Colombia · Government
Government and administration in Colombia
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Executive — President
- Four-year term; immediate re-election was abolished in 2015.
- Legislative — Congress of the Republic
- Senate (108) and Chamber of Representatives (188), including peace and minority seats.
- Judicial — Four high courts plus the JEP
- No single apex court; jurisdictional clashes are resolved by the Constitutional Court.
- Public ministry and control — Procuraduría, Defensoría, Contraloría
- A distinct constitutional branch of oversight bodies.
How legislation is made
Bills need four debates, two in each chamber, in successive committee and plenary stages within a single legislature. Statutory laws on rights must clear the Constitutional Court before promulgation. Amendments proceed by act of Congress over two consecutive ordinary sessions, by referendum, or by constituent assembly; the Court may strike an amendment down for substituting the Constitution rather than reforming it.
Enforcement institutions
- Fiscalía General de la Nación
- Directs criminal investigation and prosecution; sits within the judiciary.
- Policía Nacional
- National force, historically under the Defence Ministry.
- Defensoría del Pueblo
- Ombudsman; supports tutela claimants and represents them without charge.
Government bodies and regulators
- judicialCorte Constitucional de ColombiaGuards the integrity and supremacy of the Constitution.
- judicialFiscalía General de la NaciónInvestigates and prosecutes criminal offences.
- independentDefensoría del PuebloPromotes and defends human rights and provides public defence.
- executiveDirección de Impuestos y Aduanas NacionalesAdministers national taxes and customs.
- executiveMigración ColombiaControls migration and issues foreign-national identity documents.
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