Legal System of Colombia
Colombia is located in South America. It is geographically situated in northern south america, bordering the caribbean sea, between panama and venezuela, and bordering the north pacific ocean, between ecuador and panama. The country achieved independence on 20 july 1810 (from spain). The capital is Bogotá.
Government Overview
Government Type: presidential republic Chief of State: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022) Head of Government: President Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (since 7 August 2022) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president Administrative Divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyacá, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, Archipiélago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada National Holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Legal System
The legal system of Colombia is described as civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitutional Framework
The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991 Amendment Process: proposed by the government, by Congress, by a constituent assembly, or by public petition; passage requires a majority vote by Congress in each of two consecutive sessions; passage of amendments to constitutional articles on citizen rights, guarantees, and duties also require approval in a referendum by over one half of voters and participation of over one fourth of citizens registered to vote
Judicial Branch
Highest Court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of the Civil-Agrarian and Labor Chambers each with 7 judges, and the Penal Chamber with 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 magistrates); Council of State (consists of 27 judges); Superior Judiciary Council (consists of 13 magistrates) Judge Selection: Supreme Court judges appointed by the Supreme Court members from candidates submitted by the Superior Judiciary Council; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Constitutional Court magistrates - nominated by the president, by the Supreme Court, and elected by the Senate; judges elected for individual 8-year terms; Council of State members appointed by the State Council plenary from lists nominated by the Superior Judiciary Council Subordinate Courts: Superior Tribunals (appellate courts for each of the judicial districts); regional courts; civil municipal courts; Superior Military Tribunal; first instance administrative courts
Legislative Branch
The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: House of Representatives (Cámara de Representantes) (187 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): proportional representation Upper Chamber: Senate (Senado de la República)
Citizenship and Suffrage
Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Historical Background
Colombia was one of three countries that emerged after the dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1830 – the others are Ecuador and Venezuela. A decades-long conflict among government forces, paramilitaries, and antigovernment insurgent groups heavily funded by the drug trade – principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) – escalated during the 1990s. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization in the 2000s, new criminal groups arose that included some former paramilitaries.
This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Colombia based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.