THE SEVEN LAWS OF 1836 AND THE REFORM OF 1835 - HISTORY - 2025

The Seven Laws or Centralist Constitution of 1836 were a series of constitutional laws that reformed the nascent federal republic of the United Mexican States.

These laws were enacted by the interim president of Mexico, José Justo Corro. However, they were promoted by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, who ruled from his hacienda in Veracruz. The immediate consequence of these centralist laws was the declaration of independence of the territories of Texas, Yucatán and Tamaulipas.

José Justo Corro, Mexican president who promulgated the Seven Laws of 1835

The 1835 reform turned the Ordinary Congress into a Constituent Congress and laid the foundations for the reorganization of the Mexican nation. Thus, on October 23, 1835, the federal system of government in Mexico was abolished and the centralist system was established. Despite its conservative nature, the seven laws established the division of powers.

Important events

With the arrival of the centralists back to power in Mexico, a Congress was convened that arbitrarily attributes constituent powers. Its mission was to create the bases to ignore the Constitution of 1824 and the federal system of government established in it.

Establishment of the Supreme Conservative Power

The Constituent Congress of 1835 approved a document called Bases of reorganization of the Mexican nation and elaborates the Seven Constitutional Laws to adopt the centralist system of government.

The Seven Laws established the Supreme Conservative Power, a fourth power. This new power consisted of five citizens, a sort of board of notables.

Its members must be former presidents or former vice-presidents of the republic, they must have served as senators or deputies, or have served as ministers of the Court or office secretaries.

Limited division of powers

Although the division of powers was recognized, in practice it was limited. The Supreme Conservative Power was a supra power, with the power to regulate or veto the decisions of the other three public powers. It was based on the premise that its members were capable of fully interpreting the will of Mexico.

Reform of 1835

The strategy was to progressively eliminate from the legislation the bases of the federal reform of 1835. Then a new Constitution would be established.

In this sense, the vice president of the republic, Valentín Gómez Farías, was unknown. Later, the Ordinary Congress was converted into a Constituent Congress.

Central government system

With the approval of the Bases of reorganization of the Mexican nation, the federal system of government was replaced outright by the centralist system. Later came the elaboration and approval of the new Constitution.

Finally, on December 30, 1836, the Seven Constitutional Laws were promulgated, thus reforming the Constitution. The following secondary laws were passed on May 24, 1837.

Validity of the Seven Laws

The Seven Laws were in force from 1937 to 1941, during four periods of government.

These periods were: that of Anastasio Bustamante (April 1837 to March 1839), that of Antonio López de Santa Anna (March 1839 to July 1839), that of the centralist Nicolás Bravo (July 11 to 17, 1839) and that of the also centralist Anastasio Bustamante (July 1839 to September 1841).

Antonio López de Santa Anna, royal promoter of the Seven Laws of 1836

Content of the laws

The centralist regime was established in Mexico on December 30, 1836 and lasted almost 11 years in power.

First law

It consists of 15 articles, and it establishes the following:

- Citizens with annual incomes greater than 100 pesos can vote.

- The concepts of citizenship and nationality are developed.

- Establishes the obligation of all to profess the religion of their homeland (Catholic).

- Freedom of the press.

- Freedom of transit.

- Irretroactivity of the law.

- Inviolability of private property.

Second law

It grants the president the power to close Congress and suppress the Supreme Court, in addition to expressly prohibiting the military from being part of magistrates of the Court. It consists of 23 articles.

- The Supreme Conservative Power is established, made up of five citizens who will be elected for a period of two years.

- The Supreme Conservative Power is only accountable for its actions before God and public opinion.

Third law

In its 58 articles, a bicameral Congress (senators and deputies) is established.

- The deputies are elected every two years, one for every 150 thousand inhabitants. While the senators are elected by the departmental boards.

- The formation of laws is established.

Fourth law

It consists of 34 articles.

- Specifies the presidential election mechanism through the Supreme Court, the Senate and the Board of Ministers, which could nominate three candidates each.

- The lower house or deputies elected the president and vice president from among the nine candidates. These ruled for a period of 8 years. They could be reelected and the position was inalienable.

- Establishes the creation of the Office of Government Affairs, through the Ministries of the Interior, Foreign Relations, Finance and War and Navy.

Fifth law

This law specifies the mechanism for electing the 11 members of the Supreme Court of Justice, as well as the method of electing the president of the republic. It consists of 51 articles and establishes the following:

- The organization of the Judicial Power.

- The Judicial Power will be integrated by the Supreme Court of Justice, the Superior Courts, a Treasury Court and the Courts of First Instance. It is also made up of 11 ministers and a prosecutor.

Sixth law

The 31 articles of this law establish the substitution of federal states for departments. Its governors and legislators were chosen by the president. In addition, it contemplates the political-territorial division of the republic.

- Departments are created. In turn, these are divided into districts, and the districts are divided into judicial parties.

- The departments will have a governor chosen for a period of 8 years, while the districts will have prefects who will last 4 years in office.

Seventh law

This law expressly prohibits going back to the previous legal system for six years. Congress is commissioned to act as the Constituent Congress. It has the power to resolve any type of constitutional controversy or related to the reforms.

The powers of the Supreme Conservative Power were:

- Respect and enforce the Constitution.

- Maintain the balance between public powers.

- Maintain the constitutional order or reestablish it through the assigned constitutional powers.

These Seven Laws of 1836 establish centralism as a system of government in Mexico and serve as a legal basis for ignoring the Constitution of 1824.

References

1. Decree that issues the Constitutional Laws of the Mexican Republic. 500 years of Mexico in documents. Consulted of library.tv
2. Bases of Political Organization of the Mexican Republic (PDF). Recovered from Ordenjuridico.gob.mx
3. It moves from federalism to centralism through the Bases of Reorganization of the Mexican Nation. Consulted of memoriapoliticademexico.org
4. The first Federal Republic 1824-1835. Consulted of conevyt.org.mx
5. Mexican federalism. Consulted of angelfire.com
6. Federalism and centralism. Consulted of portalacademico.cch.unam.mx