Government of Colombia
Logo since 2022 | |
| Constitution | Colombian Constitution of 1991 |
|---|---|
| Country | Colombia |
| Website | www |
| Executive | |
| Head of state | President of Colombia (Gustavo Petro) |
| Vice head of state | Vice President of Colombia |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers of Colombia |
| Legislative | |
| Legislature | Congress of Colombia |
| Judicial | |
| Court | |
The Government of Colombia is a unitary republic with separation of powers into an executive, judicial, and legislative branch. The President of Colombia its judiciary: the Supreme Court of Justice takes on matters of criminal law, the Council of State administrative law, the Constitutional Court constitutional law, and the Superior Council of Judicature jurisdictional conflicts and judicial administration.[1][2]
Colombia is principally divided into 32 departments and one capital district.
Executive
President
The president of Colombia is elected by a direct popular vote, with elections held every four years. They are the head of state and government, as well as the commander-in-chief and supreme administrative authority.[3] In 2015, congress limited the presidency to a single four-year term, preventing the president from seeking re-election.[4]
Vice President
The Vice President is the second-highest executive office in Colombia. They are elected indirectly through appearing on the ticket with a presidential candidate.
Council of Ministers
Legislature
The legislative branch of Colombia's national government is the bicameral Congress, composed of the Senate and Chamber of Representatives. Its primary duties are lawmaking and legislative regulation, this includes drafting, enacting, interpreting, amending, and repealing laws.[5][6]
Senate
The Senate of Colombia is composed of 108 seats, with members elected to 4 year terms through a party-list proportional representation system.[6]
Chamber of Representatives
The Chamber of Representatives of Colombia is composed of 188 members elected to 4 year terms through a party-list proportional representation system.[6] One seat represents the Raizal ethnic group.
Judiciary
The judicial branch of Colombia's national government is composed of four high courts: the Supreme Court of Justice, the Council of State, the Constitutional Court, and the Superior Council of Judicature.[7] Colombia’s legal system follows civil law.[8]
Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia
The Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia handles criminal law,[7] composed of 23 judges appointed to non-renewable 8 year terms by congress from a list of candidates created by the president.[9] It is led by a president. Below the Supreme Court are Judicial District Superior Tribunals and below them, district courts.[8]
Council of State
The Council of State handles administrative law.[7]
Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court handles constitutional law.[7]
Superior Council of Judicature
The Superior Council of Judicature handles jurisdictional conflicts and judicial administration.[7] It is headed by a president
Special jurisdictions of the Colombian conflict
Due to the ongoing Colombian conflict, special legal jurisdictions have been created, such as the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and Judicial Chambers for Justice and Peace.[10]
Subdivisions
Colombia is principally divided into 32 departments and one capital district.[11]
Departments
Each department has a governor and department assembly and are granted limited autonomy. Departments are primarily composed of municipalities, each with a mayor and municipal council.
Capital District
The capital city of Bogotá has the same administrative status as a department. It is governed by the Superior Mayor of Bogotá and Bogotá City Council. The council is the supreme authority of the district, autonomous in administrative, budgetary and financial matters.[12]
Indigenous Territories
Nearly one-third of Colombia is classified as Indigenous Territory,
Issues
Corruption
Trust
In 2022, 21% of Colombians reported their trust in the national government being high or moderately high. 22% reported high or moderately high trust in their local government and 20% in civil service. [13]
References
- ^ "Country Fact Sheet: COLOMBIA" (PDF). Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. April 2007.
- ^ "Colombia 1991 (rev. 2013)". Constitute. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ Fuentes, Juan-Andrés. "Research Guides: Colombian Legal Research: Basic Legal Structure". guides.library.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ L, Elizabeth Reyes (4 June 2015). "Colombian lawmakers approve a one-term limit for presidents". EL PAÍS English Edition.
- ^ Fuentes, Juan-Andrés. "Research Guides: Colombian Legal Research: Basic Legal Structure". guides.library.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ a b c "Colombia: Government". globaledge.msu.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b c d e "Country Fact Sheet: COLOMBIA" (PDF). Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. April 2007.
- ^ a b Fuentes, Juan-Andrés. "Research Guides: Colombian Legal Research: Basic Legal Structure". guides.library.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Colombia: Government". globaledge.msu.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ Fuentes, Juan-Andrés. "Research Guides: Colombian Legal Research: Basic Legal Structure". guides.library.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
- ^ Fuentes, Juan-Andrés. "Research Guides: Colombian Legal Research: Basic Legal Structure". guides.library.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Organización del Distrito Capital" (in Spanish). bogota.gov.co. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ^ "Government at a Glance 2023: Colombia". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
External links
Colombian Constitution of 1991 (translated in to English)
- Government of Colombia(in Spanish)