Born in Santa Fe in 1802, Donaciano Vigil was an active participant in many of the critical events in New Mexico's history in the nineteenth century. Vigil was witness to New Mexico's transition from a Spanish province (1802-1821) to a Mexican department (1821-1846) and eventually to an American territory (1846-1877), and he was a key player in most of the events of that era. As a Hispano soldier and officer in the New Mexico Militia, he was instrumental in the Navajo Wars, the Rio Arriba insurrection of 1837, the Texas invasion of 1841, and the American invasion of 1846. As a Mexican statesman in New Mexico, he was one of the most active assemblymen. Following the American occupation, he joined the civil government, first as secretary, then as governor. It was in these roles that Donaciano left an enduring impact and legacy on the territory. In this gripping biography of a remarkable man, Maurilio E. Vigil and Helene Boudreau fill the gap within the scholarship on Hispanics in nineteenth-century New Mexico.

This book provides a comprehensive and penetrating investigation of the governmental and political processes of New Mexico. It combines a view of how the social and political history have shaped contemporary New Mexico political culture and the nature of governmental and political affairs. Formal governmental institutions and political processes provide a descriptive narrative of New Mexico government and politics. Contents: PART I: The Function of State Government; The Land of Enchantment; Paso por aqui; Powers Not Delegated; Any Amendment or Amendments to this Constitution; PART II: The Form of Government; The Executive Department Shall Consist of...; The Legislative Power Shall Be Vested In; The Judicial Power of the State Shall Be Vested In; All Elections Shall be Free and Open: Parties and Politics in New Mexico; From Bernalillo to Valencia: County Government; From Aztec to Wagon Mound: Municipal Government; Pueblos, Acequias and Land Grants: Other Political Units Mexico; PART III: The Future of State Government; Public Policymaking in New Mexico.