Within Mexico City’s vibrant tapestry lies the Unidad Administrativa Zona Norte. What if I told you its story is interwoven with the very fabric of this metropolis?
The Unidad Administrativa Zona Norte serves as a vital administrative hub. It is a cornerstone of local government. These demarcaciones territoriales replaced the old delegaciones in 2016. This change came with the approval of the Constitució Política de la Ciudad de México.
Mexico City is divided into sixteen demarcaciones territoriales. Each one is governed by an Alcaldía. An alcalde or alcaldesa leads each Alcaldía with a council. Think of them as the mayors and councils of these distinct areas.
These territorial divisions are fundamental to Mexico City’s administrative organization. They work alongside the municipios of other states. Together they form the two types of second-level organization in Mexico.
The history of these divisions is quite interesting. Back in 1824, the Distrito Federal was created. Its territory was a circle with the Zócalo at its center. It had a radius of 8.38 kilometers.
The 1857 Federal Constitution identified this territory as synonymous with Mexico City. Between 1853 and 1898, new boundaries were set. These became official during Porfirio Díaz’s government.
A significant change occurred on December 1, 1930. The territorial units of the Distrito Federal lost their status as municipios. They became known as delegaciones. The exception was the Departamento Central. It comprised three territorial demarcations in the entity’s center-north.
Between 1940 and 1970, boundary treaties were made. These treaties were between the Distrito Federal and neighboring states. They mainly concerned the bed of Lake Texcoco. Some border populations became part of neighboring states.
More legal changes happened until 1970. That year, the central department was eliminated. It had been the Municipio de México. It was divided to create the Miguel Hidalgo, Cuauhtémoc, and Venustiano Carranza delegaciones. This established the territorial division we know today.
In 2016, a political reform transformed the delegaciones into demarcaciones territoriales. The government within these areas is called an Alcaldía. Unlike municipios in other states with a presidente municipal, an Alcaldía is led by an alcalde or alcaldesa. Before 2016, they were called jefe delegacional.
These alcaldes and alcaldesas are the highest authority in Mexico City’s political-administrative bodies. Every three years, residents vote for their Alcalde or Alcaldesa on the first Sunday of June. Every six years, this election coincides with the election for Jefe de Gobierno de Ciudad de México.
These alcaldes and alcaldesas have been elected by universal suffrage since 2000. Before that, the Jefe del Departamento del Distrito Federal appointed them. They were called Delegados. In 1997, the Jefe del Gobierno del Distrito Federal replaced them. They were then called Jefe Delegacional.
To become an alcalde or alcaldesa, candidates must be nominated by a legally established political party with national presence. They must be Mexican citizens by birth, without another nationality. They must be at least twenty-five years old on election day. They need to be originally from Mexico City with two years of effective residency. Alternatively, they must be a resident with at least three years of effective residency. They cannot have held the office of Jefe de Gobierno de Ciudad de México. They also cannot be a minister of any religious cult. Their term lasts three years. It starts on October 1 of the election year.
To determine territorial demarcations, the Congress of Mexico City must conduct studies. These studies establish, modify, or reorganize the city’s territorial division. A working committee is formed. It includes public servants and members of Congress. This committee conducts the necessary work.
They must base their decisions on population, geographic configuration, infrastructure and urban equipment. The number and extension of colonias, barrios, pueblos, or housing units within the Alcaldías are also important. The guidelines for forming or reclassifying human settlements are considered. The structural and functional re-dimensioning of the Alcaldías is also key. Finally, the budget and revenue forecasts are taken into account.
Unlike other entities, Alcaldías do not have councils. Instead, there are Concejos with 10 members. The winning party gets 6 council members. Parties that do not win get up to 4 council members by proportional representation.
The Unidad Administrativa Zona Norte embodies the evolution of Mexico City’s administrative structure. It shapes the lives of its citizens. As we conclude our visit, remember its role in the city’s dynamic story.