WORLD

Mexico is launching a big experiment in democracy that promises to turn people’s ideas into the new law of the land. (Fusion)

How have everyday people contributed to democratic ideas in the United States? Use our resources to find out.

Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit.

Discussion Ideas

• In a bold move intended to involve more people in the democratic process, Mexico City is crowdsourcing its constitution. What is a constitution?
  • A constitution is a system of ideas and general laws that guide a nation, state, or other organization.

 

• Big political entities like countries and states have constitutions, but cities usually do not. Why does Mexico City have a constitution?
  • Mexico City has greater autonomy than most cities. “In January, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a reform that made Mexico’s capital … its own sovereign city. Now the local government … will be able to approve the city’s budget and draft their own constitution, among other measures.”

 

• What is crowdsourcing?
  • Crowdsourcing describes process of obtaining information or services for a specific project from a large group of people, often an online community. Crowdsourced data is almost always provided for free. Some examples:
    • Citizen science often uses crowdsourced data. Join a local BioBlitz and get in on the action yourself!
    • OpenStreetMap uses crowdsourcing to create and maintain geospatial data layers.
    • Facebook uses crowdsourcing to create different language versions of its site.
    • Khan Academy relies on crowdsourced translations of its education videos.
    • Wikipedia, of course, is the crown jewel of crowdsourced information, and Wikipedians in Mexico City have been a part of the crowdsourced constitution effort.

 

• What methods is Mexico City using to crowdsource its constitution?
  • An online, 20-question questionnaire allows residents and visitors to identify Mexico City’s biggest challenges, opportunities, and visions for the future.
  • A change.org campaign allows users to write their own constitutional petitions or vote for others.
  • For chilangos (Mexico City residents) who aren’t online, the government has set up 300 mobile kiosks around the city, so everyone can participate in the questionnaire and petition process.

 

• So, are Mexico City residents just upvoting their constitutional amendments?
  • Not quite. People whose ideas (petitions) garner more than 10,000 digital signatures will be able to present their proposals to members of a team of experts for consideration in the constitution. The team is a working group that includes “civil society leaders, academics, intellectuals, politicians, and even a former paralympic medalist.”

 

• What are some of the constitutional petitions submitted?
  • The first petition to reach the coveted 10,000 votes suggested the constitution “should include an obligation to have a minimum of 9.2 square meters (99 square feet) of green area per inhabitant.” (!) We love this.
  • The second most-popular petition (which has also reached 10,000 votes) seeks to ensure animals in Mexico City “live a dignified and fulfilling life as living, sentient beings.” Several other petitions support animal rights, such as protecting abandoned pets and banning zoos and bullfighting.
  • More than one petition seeks to lower pay for some government officials.
  • Many marginalized groups (such as the LGBT community, the disabled, indigenous groups, and women) have petitioned for guaranteed rights.
  • Other petitions seek to ban the sale of junk food at schools, lower the voting age, and increase the number of paid vacation days.

 

• Take a look at Step 3 in this activity on democratic ideas. Three key fundamental principles and values of democracy are listed as the common good, popular sovereignty, and equality. How do some of the Mexico City petitions address these issues? Take a look here or the list above for some examples.
  • Green space: This petition addresses the common good or quality of life. In the U.S. Declaration of Independence, this sort of petition would be part of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
  • Animal rights: Animal rights would also be categorized as addressing the common good. Any sort of declaration of rights also appeals to equality and dignity.
  • Government salaries: These ideas demand the public officials be held accountable to the people they represent. This is the definition of popular sovereignty.
  • Rights for marginalized groups: These appeal to democratic ideas about equality and justice.

 

• What petitions would you submit for your city or town? How would they support democratic ideas?

 

TEACHERS’ TOOLKIT

Fusion: How Mexico City is using the internet to crowdsource its new constitution

Nat Geo: Tracing Democratic Ideas activity

CDMX: Constitution Meeting Space

#Constitution CDMX: Citizen voices in the new constitution (via change.org)