^{Return to Research Portals and Guides}

Mexican Legal Information Sources

• Scope
• Getting Started
• Websites
• Westlaw Databases
• LexisNexis Sources
• Law Library Resources
• Law Schools
• Secretaries
• State Governments

Scope

The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of the legal information sources available for doing Mexican legal research. Coverage is not exhaustive, although an attempt was made to include the most relevant materials. Citations to print and online sources are included.

The call numbers on this page link to library catalog records, which provide information about location, availability, and currency of each item in the Ross-Blakley Law Library.

Westlaw and LexisNexis links will take you to the specified database if you have a password. These links work better if you are already logged in. The College of Law provides Westlaw and LexisNexis passwords to its law faculty, staff, and students. Links to Westlaw and LexisNexis databases will open in a new tab or window.

Getting Started

Web

Globalex — Electronic Guide to Mexican Law

By Francisco A. Avalos and Elisa Donnadieu. Published November 2005 by the Hauser Global Law School Program, New York University School of Law.

http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Mexico.htm

Mexico and Its Legal System

This 2008 guide by Prof. Jorge A. Vargas provides a general description of the major features and current characteristics of the Mexican legal system, its principal components, and some of its distinct legal institutions, including—as an introduction to what is an eminently descriptive work—a brief historical background and basic information about Mexico as a country, its territory, people, culture, and economy. It also includes links to current Mexican legal websites.

http://www.llrx.com/mexicolegalsystem.htm

Electronic Guide to the Best Mexican Law Websites

This 2004 guide by Prof. Jorge A. Vargas provides information on Mexican legal information in English and Spanish, on federal statutes and codes, the constitution, international treatises and conventions, the federal government, and the state governments.

http://www.llrx.com/features/mexlaw.htm

Books

The Mexican Legal System

Francisco A. Avalos

KGF150.A95 2000

Mexican Law: A Treatise for Legal Practitioners and International Investors

Jorge A. Vargas

KGF327.M49 1998

Websites

National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade: InterAm Database

http://natlaw.com/interam/

Database includes English translations of Mexican laws (primarily commercial, environmental, etc.), text of the Diario Oficial (in Spanish), articles of interest, and an English/Spanish list of legal terms and phrases and links to other websites. Part of this database is subscription based, with access limited to ASU Law faculty and students. Password for College of Law Faculty and Students.

Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México: InfoJus

http://info.juridicas.unam.mx/

This site includes laws, legislation, jurisprudencia (case law), documents, books and magazines (all in Spanish).

México — directorio.gob.mx

http://www.directorio.gob.mx/

Gateway to Mexican government (federal and state) sites. Spanish, but some of the agencies have English translation.

Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación

http://www.scjn.gob.mx/PortalSCJN/

Official site of the Supreme Court. Includes jurisprudencia “Las Epocas” (Spanish).

Consejo de la Judicatura Federal

http://www.cjf.gob.mx/

Federal judiciary (Spanish).

Cámara de Diputados del Honorable Congreso de la Unión

http://www.cddhcu.gob.mx/

Official site for the Mexican Congress (Spanish).

Leyes Federales Vigentes

http://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/index.htm

Federal legislation in force (Spanish).

Senado de la República

http://www.senado.gob.mx/

Official site for the Mexican Senate (Spanish).

Law Library of Congress: Guide to Law Online: Mexico

http://www.loc.gov/law/help/guide/nations/mexico.html

Provides links to many useful sites. Most in Spanish, but some English.

LANIC—Latin American Network Information Center

http://info.lanic.utexas.edu/la/mexico/

This resource from the University of Texas at Austin provides links to tons of Mexican sites. Most are not legal but include subjects like anthropology, archaeology, economy, finance, trade, energy, NAFTA, indigenous peoples, news, politics and government (Spanish).

BANCOMEXT

http://www.mexico-trade.com/

Mexican Bank for Foreign Trade. THE site for “doing business in Mexico.” (English interface to Spanish materials).

More links to Mexican legal materials including treaties. (English and Spanish)

U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs: Judicial Assistance

http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_702.html

Includes U.S. Department of State Circular on Preparation of Letters Rogatory — http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_683.html and Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol (Inter-American Service Convention) — http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_687.html

Organization of American States

http://www.oas.org/

This site also provides the full text of the Inter-American Conventions on Letters Rogatory and on Taking Evidence Abroad. See Subject Index of Treaties under heading Judicial Cooperation.

Westlaw Databases

The Westlaw links below will open a new window, taking you to the specified database if you have a password. These links work better if you are already logged in. For news about Mexico, see the Westlaw Database Directory under International/Worldwide Materials > North America > Individual Country Materials > Mexico > Business & News.

Laws

Diario Oficial de la Federacion (Mexico): MX-DIARIO

Coverage begins with 5 de julio de 1995; updated daily.

Contains the complete Diario Oficial De La Federacion, the official publication of federal legislation of Mexico. Among the many types of documents included are daily exchange rates, decrees, laws, norms (technical standards), regulations, announcements, concessions, and special notices. In Spanish.

Mexico Environmental, Health & Safety Laws and Regulations: ENFLEX-MX

Contains contains all currently available environmental, health and safety regulations available in the ENFLEX database for Mexico. In Spanish.

North American Free Trade

North American Free Trade Agreement - Binational Panel: NAFTA-BIP

Full text of decisions issued by the North American Free Trade Agreement Binational Panel, formerly the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement Binational Panel. The panel reviews antidumping and countervailing duty determinations of the International Trade Administration and the International Trade Commission. Coverage begins with 1989.

North American Free Trade Agreement: NAFTA

The full text of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and associated summaries, news releases, and text describing NAFTA. Coverage begins with August 1992 and includes the Supplemental Agreements.

Secondary Sources

United States-Mexico Law Journal: USMEXLJ

Published by the University of New Mexico School of Law in conjunction with an annual conference sponsored by the United States-Mexico Law Institute. Full coverage begins with 1993 (vol. 1).

U.S.-Mexico Legal Review: USMEXLR

Published by the American Bar Association. Full coverage begins with 2007 (vol. 1).

LexisNexis Sources

The LexisNexis links below will open a new window, taking you to the specified source if you have a password. These links work better if you are already logged in. In addition to these sources, there are a number of news sources for Mexico. The Searchable Directory of Online Sources provides more detailed information about sources.

Constitution

Constitucion Mexicana - Mexican Constitution: MXCNST

From 1917 through current; Constitution of 1917. Updated regularly as received from the government

Federal Laws

Leyes Federales - Federal laws: MXFED

From 1900's through current.

This file contains the Mexican Federal Laws. The term “laws” encompasses rules, regulations, decrees, manuals, norms and accords that form the bulk of the Mexican legislation. Updated regularly as received from the government.

Leyes del Estado de Mexico - State of Mexico Laws: MEXICO

From 1900's through current.

This file contains the laws of the State of Mexico. The term laws encompasses rules, regulations, decrees, manuals, norms and accords which form the bulk of the legislation for the State of Mexico. Also contains selected laws of Jalisco and Nuevo Leon states. Updated regularly as received from the government.

Areas of Law

Coverage: from 1900's to present (updated monthly/irregular); full-text; contains laws at Federal and State levels.

Leyes de Industria e Higiene de Mexico: MXINDU

Mexican Industrial and Hygiene Laws

Ley Internacional de Mexico: MXINTL

Mexican International Law

Leyes Ambientales de Mexico: MXAMB

Mexico Environmental Laws

Leyes Comerciales de Mexico: MXCOM

Mexican Commercial Laws

Leyes Electorales de Mexico: MXELEC

Mexican Electoral Laws

Leyes Fiscales o de Impuestos de Mexico: MXFISC

Mexican Tax Laws

Leyes Laborales de Mexico: MXLABR

Mexican Labor Laws

Ley de Notarios Publicos de Mexico: MXNP

Mexican Public Notary Law

Leyes de Salud de Mexico: MXSALU

Mexican Health Laws

Codigo Civil de Mexico: MXCIVI

Mexican Civil Code

Codigo Penal de Mexico: MXPENA

Mexican Penal Code

Jurisprudencia (Caselaw)

Jurisprudencia de la Corte Suprema de Mexico - Mexican Caselaw: MXJUR

From 1900's through current. Updated as received from the court.

Jurisprudencia - Tribunal Fiscal de la Federacion: MXJTF

From July 1, 1979 through October 1, 1996.

Contains jurisprudence, thesis, criteria and precedents issued by the Mexican Tax Courts, in Spanish.

Mexico City

Leyes del Distrito Federal de Mexico - Mexican Federal District Laws: MXDIST

From 1900's through current. Updated monthly.

Laws of the Federal District of Mexico (Mexico City). The term “laws” encompasses rules, regulations, decrees, manuals, norms and accords that form the bulk of the Federal District legislation.

Administrative Agencies (CIRCULARES)

Diario Oficial de la Federacion en Mexico: MXDIAR

From October 03, 2005 through current; The Diario Oficial is published daily and is updated online within 48 hours of publication.

The Diario Oficial de la Federacion is Mexico's equivalent of the Canada Gazette and the U.S. Federal Register. All new federal legislation as well as legislation that applies to the Federal District and territories must be published in the 'Diario oficial', also known as the 'Diario' or abbreviated as 'D.O.' The Diario also contains important announcements, notices, edicts, decrees, resolutions, tenders, proposed rules and regulations, and draft and final standards issued by the Mexican government and its agencies. In Spanish.

North American Free Trade

NAFTA Panel Review Decisions: NAFDEC

North American Free Trade Agreement Panel Review Decisions, pursuant to Chapter 19 of NAFTA. From April 1995 through current.

North American Free Trade Agreement: NAFTA

Full text of the final draft of the North American Free Trade Agreement between United States, Canada and Mexico dated September 13, 1993. Also included are the Supplemental Agreements.

Law Library Resources

Articles

Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals - K33 .I52
This index provides access to journal articles written about legal topics around the world. Articles on Mexico are in Spanish and English. Because we may not own all the journals cited in this index, please allow time for us to borrow them through interlibrary loan.

Books

Other Law Libraries

The following law libraries also have good collections on Mexican and Latin American law.

University of Arizona Library Catalog

http://www.library.arizona.edu/

University of Texas, Tarlton Law Library

http://tallons.law.utexas.edu/

Law Schools

Universidad Autónoma “Benito Juárez” de Oaxaca

http://www.uabjo.mx/

Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara

http://www.uag.mx/derecho/

Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla

http://www.buap.mx/

Universidad de Guadalajara

http://www.udg.mx/

Universidad de Guanajuato

http://www.ugto.mx/

Tecnológico de Monterrey

http://www.itesm.edu/wps/portal?
WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/Herramientas/ITESM/B%C3%
BAsqueda/Por+tema/Derecho

Universidad de Sonora

http://www.derecho.uson.mx/wb2/

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

http://www.derecho.unam.mx/

Universidad Veracruzana

http://www.uv.mx/index.html

Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)

http://derecho.itam.mx/

Secretaries

Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentación (SAGARPA)

http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Desarrollo Social (SEDESOL)

http://www.sedesol.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP)

http://www.sep.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Energía (SENER)

http://www.energia.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB)

http://www.gobernacion.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP)

http://www.shcp.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT)

http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE)

http://www.sre.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Salud (SALUD)

http://www.salud.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Trabajo y Previsión Social (STPS)

http://www.stps.gob.mx/

Secretaría de Turismo (SECTUR)

http://www.sectur.gob.mx/

State Governments

Gobierno del Estado de Coahuila

http://www.coahuila.gob.mx/

Gobierno del Estado de Chihuahua

http://www.chihuahua.gob.mx/

Gobierno del Estado de Morelos

http://www.morelos.gob.mx/

Gobierno del Estado de Nuevo León

http://www.nl.gob.mx/

Gobierno del Estado de México

http://www.edomex.gob.mx/portal/page/portal/edomex

Gobierno del Estado de Sonora

http://www.sonora.gob.mx/

By Alison Ewing. Updated 5/08.