En este ensayo se analizan dos aspectos bsicos de la organizacin poltica federal de Mxico: el diseo del Senado y las limitaciones a la autoridad constitucional de la Suprema Corte para intervenir en asuntos electorales. Se argumenta que el federalismo mexicano ha tratado de conciliar la construccin de un gobierno federal fuerte con el mantenimiento de las autonomas regionales. Con tal fin, se dise una presidencia que predominara sobre el Congreso y la Suprema Corte, y con el poder para resolver conflictos estado-federacin y disputas interestatales. Concluye que el funcionamiento del federalismo en Mxico y sus resultados prcticos centralizacin poltica y econmica no contradicen el marco constitucional vigente, como frecuentemente se afirma, sino que son consecuencia del arreglo institucional adoptado en la Constitucin
Abstract: This paper analyzes two basic features ofMexico's federal political organization: the Senate's design and the constitutional limitations of the Supreme Court to intervene in electoral matters. I argue that Mexican federalism has tried to conciliate the construction of a strong federal government with the maintenance of regional autonomies. As a result, a presidency capable of predominating over Congress and the Supreme Court, and with the power to resolve state-federative conflict and interstate disputes was designed. It concludes that the functioning of federalism in Mexico and its practical results political and economic centralization do not contradict the present constitutional framework as it is frequently assumed, but are instead a consequence of the institutional arrangement adopted in the Constitution