Colombia - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Colombia, it was the country is named after explorer Christopher COLUMBUS. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, 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, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
National symbols
Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red.
The flag
The National flag of Colombia has three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the short-lived South American republic that broke up in 1830; various interpretations of the colors exist and include: yellow for the gold in Colombia's land, blue for the seas on its shores, and red for the blood spilled in attaining freedom; alternatively, the colors have been described as representing more elemental concepts such as sovereignty and justice (yellow), loyalty and vigilance (blue), and valor and generosity (red); or simply the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
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note: similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
The National Anthem
| Title | "Himno Nacional de la Republica de Colombia" (National Anthem of the Republic of Colombia) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Rafael NUNEZ/Oreste SINDICI |
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note: adopted 1920; the anthem was created from an inspirational poem written by President Rafael NUNEZ
More about the government of Colombia
| Date of Independence | 20 July 1810 (from Spain) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day, 20 July (1810) |
| Legal system | civil law system influenced by the Spanish and French civil codes |
| International law organization participation | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest promulgated 4 July 1991 |
| Amendments | 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; amended many times, last in 2020 |
| 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 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 |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single 4-year term; election last held on 29 May 2022 with a runoff held on 19 June 2022 (next to be held on 31 May 2026); note - political reform in 2015 eliminated presidential reelection |
| Election results | 2022: Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (PHxC) 40.3%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suárez (LIGA) 28.2%, Federico GUTIÉRREZ Zuluaga (Team for Colombia / CREEMOS) 23.9%, other 7.6%; percent of vote in second round - Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego 50.4%, Rodolfo HERNÁNDEZ Suarez 47.3%, blank 2.3% 2018: Iván DUQUE Márquez elected president in second round; percent of vote - Iván DUQUE Márquez (CD) 54%, Gustavo Francisco PETRO Urrego (Humane Colombia) 41.8%, other/blank/invalid 4.2% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of: Senate or Senado (108 seats; 100 members elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party, formerly the People's Alternative Revolutionary Force (FARC), for 2 legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (188 seats; 162 members elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote, 2 members elected in a special nationwide constituency for Afro-Colombians, 1 member elected by Colombians residing abroad, 1 member elected in a special nationwide constituency for the indigenous communities, 5 members of the Commons political party for two legislative terms only: 2018-2022 and 2022-2026 as per the 2016 peace accord, 16 seats for rural conflict victims for two legislative terms only: 2022-2026 and 2026-2030, and 1 seat reserved for the runner-up vice presidential candidate in the recent election; all members serve 4-year terms) |
| Elections | Senate - last held on 13 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2026) Chamber of Representatives - last held on 13 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2026) |
| Election results | Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - PHxC 16.9%, PC 13.1%, PL 12.4%, Green Alliance and Center Hope Coalition 11.5%, CD 11.4%, CR 9.4%, U Party 8.8%, MIRA–Colombia Free and Just Coalition 3.4%, other 13.1%; seats by party/coalition - PHxC- 20, PC 15, PL 14, Green Alliance and Center Hope Coalition 13, CD 13, CR 11, U Party 10, MIRA–Colombia Free and Just Coalition 4; composition - men 73, women 33, percentage women 31.1% Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition- PHxC 17.6%, PL 14%, PC 12.4%, CD 10.2% U Party 8.6%, CR 7.9%, Green Alliance 6.5%, others 22.4%; seats by party/coalition - PL 32, PHxC 27, CP 25, CD 16, CR 16, U Party 15, Green Alliance and Center Hope Coalition 11, others 24; composition - men 133, women 54, percentage women 28.9%; total Congress percentage women 29.7% |
| 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 and term of office | 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Daniel GARCÍA-PEÑA JARAMILLO (since 18 September 2024) |
| Chancery | 1724 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 387-8338 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 232-8643 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.colombiaemb.org/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark (NJ), Orlando, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Francisco L. PALMIERI (since 1 June 2022) |
| Embassy | Carrera 45, No. 24B-27, Bogota |
| Mailing address | 3030 Bogota Place, Washington DC 20521-3030 |
| Telephone | [57] (1) 275-2000 |
| FAX | [57] (1) 275-4600 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://co.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 9 (6 cultural, 2 natural, 1 mixed) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Chiribiquete National Park (m); Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (c); Historic Center of Santa Cruz de Mompox (c); Los Katíos National Park (n); Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary (n); Tierradentro National Archeological Park (c); San Agustín Archaeological Park (c); Colonial Cartagena (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Colombia
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Colombia
Want to know more about Colombia? Check all different factbooks for Colombia below.
