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.Reglamento interior de la CJEF
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
Portrait Name Term of office Duration Political Party President 1 15 May 1996–30 November 2000 Independent 2 1 December 2000–20 March 2003 National Action Party 3 3 April 2003–11 November 2004 Independent 4 11 November 2004–27 April 2005 National Action Party 5 12 November 2005–30 November 2006 National Action Party 6 1 December 2006–28 January 2008 National Action Party 7 28 January 2008–30 November 2012 Independent 8 1 December 2012–9 June 2017 Ecologist Green Party of Mexico 9 9 June 2017–30 November 2018 Independent 10 1 December 2018–2 September 2021 National Regeneration Movement 11 2 September 2021–30 September 2024 Independent 12 1 October 2024–27 November 2025 National Regeneration Movement 13 17 December 2025–30 April 2026 National Regeneration Movement 13 4 May 2026–present National Regeneration Movement
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