What is the difference between de jure power and de facto power in Mexican politics?

What is the difference between de jure power and de facto power in Mexican politics?

• A. De jure power is formal legal authority; de facto power is actual influence in practice through networks and patronage.
• B. De jure power is informal; de facto is legal.
• C. They mean the same thing.
• D. De jure power is economic; de facto is social.

Answer: (A)

De jure power refers to formal legal authority—the official right a person has because of their position, backed by laws and the constitution. De facto power is the real ability to influence what actually happens in practice, which can come through informal networks, patronage, control of resources, and relationships that allow someone to shape outcomes even without holding an official title. In Mexican politics, this distinction matters because someone may hold a formal office with the power to make decisions, while others wield influence through party networks, patronage, or informal arrangements that steer policy and decisions behind the scenes. So, de jure is about official authority on paper, and de facto is about practical influence that operates through non-official channels.