Independence: 20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution: 5 July 1991
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 and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER
Pizano (since 7 August 1994) elected for a four-year term by popular
vote; election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998)
results - no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote; a
run-off election to select a president from the two leading
candidates was held 19 June 1994; results - Ernesto SAMPER Pizano
(Liberal Party) 50.4%, Andres PASTRANA Arango (Conservative Party)
48.6%, blank votes 1%; Humberto de la CALLE Lombana elected vice
president for a four-year term by popular vote in a new procedure
that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by
newly elected presidents
cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso)
Senate (Senado): elections last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held
NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (102
total) Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF)
31, other 12
House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes): elections last
held 13 March 1994 (next to be held NA March 1998); seats - (161
total) Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC, MSN, and NDF)
53, AD/M-19 2, other 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justical), highest court of criminal law, judges are selected from
the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice for eight-year terms;
Council of State, highest court of administrative law, judges are
selected from the nominees of the Higher Council of Justice 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
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PL), Luis Fernando
JARAMILLO; Conservative Party (PC), Jaime ARIAS; New Democratic
Force (NDF), Andres PASTRANA Arango; Democratic Alliance M-19
(AD/M-19) is a coalition of small leftist parties and dissident
liberals and conservatives; Patriotic Union (UP) is a legal
political party formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) and Colombian Communist Party (PCC), Aida ABELLA; National
Salvation Movement (MSN) Alvaro GOMEZ Hurtado
Other political or pressure groups: three insurgent groups are
active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC);
National Liberation Army (ELN); and dissidents of the recently
demobilized People's Liberation Army (EPL/D)