Archive, Transparency and Access to Information Policies within the Mexican Federal Laws Framework

The article arises from a broader investigation to explain that federal legal policies on transparency, that is, access to public government information in Mexico, can occur when they are accompanied by archiving policies to respond to information needs. The methods used were quantitative and qualitative: the first one helped to obtain data and the second one allowed to recover the characteristics of what was studied in the seventeen agencies of the Mexican Centralized Federal Government (Gobierno Federal Centralizado de M & eacute;xico), which are the Secretaries of State. The techniques used were an online survey and an interview based on a question guide; response submission and reception was through the National Transparency Platform (Plataforma Nacional de Transparencia [ PNT ]). The analyzed period ranged from 2002 to 2015 since it represents a pivotal moment in public policy when government activity became available to citizens. This event generated that archival policies focused on gradually developing the General Archival Classification Chart (Cuadro General de Clasificaci & oacute;n Archiv & iacute;stica [ CGCA ]) and the Documentary Disposition Catalogue (Cat & aacute;logo de Disposici & oacute;n Documental [ CADIDO ]); however, during the initial years, transparency and access to information were impossible due to the lack of awareness surrounding the use and utility of these instruments. Part of the conclusion is that adequate coordination guidelines should be carried out with the actors involved.