(Last Modified: 5/22/2007)
This research guide is created by Ignacio Pinto-Leon and Chenglin Liu for Prof. Zamora's Introduction to Mexican Law Class. There will be more contents added to the guide soon.
Ingacio Pinto-Leon can be reached at: ignacio.pinto@jurismex.com
Table Contents:
C. Secondary Sources in Spanish
D. Secondary Sources in English
A. Primary Sources in Spanish
1. General Sources on Federal and State Law
Federal Legislation
Mexico’s Federal Legislation, Cámara de Diputados (Chamber of Representatives). http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/index.htm. This website contains all Mexican federal laws in .doc, .pdf and .zip format.
State Legislation
In general: Instituto Mexicano de Investigaciones Jurídicas. http://info4.juridicas.unam.mx/adprojus/leg/
Aguascalientes http://www.congresoags.gob.mx/sitio/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=62
Baja California http://www.congresobc.gob.mx/legislacionestatal/
Baja California Sur http://www.cbcs.gob.mx/leyes.html
Campeche http://congresocam.gob.mx/LIX/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=6&Itemid=57
Coahuila http://www.congresocoahuila.gob.mx/index.cfm/mod.legislacion_archivo/index.coah
Chihuahua,http://www.congresochihuahua.gob.mx/,then Biblioteca Virtual, then La Biblioteca Virtual, them Legislación Estatal
Chiapas http://congresochiapas.gob.mx/goto/sitio/leyes/--/index.htm
Colima http://www.congresocol.gob.mx/legislacion.html
Distrito Federal http://www.asambleadf.gob.mx/, then Marco Legal del DF
Durango http://www.congresodurango.gob.mx/, then Legislación
Estado de México http://www.cddiputados.gob.mx/POLEMEX/POLEMEX.HTML, then Legislación
Guanajuato http://www.congresogto.gob.mx/
Guerrero http://www.congresoguerrero.gob.mx/0101/modules.php?name=SubMenu_OM_Leyes_Decretos_Acuerdos
Hidalgo http://www.congreso-hidalgo.gob.mx/inicio07.php
Jalisco http://www.congresojal.gob.mx/
Michoacánhttp://148.233.116.67/NXT/gateway.dll/Leyes/leyes.htm?fn=document-frameset.htm$f=templates$3.0
Morelos http://www.congresomorelos.gob.mx/ , then Leyes Vigentes
Nayarit http://www.congreso-nayarit.gob.mx/
Nuevo León http://www.congreso-nl.gob.mx/
Oaxaca http://www.e-oaxaca.gob.mx/?P=Marco%20Legal
Puebla http://www.congresopuebla.gob.mx/
Querétaro http://www.legislaturaqro.gob.mx/?
Quintana Roo http://www.congresoqroo.gob.mx/, then Legislación Estatal
San Luis Potosí http://148.235.65.21/web3/ , then Leyes
Sinaloa http://www.congresosinaloa.gob.mx/ , then Legislación Estatal
Sonora http://www.congresoson.gob.mx/leyes.php
Tabasco http://congresotabasco.gob.mx/sitio/
Tamaulipas http://192.168.213.209/legisla/legi.asp
Tlaxcala http://www.congresotlaxcala.gob.mx/pagina/marcolegal.htm
Veracruz http://www.legisver.gob.mx/Cintroduccion.htm
Yucatán http://www.congresoyucatan.gob.mx/legislacion/principal.htm
Zacatecas http://www.congresozac.gob.mx/Templates/Principal/Templete.htm, then Leyes
Federal Caselaw
Tesis del Semanario Judicial de la Federación by the Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas – UNAM. http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/infjur/leg/jrs/ Jurisprudencia (case law) of the Federal Judiciary, sorted by topic, type and year. From 2000 to date.
Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation). http://www.scjn.gob.mx/ius2005/Paneltesis.asp. Jurisprudencia (case law) of the Federal Judiciary, with search engine by tribunal, topic, type and year. Period: 1917 – 1996.
Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation). http://www.scjn.gob.mx/iusupdate/default.asp Jurisprudencia (case law) of the Federal Judiciary, with search engine by tribunal, topic, type and year. From December of 1996 to date.
Constitutional Law
Political Constitution of the Mexican UnitedStates. Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/1.pdf. Mexico’s Federal Constitution. Includes all amendments.
Amparo Law. Ley de Amparo Reglamentaria de los Artículos 103 y 107 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/20.pdf. This law regulates the Amparo trial, an extraordinary means of defense by citizens against unconstitutional acts of authority.
Reglamentary Law of Constitutions’ Article 105 Fractions I and II. Ley Reglamentaria de las Fracciones I y II del Artículo 105 de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/205.pdf. This law develops rules for constitutional controversies and actions of unconstitutionality.
Ministry of the Interior, Secretaría de Gobernación. http://www.gobernacion.gob.mx/
Supreme Court of Justice, Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación. http://200.38.86.53/PortalSCJN/
Federal Judicial Council, Consejo de la Judicatura de la Federación, http://www.cjf.gob.mx/inicio.asp
2. Obligations (Contract and Torts)
Federal Civil Code. Código Civil Federal. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/2.pdf. The Civil Code regulates family relations, personal and real property, successions and obligations –including contracts-.
Federal Civil Procedure Code. Código Federal de Procedimientos Civiles. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/6.pdf. This code provides with procedural rules for civil litigation, arbitration and such.
3. Commerce Law
Commerce Code. Código de Comercio. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/3.pdf. It contains substantive and procedural rules for merchant acts and contracts.
Credit Titles and Operations’ General Law. Ley General de Títulos y Operaciones de Crédito. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/145.pdf This law develops the creation, modification, transmission and extinction of promissory notes, checks, certificates of deposit and other documents which receive a preferential treatment on its execution by courts.
Merchant Societies’ General Law. Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/144.pdf. Here, diverse species of corporations to organize businesses are regulated.
Ley de Concursos Mercantiles. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/29.pdf. This bankruptcy code details how debtors who are unable to pay his creditors can resolve their debts, through asset’ division.
Foreign Investment Law. Ley de Inversión Extranjera. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/44.pdf, The goal of this piece of legislation is to channel and promote foreign investment in Mexico.
Maritime Navigation and Commerce Law. Ley de Navegación y Comercio Marítimos. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LNCM.pdf This law regulates navigation and maritime commerce.
Ministry of Economy, Secretaría de Economía, http://www.economia.gob.mx/
4. Labor & Social Security Law
Federal Labor Law. Ley Federal del Trabajo. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/125.pdf. This statute develops both individual and collective labor relations between employers, employees, and authorities.
Social Security Law. Ley del Seguro Social. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/92.pdf. This piece of legislation provides for health, wellness and retirement services for workers.
National Institute for Workers’ Housing Fund Law. Ley del Instituto del Fondo Nacional de la Vivienda para los Trabajadores. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/86.pdf. Its goal is to provide both housing and access to credit for workers.
Social Security for Government Employees Law. Ley de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/85.pdf. Similar to the Ley del Seguro Social, but applied to government employees.
Ministry of Labor and Social Prevision. Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social. http://www.stps.gob.mx/
Mexican Institute of Social Security. Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. http://www.imss.gob.mx/imss
Institute of Social Security and Services for Government Employees. Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado. http://www.issste.gob.mx/
National Institute for Workers’ Housing. http://www.infonavit.gob.mx/
5. Criminal Law
Federal Criminal Code. Código Penal Federal. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/9.pdf. Specifies federal offenses and the punishment for offenders; but be aware that most of crimes are container in specialized laws: tax code, labor law, et al.
Federal Criminal Procedure Code. Código Federal de Procedimientos Penales. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/7.pdf This code provides with procedural rules for criminal litigation.
Office of the Attorney General. Procuraduría General de la República. http://www.pgr.gob.mx/.
National Commission for Human Rights. Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos. http://www.cndh.org.mx/.
6. Tax Law
Federal Tax Code. Código Fiscal de la Federación. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/8.pdf
Income Tax Law. Ley del Impuesto sobre la Renta. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/82.pdf
Added Value Law. Ley del Impuesto al Valor Agregado. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/77.pdf
Ministry of Fiance and Public Credit. Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público. http://www.shcp.gob.mx/
Tributary Administration Service. Servicio de Administración Tributaria. http://www.sat.gob.mx/. An agency from the Secretary of Finance and Public Credit in charge of the application of customs and fiscal law.
7. Property Law
Expropriation Law. Ley de Expropiación. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/35.pdf Expropriation Law.
Mining Law. Ley Minera. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/151.pdf
Agrarian Law. Ley Agraria. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/13.pdf
8. Electoral Law
Federal Code of Electoral Institutions and Proceedings. Código Federal de Instituciones y Procedimientos Electorales http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/5.pdf
Federal Electoral Institute. Instituto Federal Electoral. http://www.ife.org.mx/.
Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Branch. Tribunal Electoral del Poder Judicial de la Federación. http://www.trife.org.mx/.
9. Energy Law
Organic Law for PEMEX and Subsidiary Organisms. Ley Orgánica de Petróleos Mexicanos y Organismos Subsidiarios. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/163.pdf
Reglamentary Law of Constitutions’ Article 27 on Oil. Ley Reglamentaria del Artículo 27 Constitucional en el Ramo del Petróleo. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/206.pdf
Ministry of Energy. Secretaría de Energía. http://www.energia.gob.mx/
Petróleos Mexicanos. http://www.pemex.com/. Mexican Oil Company.
10. Intellectual Property Law
Copyright Federal Law. Ley Federal de Derechos de Autor http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/122.pdf
Industrial Property Law. Ley de la Propiedad Industrial. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/50.pdf Trademark, patents and industrial secrets.
Mexican Institute of Industrial Property. Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial. http://www.impi.gob.mx/. Trademarks and patents registry.
National Copiright Institute. Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor. http://www.sep.gob.mx/wb2/sep/sep_459_indautor.
11. Monetary, Banking and Antitrust Law
Bank of Mexico Law. Ley del Banco de México. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/74.pdf. This statute regulates the operation of Mexico’s central bank.
Stock Market Law. Ley del Mercado de Valores. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LMVal.pdf
Federal Economic Competency Law. Ley Federal de Competencia Económica. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/104.pdf. Mexico’s federal antitrust law.
Federal Institute of Bankrupcy Specialists, Instituto Federal de Especialista en Concursos Mercantiles http://www.ifecom.cjf.gob.mx/ Antitrust authority.
National Commission of Banking and Stock Market, Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, http://www.cnbv.gob.mx/default.asp?com_id=0
National Commission of Insurance and Bails, Comisión Nacional de Seguros y Fianzas, http://portal.cnsf.gob.mx/portal/page?_pageid=1058,1&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
Bank of Mexico [central bank]. Banco de México. http://www.banxico.gob.mx/
Law of Credit Institutions. Ley de Instituciones de Crédito. http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/43.pdf This law provides regulation for banking activities.
Mexican Stock Market, Bolsa Mexicana de Valores. http://www.bmv.com.mx/ http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/infjur/leg/constmex/pdf/consting.pdf
Federal Competency Commission, Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica. http://www.cfc.gob.mx/
Political Constitution of the Mexican United States. Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/infjur/leg/constmex/pdf/consting.pdf
Secretary of Economy, Secretaría de Economía, http://www.economia.gob.mx/ http://www.economia.gob.mx/?P=2&NLang=en
Secretary of Fiance and Public Credit. Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público. http://www.shcp.gob.mx/ http://www.shcp.gob.mx/portada_english/ingles/zyx.html
Bank of Mexico [central bank]. Banco de México. http://www.banxico.gob.mx/sitioIngles/index.html
C. Secondary Sources in Spanish
Mexican Law Review http://info8.juridicas.unam.mx/cont/. One of the most complete English language journals in Mexico, published by the Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas.
Electronic Guide to Mexican Law http://www.llrx.com/features/mexican.htm
http://www.justiceinmexico.org/
http://www.mexonline.com/lawreview.htm
Comparative Media Law Journal. http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/publica/rev/cont.htm?r=comlawj. A periodical publication by the Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas specialized in comparative media law. Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas http://www.bibliojuridica.org/estrev/
http://www.justiceinmexico.org/
http://www.mexonline.com/lawreview.htm
Books:
Cruz Barney, Oscar. El riesgo en el comercio hispano-indiano: préstamos y seguros marítimos durante los siglos XVI a XIX. Publication: México : Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edition: 1. ed. Year: 1998.
Gómez Galvarriato La industria textil en México México, D.F. : Instituto Mora : Colegio de Michoacán : Colegio de México : Instituto de Investigaciones Históricas-UNAM,1. ed.1999
D. Secondary Sources in English
Leading Treatises
Zamora, Stephen et al. (2004) Mexican Law. UK: Oxford University Press.
Murphy, Ewell E. & Baker & Botts, LL.P. (1999) An Introduction to the Differences between the Legal Cultures of Mexico and Texas. State Bar of Texas Business and Litigation in Mexico Course Feburary 12, 1999.
Vargas, Jorge A. (1998) Mexican Law: A Treatise for Legal Pratitioners and International Investors. St. Paul: West Group.
Leon E. Trakman, Doing Business in Mexico KGF 333.B86 D.65 STACKS
Alexander C. Hoagland, Company Formation in Mexico KGF1069.H63 (1980)
Andrew Walker, Mexican Law and the Texas Courts Thesis 340 2002.W35 (2002)
Online Sources
Comparative Media Law Journal http://www.juridicas.unam.mx/publica/rev/cont.htm?r=comlawj Mexican Law Review http://info8.juridicas.unam.mx/cont/
Electronic Guide to Mexican Law http://www.llrx.com/features/mexican.htm
Virtual library, Inst. de Inv. Jcas. http://www.bibliojuridica.org/libros/
Research Guides
LLRX -- Electronic Guide to Mexican Law
Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas (UNAM)
Mexico Government Website http://www.gobernacion.gob.mx/
Mexican Supreme Court
Mexican Law with Professor Jorge A. Vargas
Best Mexican Law Sites
GUIDE TO LAW ONLINE: Mexico Library of Congress
MEXICAN LAWS IN ENGLISH (fee-based)
Mexican Law Jurist, Pittsburgh Law School
Mexico law research guide by John Pratter, UT
Mexico Washburn Law School Library
Mexico Laws/Leyes - National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade Restricted Access
Mexican Government Official Website
Mexican Legal Materials in English (SMU Law Library)