Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Colombia

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Colombia.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Administrative Divisions: 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Distrito Capital de Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Legal System: based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen or permanent resident of Colombia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be held in May 2006) election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of the vote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket
Legislative Branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2006) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independents and other parties 91
Judicial Branch: four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political Parties: Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Democratic Pole or PDI [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA] note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties, most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
Head of State: President Alvaro URIBE Velez
Head of Government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez
Cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest parties that supported President URIBE’s reelection - the PSUN, PC, and CR - and independents
Elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)
Election Results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president; percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%, Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%
Constitution: 5-Jul-91
Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
International Organization Participation: BCIE, CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador Andres PASTRANA chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Bogota
Location: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
Time Difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: originally referred to as "Bacata," meaning "enclosure outside of the farm fields," by the indigenous Muisca

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

U.S. Embassy Bogota Calle 24 Bis No. 48-50 Bogotá, D.C. Colombia. Mailing address: Carrera 45 No. 24B-27 Bogotá, D.C. Colombia. Telephone: (571) 275-2000 Emergency after-hours telephone: (571) 275-2701 Facsimile: (571) 275-4501. U.S. Consular Agency Barranquilla Calle 77B, No. 57-141, Piso 5, Centro Empresarial Las Americas, Barranquilla, Atlantico Telephone: (575) 353-2001 Facsimile: (575) 353-5216 For hours and services, please visit the U.S. Embassy Bogota website.

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: National Army (Ejercito Nacional), Republic of Colombia Navy (Armada Republica de Colombia, ARC, includes Naval Aviation, Naval Infantry (Infanteria de Marina, IM), and Coast Guard), Colombian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC)
Service Age and Obligation: 18-24 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation is 18 months

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Flag History: Yellow symbolizes sovereignty and justice, blue for nobility, loyalty and vigilance, and red for valor, honor, generosity and victory acheived at the cost of bloodshed. According to another interpretation the yellow stands for universal liberty, the blue is for equality of all races and social classes before God and the law and red for fraternity.
Date of Adoption: 26 November 1861

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics: "¡Oh Gloria inmarcesible!" ("Oh Unfading Glory!") Coro: Oh gloria inmarcesible ! Oh Júbilo inmortal ! En surcos de dolores El bien germina ya ! I Cesó la horrible noche ! la libertad sublime derrama las auroras de su invencible luz. La humanidad entera, que entre cadenas gime, comprende las palabras del que murió en la cruz. II Independencia grita el mundo americano; se baña en sangre de héroes la tierra de Colón. Pero este gran principio: el Rey no es soberano, resuena, y los que sufren bendicen su pasión. III Del Orinoco el cauce se colma de despojos; de sangre y llanto un río se mira allí correr. En Bárbula no saben las almas ni los ojos, si admiración o espanto sentir o padecer. IV A orillas del caribe hambriento un pueblo lucha, Horrores prefiriendo a pérfida salud. Oh, sí de Cartagena la abnegación es mucha, y escombros de la muerte desprecia su virtud. V De Boyacá en los campos el genio de la gloria con cada espiga un héroe invicto coronó. Soldados sin coraza ganaron la victoria; su varonil aliento de escudo les sirvió. VI Bolivar cruza el Ande que riega dos océanos; espadas cual centellas fulguran en junín. Centauros indomables descienden a los llanos, y empieza a presentirse de la epopeya el fin. VII La trompa victoriosa en Ayacucho truena; y en cada triunfo crece su formidable son. En su expansivo empuje la libertad se estrena, del cielo americano formando un pabellón. VIII La virgen sus cabellos arranca en agonía y de su amor viuda los cuelga del ciprés. Lamenta su esperanza que cubre loza fría, pero glorioso orgullo circunda su alba tez. IX La patria así se forma termópilas brotando; constelación de cíclopes su noche iluminó. La flor estremecida, mortal el viento hallando, debajo los laureles seguridad buscó. X Mas no es completa gloria vencer en la batalla, que el brazo que combate lo anima la verdad. La independencia sola al gran clamor no acalla; si el sol alumbra a todos, justicia es libertad. XI Del hombre los derechos Nariño predicando, el alma de la lucha profético enseñó. Ricaurte en San Mateo en átomos volando, deber antes que vida con llamas escribió.
Anthem Lyrics (English): CHORUS: Oh unfading glory! Oh immortal joy! In burrows of pain Good germinates now Good germinates now Oh unfading glory! Oh immortal joy! In burrows of pain Good germinates now I The horrible night has ended! the sublime liberty pours the dawns of its invincible light. The whole humanity, crying in its chain, understands the words of the One that died in the Cross. 2. "Independence" cries The American world; In heroes' blood is bathing The Land of Columbus. But this great principle: "The King is not sovereign", Resounds, and those who suffer Praise the passion in it.
Anthem History: The words to Colombia's anthem were written by a four-time president of the nation. President Rafael Núñez and the music was composed by Oreste Sindici. The anthem was first performed on November 11 1887 and was officially adopted on July 4, 1946. On TV broadcasts and all events, the chorus, first verse and chorus once again are sung

Other National Symbols

National Flower
Christmas orchid (Cattleya trianae)
They are widely known for their large, showy flowers, and were used extensively in hybridization for the cut-flower trade until quite recently. This genus and the numerous hybrids come close, through their beauty, to the idealized picture we have of the orchids. The flowers of the hybrids can vary in size from 5 cm to 15 cm or more. They occur in all colors except true blue and black. The typical flower has three rather narrow petals : two are fringed, and the third is the conspicuous lip with a fringed margin and various markings and specks. At the base, the fringed margins are folded into a tube. Each flower stalk originates from a pseudobulb. The number of flowers varies; it can be just one or two, or sometimes up to ten.
National Tree
Quindio Wax Palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense)

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