Colombia - Political and electoral system
Political and administrative structure
A social welfare state, organized as a unitary and decentralized republic (Art.1, Constitution of Colombia). Politically and administratively, the country is divided into departments, districts, municipalities and indigenous territories. Municipalities comprise the second tier of the its administrative structure; grouped together, they form departments. The country is comprised of approximately 1,120 municipalities, including 10 districts classified as such. See Constitution of the Republic of Colombia, 1991 (includes amendments enacted in 2005). See also Law 136, enacted in 1994, on the municipal system. http://www.banrep.gov.co/regimen/resoluciones/cp91.pdf
National parliament
El Congreso es Bicameral, integrada por la Cámara de los Representantes (cámara baja) y el Senado. La Cámara de los representantes está integrada por 172 legisladores, elegidos en el orden nacional por circunscripción electoral territorial, especial y una circunscripción internacional. El Senado de la República está compuesto por 108 senadores, dentro de los cuales 100 son elegidos en circunscripción nacional, 2 pertenecen a la circunscripción especial indígena, 5 al partido de la Fuerza Alternativa Revolucionaria del Común (FARC) y uno al ex candidato presidencial con la segunda votación más alta.
Municipal government
Each municipality or district is headed by a mayor, who exercises political authority, directs the local government and serves as the territory's legal representative (Art. 84.- Nature of the Post). Each municipality includes an administrative body entitled "municipal council", comprised of no fewer than seven (7) and no more than twenty-one (21) members.
Duration of terms
Council members are elected by popular vote for a term of three (3) years.
Representation system
Simple majority.
Type of list
Open list, concurrently with councilpersons by preferential vote.
Electoral constituency
Proportional, using an allocation method. Mayors and councilpersons are elected by the highest number of preferential votes.
Quota and parity laws
Law 1475 of 2011 establishes the obligation that candidate lists of collegiate bodies include at least 30% women.
Legal instruments applicable to municipalities
Constitution of the Republic of Colombia, 1991 (includes amendments enacted in 2005) and Law 136, enacted in 1994, on the municipal system.
Electoral Justice
The Colombian electoral system is comprised of two levels. One - the National Electoral Council - is the country's highest electoral authority. It is responsible for regulating and enforcing constitutional and legal provisions dealing with elections and democratic participation. It is also charged with "preserving the social welfare state by ensuring that citizens possess the means to exercise their electoral rights; and strengthening democratic participation through the application and enactment of appropriate regulatory mechanisms." See http://www.cne.gov.co. The second level consists of the National Civil State Registry, which is responsible for organizing and processing vote tallies and election results. http://www.registraduria.gov.co/Informacion/mivision.htm