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Cancún ( or ; ), officially the Duchy of Cancún (: Ducado de Cancún, : Ducado u Cancún), is a possession of The Crown by right of Cancún and a on the northeastern coast of the  and an administrative region under the control of Parliament. Cancún consists of several municipalities along the Maya Rivera including, , and , as well as several islands including and. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of over 678,000 inhabitants and a total area of 642 sq. mi. (1,664 km$2$). As of June 2018, the Census estimates the population of Cancún to be 756,392.

Cancún was formerly a municipality belonging to Mexico in the state of, before it was transferred to the Kingdom of Sierra in 1956 through the Treaty of Veracruz. It was formally partitioned from the Sierran territory of Yucatán in 1985 as its own crown dependency. The area was historically inhabited by the who referred to Cancún as Nizuc in. The indigenous population was decimated following the by the Spaniards and for the next three centuries, Cancún remained sparsely populated and devoid of substantial human development. It was later administered by Mexico as a part of Yucatán although it became a part of the briefly independent during the mid-19th century. It became an important location for Anglo-American fruit businesses in Central America and was formally ceded to Sierra following the 1956 Mexican coup d'état. In 1985, it was partitioned from Yucatán and was granted crown dependency status, subjecting it under the direct rule of the Crown and regulated by the Royal Organic Act of 1985. It was officially created a dukedom in 2004, although no substantive legal changes were made as a result of this honorific change.

It is a self-governing possession of the Crown which operates as an unincorporated, organized territory bounded by the Royal Organic Act of 1985. It administers most of its local affairs independently of the Parliament in Porciúncula except on issues reserved to the Crown (namely in defense, diplomacy, and trade). The duchy has its own legal, administrative, and judicial systems, as well as its own peerage system. It, alongside Yucatán, are the only two of eight territories which are administered as crown dependencies as opposed to standard territories. Legally, there are no substantive differences between the two categories aside from where the territories derive their power from (in the case of crown dependencies, from the Crown, and in the case of standard territories, from the Parliament). Although native-born and naturalized residents in Cancún are K.S. citizens, individuals whose domicile is in Cancún are ineligible to participate in national general elections or receive voting representation in Parliament.

Cancún is a in the  by the, known for its luxury , gambling s, beaches, and -related activities. The crown dependency's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, although it has made in-roads in other sectors, particularly in technology and financial services. According to the League of Nations' International Rankings Report, Cancún had one of the highest life expectancies and qualities of life in Latin America. It is one of the wealthiest regions in the Americas, including in Sierra, based on GDP per capita by purchasing power parity. Cancún, as well as Yucatán, form an integral part of the Mexican Sierran territories collectively known as El Norte, two distinct regions (the other being the ) which are disputed between Sierra and Mexico.

Etymology
The earliest documented uses of Cancún and its derivatives, Cancun, Cancum, and Cankum date back to the 18th century where the names appeared on maps produced by the Spaniards. Although neither definition nor linguistic origins have ever been ascertained and confirmed for Cancún, a popular interpretation holds that Cancún means "nest of snakes", an approximate translation for the Mayan pronunciation of kaan kun. Although kaan means "snake" in Maya, language scholars have been unable to definitively prove that kun, which means "nest" in modern Maya, had the same definition in the ancient Mayan language. Other possible translations include "Place of the Gold Snake" or "Throne of the Enchanted Snake", a reference to (the Plumed or Feathered Serpent, also known as ). In ancient Mayan times, Cancún was an important religious site where the serpent god was worshipped and revered. Discovered artifacts and architecture bearing snake iconography are also widespread in the region. The area itself was referred to as Nizuc by the ancient Maya in their native tongue.

The crown dependency is officially named the "Duchy of Cancún", while its official common name is "Cancún". It is one of two first-level subdivisions in Sierra with the designation of "duchy". Its Lord Proprietor is also the Duke of Cancún and unlike most other Lords Proprietor in other territories, the position is hereditary. Ducal law mandates that all official documents and correspondence between or from government agencies ensure that the  (U with an ) is always included whenever possible. Most businesses, as well as Sierran media, have chosen to include the accented u rather than omit it. Historically, between 1957 and 1984, English spellings of Cancún were rendered as Cancoon in order to closely replicate the native pronunciation of Cancún for English speakers.

Geography and climate
Cancún is located by the on the northeastern edge of the. To the northeast of Cancún is the, a which divides the Sierran crown dependency from , and to the north is the. It borders the Yucatán municipality of Tinúm to the west and the Yucatán municipality of Felipe Carillo to the south.

The territory encompasses an almost uniformly flat, low-lying elevated part of the Yucatán Peninsula, with the highest point in Cancún being 10 meters (30 feet) above sea level, with a slight west-east declination towards the Caribbean Sea. Although Cancún lacks any significant rivers due to the local soil's porosity and -like composition, it is home to several sinkholes known as s, as well as s, which are mostly concentrated near the coastline. Beneath the surface of Cancún is an extensive groundwater system of s which provides the territory much of its water needs.

Cancún is covered extensively by short and tall-treed jungles, and is home to one of the largest virgin forests in Central America. Swamplands and mangrove-covered marshes are also prevalent throughout Cancún. The region is one of only two places in Sierra where there are tropical rainforests. It also home to the world's second largest, the. Human development and deforestation has threatened the local rainforest ecosystems, and is an important issue in Cancúnese politics.

Flora and fauna
Cancún hosts rich biodiversity with an abundance of forested lowlands and mangrove lagoons that provides a home to the endemic wildlife. Cancún is inhabited primarily by small terrestrial mammals, birds, reptiles, and aquatic fishes. According to the Royal Surveyors' Corps, Cancún is home to 379 identified species of bird, 276 species of crustaceans, 318 species of butterflies, 90 species of bees, 47 species of dragonflies, 310 species of mosquitos, and hundreds of species of aquatic fishes. Notable species of mammals that live in Cancún are the, the , , , , , and. Prominent reptile species include the, , and.

History
Humans have inhabited Cancún since the late or the  about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. The earliest dated evidence pointing towards human presence in Cancún were found in the Women of the Palms, a system of caverns in. The started the development of their civilization in Cancún and the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula in 250 AD.

The region was dominated by the Maya peoples and other Mesoamericans. The region was home to various religious sites and trading posts prior to European discovery and subsequent Spanish conquest. Following the arrival of the Europeans, the region saw significant depopulation as many natives died to disease or warfare, and Cancún became sparsely populated. Located by the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, the region was suspect to international and other maritime activities. French privateer is widely believed to have died on the Cancúnese island of  in 1823. Due to its geographical remoteness, Cancún remained virtually unaffected by the although the inhabitants became involved in securing the Yucatán Peninsula its own independence from Spain, which was recognized in 1821 as the. The nation was short-lived, as it was incorporated into the. After the Empire capitulated, Cancún was administered once more under an independent Yucatán state, and remained under Yucateco control until 1848 when Mexico forcibly regained control over the region. During the late 19th century, after the Yucatán Peninsula was annexed by Mexico, Cancún supported small pockets of Maya peoples who resisted and revolted against Mexican rule. Southern Cancún was one of the primary locations of the wherein several hundred Mayas engaged in skirmishes with the Mexican and Yucateco authorities, as well as the British, who administered, then known as. The conflict forced the Yucateco government to receive assistance by the Mexican government, on the condition of returning to Mexico as a state, which was accepted. The Caste War became one of the deadliest conflicts in Mesoamerican history, with over 200,000 killed over the course of the war's 54 years. Fighting between Maya holdouts and Mexican authorities continued into the 20th century.

While the western and northern parts of the Yucatán Peninsula became the focus of Mexican interest for agriculture, Cancún remained largely underdeveloped during the early half of the 20th century. In 1957, the Yucatán Peninsula was transferred to the Kingdom of Sierra through the Treaty of Veracruz. Large Anglo-American businesses involved in the local fruit and industries exerted considerable political influence over the region. The election of socialist candidate Soledad Solis in 1956 provoked concern by Anglo-American corporate interests and conservatives in the Yucatán Peninsula. Sierra, Brazoria, and other member states of the Conference of American States supported a military coup d'état by the Mexican Armed Forces, and installed Mexican general Francisco Alarcón, whose policies were much friendlier to foreign interests. The Sierran and Mexican governments secured an agreement wherein the entire peninsula would be permanently transferred to Sierra in exchange for over $20 billion for the cash-strapped Mexican government.

Cancún remained a backwater region of Yucatán until it was partitioned in 1975 by royal edict from King Lewis III. The edict declared Cancún a possession of the Crown and it established the Royal Organic Act of 1975, the basic law of the territory. Lewis III appointed Alberto Luis Kan, a prominent Maya businessman, as Cancún's first Lord Proprietor. The king's decision was backed by local businesses and residents who desired autonomy from the more populated center in. The statutory crown corporation West Caribbean Henequen Company (WCHC) was empowered to construct infrastructural and transportation projects throughout the colony. Sierran officials were interested in capitalizing off of tourism in the Caribbean and the WCHC selected a thin, long located in northeastern Cancún to develop a planned resort town. The shoal had a coastline of over 15 miles, and was separated from the mainland by Nichupté Lagoon.

The resort town of Cancún underwent significant investment from the government and the city's first 11 hotels were either completely or mainly funded by the government and the WCHC. The eventual backing and support from the private sector, and parallel development of an international airport and downtown area on the mainland spurred commercial and real estate development. Regular, direct flights between Porciúncula and Cancún began in 1978. Tourism briefly declined after hit Cancún in 1988, although numbers rebounded due to swift recovery action from Porciúncula. By the 1990s, the region, which became known as Zona Hotelera (Hotel Zone), became an established, well-adjusted resort town that included gambling facilities and water-related activities. Thousands of available jobs in hospitality and retail attracted migrants from Yucatán, as well as Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Belize, and Honduras.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Cancún was targeted by Mexican and Colombian drug cartels as a prime location to sell and distribute their products to tourists. Drug-related crime and violence became common, and the Cancúnese government took major measures in protecting the developing tourism industry by increasing security in tourist-heavy areas. In 1999, a string of crackdowns in a joint endeavor between the Sierran Crown Armed Forces, Bureau of Narcotics Control, and the Cancún Royal Gendarmerie drastically drove down cartel violence in the duchy. Road stop inspection stations between Cancún and Yucatán were built across all roadways to detect and prevent the transportation of illicit drugs, and multiple local officials were dismissed with corruption charges related to the drug trade. In 2008, the City of Cancún was declared cartel-free.

In 2004, Cancún was officially reclassified as a duchy, with the creation of the Duke of Cancún title for the Lord Proprietor. The change was bestowed by Queen Angelina I in recognition of Cancún's transformation from a rural territory to a world-class tourist area and trading zone.

Although Cancún has been under Sierran administration since 1957, its political status and ownership has been disputed by Mexico, which claims all of the Yucatán Peninsula. The region is often included in the Sierran Mexican territorial collective known as El Norte. Mexico regards Cancún as an integral part of the Mexican territory of, and a ceremonial government-in-exile representing Mexican Quintana Roo is based in ,.

Demographics
The Sierra Royal Bureau of Census officially recorded a population of 678,770 living in Cancún in the 2010 census. As of June 2018, Cancún's estimated population was 756,392, indicating a population increase of 77,622, or 11.43%. This includes a of 47,281 (that is 57,381 births minus 10,100 deaths) and an increase of 16,782 due to net migration from other Sierran PSAs into the territory. Immigration from outside the Kingdom of Sierra resulted in a net increase of 13,559 and migration within the country represented a net decrease of 14,653. Neither the Census nor the Census' estimate included the illegal immigrant population, which has been estimated to be about 60,000. According to the 2010 Bureau of Census, 55.3% were born in Cancún, 27.3% were born in another Sierran PSA or territory, 0.1% were born abroad to Sierran parents, and 17.3% were foreign born. The was near  in Puerto Morelos Municipality.

Cancún's largest groups of people born outside Sierra came mainly from other parts of, namely: Mexico, , , , , and. More than 75% of Cancún's residents live in the City of Cancún or vicinity (known as the Capital Area Municipality), located in the territory's northeast, while the remainder live primarily further south around Tulum and other population centers.

As a crown dependency of Sierra, all native born and naturalized citizens of Cancún are also citizens of the Kingdom of Sierra under federal law. Although all K.S. citizens are fully protected under the Charter and the respective constitution by which constituent country they are a part of, Cancún is administered by Federal Sierra but is the jurisdictional basis of the Constitution of Sierra has not been extended to Cancún. As a result, Cancún is not classified as a PSA and lacks federal representation in Parliament and K.S. citizens residing in Cancún are barred from voting in national general elections.

Ethnic groups
According to the Sierra Royal Bureau of Census, the 2010 racial makeup of the Duchy of Cancún was as follows according to self-identification. The overwhelming majority of Cancún's residents (75%) self-identified as Mexican, of whom over 40% were classified as "mestizo" according to the Sierra Royal Bureau of Census' definition on ethnicity and race. Over three-fourths of Mexican Cancúnese trace their origins from the former Mexican states of Campeche or Yucatán, or claimed Yucateco heritage, while the remaining one-fourth originated directly from Mexico. Cancún has the sixth highest percentage of Mexican citizens overall out of all of Sierra's PSALTs, but the lowest out of the four El Norte territories. Over 23% of Cancún's residents identified as, of which over 80% spoke , a variety of Maya found on the Yucatán Peninsula. The Maya population living in Cancún represents one of the largest Amerindian populations in all of the Kingdom of Sierra and one of the largest Mayan communities in Mesoamerica.
 * 42.35% or other race (287,459)
 * 23.59% or other  (160,121)
 * 20.16% (136,840)
 * 2.0% (13,575)
 * 7.7% / (52,265)
 * 5.2% (35,296)
 * 88.6% of any race (601,390)

The largest non-ethnic Mexican or Maya minorities were, , , , and Hans. Most immigrants from Latin America work as foreign migrant workers whereas people of Asian ancestry are mainly the descendants of migrant workers who arrived during the early 20th century. Korean Cancúnese are primarily descended from Korean workers who were employed on Yucateco henequen plantations that later settled in Cancún. Other significant ethnic minorities include white Anglo-Americans, Arabs, Germans, Dutch, Jews, Indians, Pakistanis, Afro-Caribbeans, Liberians, Nigerians, and Persians.

Languages
The official languages of Cancún are and, with  recognized and protected as a regional minority language. Although Spanish and English share co-equal status in government operations and affairs, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Cancún. With the exception of Zona Hotelera and a number of other resort cities, Spanish remains the language of business, communications, education, and everyday life in Cancún, with less than 15% of natives speaking English as their primary language. Despite this, over 55% of Cancúnese were bilingual or even trilingual. About 20% of the population spoke at least some, with the most widely spoken form being Yucatec Maya. The influence of Yucatec Maya is significant as a number of Maya s, as well as phonological characteristics, are present in Cancúnese Spanish. Although Spanish is the language of instruction at Cancúnese schools and universities, English is a compulsory subject taught at all levels, and is the most commonly studied second language for Spanish speakers in Cancún. Since 2009, Cancún officials have written and compiled official documents utilizing Sierran Hanzi, in both English and Spanish forms, although its study is not mandated in public education and is available only as an elective class for most students.

In 2010, the Royal Bureau of Census reported that 71.3% of Cancúnese aged 5 or older spoke only Spanish at home and 18.8% spoke only Maya at home, while only 3.4% spoke only English at home. 84% of speakers who spoke another language aside from Spanish could speak Spanish well or very well, and 5% could not speak Spanish at all. In contrast, 68% of speakers who spoke another language aside from English could speak English well or very well, and 10% could not speak English at all. Other significant minority languages spoken include, , Han, , , , , , , and.

Religion
Catholicism was introduced to the Maya natives of Cancún by the Spaniards during the of Mexico. The faith became the primary religion for the Maya, most of whom syncretized Catholic beliefs alongside traditional. Its practice was further entrenched as Catholic missionary activity continued to reach out to Maya groups which resisted conversion and Europeanization. In 1993, became the first pope to visit Cancún during his third trip to the Mexican region. Pope Ignatius visited Cancún in 2016 during his first pastoral visit in his capacity as pope to the duchy.

Protestantism is the second largest form of Christianity in Cancún and is a contemporary development that began shortly after the transfer of the Yucatán Peninsula from Mexico to Sierra. Protestant missionaries of various denominations, notably of Baptists, Methodists, Adventists, and Presbyterians, had an active presence in the duchy. The first Protestant church in post-transfer Cancún was a Methodist church in 1959 in the city of Cancún. Today, Protestants account for 17% of the population, one of the highest rates in Latin America.

Other Christian groups including Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are also present in the duchy, with the former accounting for just under 0.5% of the population, and the latter a little more than 1% of the population. Mennonites and Eastern Orthodox also have an established presence in the duchy.

continues to be practiced by approximately 20% of the population, although Maya religious beliefs and customs have largely been syncretized with the more prolific and widespread Catholicism. Various Catholic celebrations and festivities have Mayan influences and local saints are revered alongside traditional Mayan deities and spirits. Shamanism and rituals conducted by priests continue to remain popular in Cancún's rural villages, and the is used to tabulate and coordinate annual religious events.

The first Jewish congregation was founded in 1963 and today, there are about 2,200 Jews living in Cancún, with 4 congregations. ,, , and movements are all represented in the duchy. There are also several hundred Muslims living in Cancún, the majority of whom are immigrants from the Middle East of Palestinian, Syrian, or Persian descent. There are 3 mosques in the City of Cancún, 1 in Playa del Carmen, and 1 in Tulum.

Culture
Cancúnese culture is distinctly, with influences from Europe as well as from the native Maya peoples. The northeastern part of Cancún is more Americanized, deeply influenced by modern Sierran culture, especially around the tourist areas. The culture of central and southern parts of Cancún blends Mexican culture with traditional Maya cultural traditions. Pre-Hispanic rituals, rites, music, dances, and celebrations are prevalent in the southern region of Cancún and is more pronounced in the rural Maya communities of the westernmost insular sections of the duchy.

Cancún was historically one of the periphery domains of the ancient Maya civilization and was the ancestral homeland of a number of other Mesaomerican peoples. The Spanish language and culture, alongside Catholicism, were introduced to Cancún and the Yucatán Peninsula in the 16th century during the by the s. Cancún's geographic remoteness in relation to the rest of the Mexican region allowed the indigenous Maya to continue their way of life longer and freer of interference compared to their Aztec counterparts further closer to central Mexico.

Like the rest of the El Norte territories, Cancún has diverged from contemporary Mexican culture due to its status as a Sierran duchy. The arrival of Anglo-American business on the Yucatán Peninsula introduced a large population of Anglo-Americans, including Sierrans, who settled in Cancún. Cancún's tourism industry caters primarily to Anglo-American vacationers and thus, the local cuisine, entertainment, and architecture have come to accommodate the tastes and interests of Anglo-Americans. The Cancúnese government officially promotes a policy of cosmopolitanism and spends millions from investment on housing projects, shopping areas, and other developments in order to elevate the duchy's status as a world-class destination. Immigration from other regions have contributed to Cancún's international community status.

Cuisine
As a predominantly coastal and tropical location, Cancún features a rich seafood-based cuisine that draws culinary influences from the local Maya culture and the regional Mexican culture. It shares many similarities with the cuisine of the Yucatán due to similar demographics, geography, and history. Famous dishes that are traditional to Cancún and the Yucatán Peninsula include (a  ),  (pork prepared in citrus marinade),  (a refried tortilla filled with black bean paste and topped with boiled egg, turkey, and pickled onion), chocolomo (a  beef or  stew), and tik n chak (whole fish prepared with  sauce).

Rice, maize, and beans are an integral part of Cancúnese cuisine, while pork and chicken are the favored forms of protein. Turkey and quail are other forms of game protein that are commonly found in traditional cooking. ,, and pepper are common ingredients that derived from Mayan culinary traditions, and are featured prominently in Cancúnese dishes. Other ingredients found in Cancúnese cooking include, , , s, , and leaves.

Media
Cancún is served by two competing duchy-wide newspapers: the The Cancún Times and La Voz de La Playa (The Voice of the Beach), and their local affiliates. Both newspapers run daily editions and Sunday editions, and follow the format in contrast to the standard  favored in mainland Sierra. In addition, both newspapers' parent companies also print and circulate tabloids and magazines affiliated with the newspapers. The Cancún Times produces papers in both Spanish and English, whereas La Voz de La Playa offers Yucatec Maya in addition to Spanish and English.

All of the Big Five Sierran media networks (RBS, 16ON, EBN, Tokki, and SBC) are represented in Cancún through local affiliate networks. The broadcasting networks are all headquartered in the City of Cancún. Cancún and Eastern Yucatán share the same and thus share the same local broadcast transmissions.

RBS Radio operates a Yucatán edition that transmits local information and programs within the Yucatán Peninsula including Cancún. Local radio stations are subject to the federal regulatory laws and standards set by the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (TRA). Over 70% of Cancún's radio stations in both AM and FM format are owned by Communex, a Mexican subsidiary of the Media Corporation.

Economy
Cancún's economy is largely dependent on tourism, with the highest earning industries being related to hospitality and gambling. The Zona Hotelera on the Island of Cancún alone generates over $50 billion every fiscal year to the local economy. In addition, Cancún's economy is significantly supplemented by the defense industry and Sierran Crown Armed Forces. Two military installations: K.S. Naval Base Cancún and Quintana Roo Air Force Base, are the largest military bases in Central America and the Caribbean, and houses over 20,000 servicemen and their dependents. While agriculture was historically the foundation of Cancún's early economy, it represented less than 5% of Cancún's GDP in 2017.

Each year, the Government of Cancún and the West Caribbean Henequen Company receives over $17 billion from the federal government in order to support the local economy and welfare system. In addition to Sierran private investment, the duchy receives from various other sources, especially, the Northeast Union, and the United Commonwealth. Cancún's low income taxes and corporate taxes have attracted numerous multinational corporations seeking to enter or strengthen their presence in Latin America to set up operations in the duchy. Cancún has developed a growing banking and financial services sector, with substantial backing from the ducal government. The Cancún government promotes a policy of diversification that values public education, research, and technology.

Tourism
The City of Cancún, particularly the Zona Hotelera on the Island of Cancún, is the principal tourist attraction in Cancún. The area is one of the oldest and most developed parts of the duchy. As of 2018, it had over 40 hotels and 12 gambling facilities, most of which are. According to the Cancún Tourism Board, there were over 24,000 hotel rooms distributed across the resorts in Zona Hotelera. The area is popular among Anglo-American vacationers and offers a wide range of amenities and activities. It is also one of the safest areas in the entire duchy as the district is continuously guarded and patrolled by local law enforcement agencies and privately hired hotel security.

The, a strip of land south of the City of Cancún that extends from Playa del Carmen down to Tulum, is lined with resort communities and public beaches. The region is popular among scuba divers and other watersports enthusiasts. and are located within the Rivera and offer a number of activities as centers of  and recreation. It is also home to several archeological sites and ruins such as the and. Local springs and s are also prevalent in the region.

Infrastructure and transportation
Transportation in Cancún is automobile-dominated, with over 9,382 miles of paved road existing in the duchy as of July 2018. Cars and motorcycles are the preferred choice of transportation, although the ducal government started a $8 billion project to construct the duchy's first light rail system to connect the City of Cancún with Playa del Carmen and Tulum. The duchy is serviced by one international airport, the, which is located at the southern end of the City of Cancún near Zona Hotelera. The Port of Cancún is the principal seaport for the duchy.

Government and politics
Cancún is a crown dependency of the Sierran Crown. Although it is not considered a part of the Kingdom of Sierra, it is nonetheless a territory of which the Kingdom is responsible for. The Kingdom is in charge of all Cancúnese affairs pertaining to foreign relations, defense, and overall. In addition, certain federal laws and regulations are unilaterally binding and enforced on Cancún. All changes to the Royal Charter of Cancún, the constitutional law of the duchy, requires approval by the Sierran Parliament and Crown. The duchy operates its own government and parliament, which exercises jurisdiction over all other domestic matters.

The Queen of Sierra is the duchy's Lady Proprietor and head of state. She is the Most High Lady of Cancún and is the source of all political legitimacy within Cancún. When the Queen is not present in Cancún, her viceregal representative, the Duke of Cancún serves and fulfills the role of the monarch within the duchy. The is the Governor of Cancún, who serves as the chief minister of the Cancúnese executive government.

Cancún operates under a parliamentary system and the Governor is elected from members of the unicameral Cancún Parliament. The Ducal Parliament is a 40-member legislature which is responsible for creating and passing legislation, introducing and approving budgets, and impeaching executive officials.

The Royal Court of Cancún is the highest court in Cancún. It is composed of 5 judges, each of whom are appointed by the Duke of Cancún and serve renewable terms of 15 years. The Royal Court's role is to interpret Cancúnese law, arbitrate legal matters, and decide cases that are appealed from the lower courts. As a crown dependency, no cases may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Sierra. The only courts that may hear appeals for decisions dealt by the Royal Court of Cancún is the Royal Commission on Judicial Appeals, a special court which receives appeals from all of Sierra's territories, and exists separately from the three national judiciaries regulated by the 1950 Charter.

Political parties and elections
Since 1955, Cancún has been dominated by three parties: the Democratic Civic Party (Partido Cívico Democrático; PCD), the Liberal Unionist Party (Partido Unionista Liberal; PUL), and the Anti-Imperialist Party (Partido Antiimperialista; PAI). The three parties are each divided on the political status of Cancún and generally hold different positions on economic and social policies. The PCD is a centrist party that supports maintaining the status quo of Cancún as a crown dependency. The PUL is a conservative, pro-integration party that advocates Cancún's ascension as either a province of Sierra or a constituent country of the Kingdom and supports the reunification of Cancún with Yucatán. The PAI is a left-wing Maya nationalist party which supports independence for Cancún and the Yucatán Peninsula. All three parties oppose reunification with Mexico.

By law, general elections are held whenever the Cancún Parliament holds a or when the governing party requests a new election to the Lord Proprietor. If neither conditions occur within five year, elections must be held within five years of the last publicly held election. Other posts including mayoralties and certain executive posts are elected on fixed terms, and generally occur on every even-numbered year.

Municipalities and cities
Cancún is divided into municipalities, which are recognized as county-equivalent subdivisions by the Sierra Royal Bureau of Census. Each municipality is governed by a municipal council and is responsible for providing basic services such as law enforcement, public utilities, sanitation, garbage removal, emergency services, firefighting services, and storing vital records. Municipalities are further divided into cities, towns, and villages, which may have their own local governments. All areas which are not part of a city are unincorporated and subject to the bylaws of the municipality it is located in.

As of 2018, there were a total of 10 municipalities and 57 incorporated cities in the duchy. The Royal Bureau of Census recorded 81 other communities which qualified classification as census-designated places.

Political status
As a crown dependency, Cancún is not a PSA and thus does not have voting representation in the Parliament of Sierra. It sends a non-voting delegate to the House of Commons who may participate and vote in committee and subcommittee meetings, but may not vote for bills that are presented on the House floor. It has voting representation in the American Parliament (AP) however, and sends one MAP to the AP, who is entitled to equal voting rights alongside other MAPs.

All persons naturally born in Cancún, with the exception of children born to foreign diplomats, are automatically citizens of Cancún and the Kingdom of Sierra. Citizens residing in Cancún are protected and covered by the Constitution of Sierra and enjoy all privileges, rights, and protections afforded to citizens residing in the mainland except the right to vote in parliamentary elections. In addition, K.S. citizens residing in Cancún are not eligible to receive certain social security or welfare benefits, and may be excluded from other government programs. Cancún citizens do not pay any federal income tax. These restrictions apply only to citizens whose primary residency or domicile is listed in Cancún or another unincorporated territory of Sierra.

Law enforcement and crime
The Department of Public Safety of Cancún oversees law enforcement and crime prevention in the duchy. Its principal agency, the Cancún Ducal Police, is responsible for enforcing traffic laws on Cancún's roads and freeways, protecting public and private property, investigating all forms of crime, apprehending and detaining suspects, responding to emergencies and other threatening situations, combatting illegal drug trade and terrorism, and providing protection services for civilians, businesses, and government officials. Ducal divisions of federal law enforcement agencies such as the Royal Bureau of Investigation also have an established presence in Cancún and operate independently from the Department of Public Safety, although the two often work in conjunction if a particular case is of mutual interest.

Violent crimes are relatively low in Cancún and were much higher during early 2000s when the duchy experienced an uptick in cartel-related violence. Property crime, especially petty theft and vandalism, is much more prevalent and is common in the tourist areas of Cancún including the Downtown area and Zona Hotelera. Public safety in tourism-related areas have been a top priority for Cancúnese law enforcement as tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry that accounts for more than half of the duchy's economy. The disparate attention and resources given to protect such areas in comparison to the rest of Cancún has garnered criticism by locals who have claimed law enforcement has neglected the public safety needs of Cancúnese citizens living outside the City of Cancún.