Editing Local government (section)

===Mexico===
Mexico is a Federal Republic made up by 31 [[States of Mexico|states]] and [[Mexico City]]. Each state is divided in ''[[municipalities of Mexico|municipios]]'', while Mexico City is divided in sixteen {{lang|es|[[Boroughs of Mexico City|demarcaciones territoriales]]}} (formerly called ''delegaciones''). Twenty-nine states of Mexico were created as administrative divisions by the constitution of 1917, which grants them those powers not expressly vested in the federal government; Mexico's two remaining territories, [[Baja California Sur]] and [[Quintana Roo]], achieved statehood on 8 October 1974, raising the total to 31.<ref>[http://www.congresoqroo.gob.mx/dependencias/DIR_biblioteca/historia/palacio.pdf "Poder Legislativo del Estado de Quintana Roo. Instalación de la Legislatura Constituyente"], Congressqroo.gob.mx</ref> Each state has a constitution, a governor elected for six years, and a unicameral legislature, with representatives elected by district vote in proportion to population. An ordinary session of the legislature is held annually, and extraordinary sessions may be called by the governor or the permanent committee. Bills may be introduced by legislators, by the governor, by the state supreme court, and by municipalities (a unit comparable to a US county). In addition to the 31 states, there is also [[Mexico City]], whose [[List of mayors of Mexico City|Head of Government]] serves as a member of the city's cabinet and its title is compared as a governor. Many state services are supported by federal subsidies.

The principal unit of state government is the municipality. Mexico's 2,378 municipalities are governed by municipal presidents and municipal councils. State governors generally select the nominees for the municipal elections. Municipal budgets are approved by the respective state governors. Until 1997, the president appointed the mayor of Mexico City. Political reforms allowed the first open elections in 1997, and [[Cuauhtémoc Cardenas Solórzano]] became Mexico City's first elected mayor.