Legal Counsel of the Federal Executive

The Legal Counsel of the Federal Executive (Consejero Jurídico del Ejecutivo Federal, CJEF) is a government official who, alongside the 19 secretaries of state, is a member of the cabinet of the President of Mexico. The purpose of the office of the legal counsel () is to review and validate legal instruments that are submitted to the president for consideration, such as decrees, agreements, legislative bills or constitutional reforms. Its other tasks include drafting or assisting in the drafting of bills that are to be presented to the Congress of the Union. It also represents the president in unconstitutionality actions or constitutional controversies as provided for in the Constitution and represents him or her in all lawsuits in which he or she is a party.

History

The office of the Legal Counsel of the Federal Executive was created on 15 May 1996 during the administration of Ernesto Zedillo. By means of constitutional amendments enacted on 30 December 2015, article 26 of the Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration was revised to raise the office of the Legal Counsel to cabinet status.

Functions

The functions of the CJEF are set out in articles 43, 43-bis and 43-ter of the Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration. They include:

• To support the president in such legal matters as he or she may request.
• To consider and give its opinion on any bill sent by the president to Congress.
• To receive bills and initiatives that the secretariats of state seek to submit to Congress, at least one month in advance.
• To head the federal government's Legal Studies Commission, which is made up of representatives of the legal areas of each agency of the federal public administration.

List of Legal Counsels of the Federal Executive

References