Mexico's president tries yet again to get the 'United States' out of 'Mexico'

March 3, 2011: Mexico's President Felipe Calderon answers a question during his joint press conference with President Obama at the White House. (Reuters)

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's president is making one last attempt to get the "United States" out of Mexico — at least as far as the country's name is concerned.

The country's formal name is "The United Mexican States," but few people use it.

President Felipe Calderon wants to make it simply "Mexico."

Calderon says the name was adopted in 1824 to imitate the country's northern neighbor, The United States of America.

Calderon said Thursday Mexico doesn't need to emulate anyone.

The constitutional reform would have to be approved by both houses of Congress and a majority of the country's 31 state legislatures. However, Calderon leaves office on Dec. 1.

Calderon first proposed the name change as a congressman in 2003. The bill did not make it to a vote.