First Constitution of Mexico enacted (1824)

The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824, Mexico's first constitution, was enacted on 4 October 1824. This document established Mexico as a federal republic, inaugurating the First Mexican Republic. The constitution's structure reflected influences from the Hispanic Constitution of 1812 and the United States Constitution, creating a system with a powerful legislature and a subordinate executive.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Following the fall of the Mexican Empire, the Supreme Executive Power proclaimed a republic in November 1823. A Constituent Congress convened in November 1823 to draft a new constitution. The resulting Federal Constitution, ratified on 4 October 1824, formally established the United Mexican States as a federated republic, marking the beginning of the First Mexican Republic.

Constitutional Framework. The 1824 Constitution declared absolute independence and established Roman Catholicism as the sole permitted religion. It divided government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The document was modeled on the Hispanic Constitution of 1812 for American issues and the US Constitution for federal representation, creating a quasi-parliamentary system where ministers answered to congress.

Capital Debate. A special committee recommended Querétaro as the capital on 31 May 1824, but Congress rejected this proposal. Servando Teresa de Mier persuaded representatives to choose Mexico City due to its population and history. The choice was official on 18 November 1824, delineating a federal district centered on the Zocalo.

People involved

Sources

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