Siete Leyes
Long-running political and cultural clashes between the Mexican government and American settlers in Texas were exacerbated after conservative forces took control and the Siete Leyes (Seven Laws) of 1835 were approved. It displaced the federal Constitution of 1824 with the 1835 Constitution of Mexico, thereby ending the federal system and establishing a provisional centralized government in its place. The new laws were unpopular throughout Mexico, leading to secession movements and violence in several Mexican states.
After what seemed to be an unending series of revolts, those favoring a centralized republic gained control of the government in 1835. This constitution, known colloquially as the Siete Leyes (Seven Laws), placed governmental authority in the central state, set limits on who could vote, and eliminated the states, replacing them with departments. By then, however, the central government was hopelessly in debt both to internal and foreign creditors and faced a series of relentless revolts. This constitution would be superceded by an even more centralized government in the dictatorship of Antonio López de Santa Anna in 1844.
After what seemed to be an unending series of revolts, those favoring a centralized republic gained control of the government in 1835. This constitution, known colloquially as the Siete Leyes (Seven Laws), placed governmental authority in the central state, set limits on who could vote, and eliminated the states, replacing them with departments. By then, however, the central government was hopelessly in debt both to internal and foreign creditors and faced a series of relentless revolts. This constitution would be superceded by an even more centralized government in the dictatorship of Antonio López de Santa Anna in 1844.
Siete Leyes
1.Granted citizenship to those who could read Spanish and had an annual income of 100 pesos. Non-citizens and women (citizens or not) could not vote. Centralized all control in Mexico City. Fully stripped settlers of the ability to participate in the selection of national, state, and local elected officials.
2.Allowed the President to close Congress and suppress the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. Santa Anna had full control of the government.
3.Established a bicameral Congress of Deputies and Senators, elected by governmental organs.
4.Specified that the Supreme Court, the Senate of Mexico, and the Meeting of Ministers each nominate three candidates, and the lower house of the legislature would select from those nine candidates the President and Vice-president.
5.Established an 11-member Supreme Court elected in the same manner as the President and Vice-President.
6.Replaced the federal republic's nominally-sovereign "states" with centralized "departments” whose governors and legislators were designated by the President. The departments were actually military districts that were governed by the Mexican Army. In practice, Ley Seis was a Mexican military occupation of settler territories and the establishment of martial law, further stripping settlers of their individual rights.
7.The seventh law prohibited reverting to the pre-reform laws for six years.
2.Allowed the President to close Congress and suppress the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation. Santa Anna had full control of the government.
3.Established a bicameral Congress of Deputies and Senators, elected by governmental organs.
4.Specified that the Supreme Court, the Senate of Mexico, and the Meeting of Ministers each nominate three candidates, and the lower house of the legislature would select from those nine candidates the President and Vice-president.
5.Established an 11-member Supreme Court elected in the same manner as the President and Vice-President.
6.Replaced the federal republic's nominally-sovereign "states" with centralized "departments” whose governors and legislators were designated by the President. The departments were actually military districts that were governed by the Mexican Army. In practice, Ley Seis was a Mexican military occupation of settler territories and the establishment of martial law, further stripping settlers of their individual rights.
7.The seventh law prohibited reverting to the pre-reform laws for six years.