A nation's constitution is its single most important legal document. It defines what can be done and what cannot be done. It is generally difficult to change the articles of a country's constitution. In the case of the U.S. Constitution, it is constantly being referred to and challenged. I daresay that it is a beacon of democracy.
While translating some Mexican legal documents, I noticed that there were some references made to its constitution. I was naturally curious to know more about the Mexican Constitution, and came upon this web page.
After only a cursory glance, I learned a few interesting things about Mexican laws. For instance, there is no capital punishment, unless it is a special situation. "Foreigners may not in any way participate in the political affairs of the country." "Elementary education shall be compulsory."
In reading the Mexican Constitution, the translator can learn two things: its content, to better understand the Mexican legal system, and the wording, as this is an English translation. After all, we translators must constantly prepare for the unknown and the upcoming.
