the debates in the con-
stituent assembly, which enacted the constitution of 1824, it is
apparent that the congress of the United States was the model
followed. In the constituent assembly it was proposed that there
be created a House of Deputies and a Senate which should be
upon an equal footing, save that financial measures should arise
in the lower house. In the attack made by Godoy and others, it
was pointed out that this proposal was but an adaptation of the
system in use in the United States.5 G6mez, in defending the
measure, admitted the charge and proceeded to quote at length
from the constitution of the United States.6
The actual provisions of the Act Constitutiva are:
Article 10. "The legislative power of the federation shall re-
side in a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate which shall make
up the General Assembly."
Article 11. "The members of the Chamber of Deputies and of
the Senate are to be chosen by the citizens of the States in the
manner provided by the constitution."
Article 12. "The basis of election of representatives, to the
House of Deputies shall be according to population. Each State
shall elect two senators to be prescribed by the constitution."
The. Spanish constitution of 1812 reflects the leaven of the
French political thought of the time. Its recognition of the
right of the Spanish people to control their affairs through the
cortes caused the constitutions of Spain, Mexico, and the United
6Diario de los Debates, May 5, 1824.
'Ibid., May 6, 1824.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 20, July 1916 - April, 1917, periodical, 1917; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101070/m1/27/?rotate=90: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.