Introduction of Columbia and its Government System

Colombia is located in Latin America; it was one of the most peaceful countries of the region. It was greatly stable and stood out because of its competitive bipartisan democracy. It was found that among South American countries Colombia was the only country without any military intervention in the Great Depression of 1930. This declaration was done through critical test for political stability. Argentina was having a stable democracy as well which was then interrupted by an army coup. In Brazil, was first modern dictatorship was established by Getulio Vargas while fair elections took place in Colombia. The dominating ruling party lost the election but gave over the power to winning part which was opposition, without creating any issue. Somehow, there was lack of peace in Colombia but still that era is marked as peaceful political milestone in history of Colombia. 19th period in Colombian history is the era of chaos, even by the standards of Hispanic Americans. This chaotic era includes 9 civil wars, several local rebellions and mutinies, destruction of material which ruined several years of economic output, almost 250,000 people died because of political violence.

Colombian land is rich in naturally existing resources and the culture reflects the native Spanish, African and Indian origination of its people. But the land is greatly destructed with several decade long brutal conflicts which involved illegal armed groups, carters of drugs and utter violation of basic rights of human beings. From 2002, the Colombia did some distinctive works towards improvement of its security. In South America, Colombia is known as 4th largest country and it is among the most popular nations. Colombia is rich as it has its own oil supply, and is main producer of platinum, gold, silver, emeralds and coal. Colombian society is a stratified society, the Spanish descend who are rich enjoyed all the liabilities as being traditional rich families more than mixed race people, which provided a constituency for the left wing insurgents [1].

Timeline of Columbia

1525: Beginning of efforts of Spain to conquest Colombia.

1819: at Boyacá, Spanish were defeated by Simon Bolivar. The Republic of Gran Colombia was formed, which is now comprised of Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.

 1829-30: Venezuela and Ecuador separated when Gran Colombia was dissolved, which resulted in two separate nations which are now known as Nueva Granada and comprises of Colombia and Panama.

 1848-90: Liberal and Conservative parties came to surface in these years who were rivals. The rival conflicts of both the parties dominated Colombian politics in this time.

 1899-1902: Approximately, 120,000 people died in “The War of the Thousand Days”, which was the civil war of Liberal and Conservative parties. Panama became an independent state.

 1948-57: “La Violencia”, the Civil war between Liberals and Conservatives caused death of 250,000- 300,000 people. The war ended upon National Front Coalition formation.

 1964-71: M-19, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Maoist People’s Liberation Army (EPL) and Left National Liberation Army (ELN) emerged together as left wing Guerilla groups.

 1998-99: Initiation of pace negotiations between government and FARC. In south east of Colombia, safe haven was granted in order to help peace talks.

 2002: FARC hijacked an aircraft which broke down the peace talks and up rise of violence takes place. An independent candidate Alvaro Uribe won the Presidential election and promised to rain down hell on rebels.

 2016: 52 years conflict comes to an end when government and FARC sign a paper to maintain peace. A new agreement comes to surface when voters reject the deal present in national referendum.

Government System of Colombia

The Colombian government is republic and the power is distributed among executives, judicial and legislatives branches. President is the part of executive branch, Supreme Court is the part of judicial branch and Congress is the part of Legislative branch. Colombian citizens cast votes to elect their government and an office is employed for inspector o look after the public affairs in private sector. Such working development in country protects public rights, and human rights as stated in Constitution of 1991. The constitution and protection of everyone’s rights provide a framework for state’s welfare and form a united republican state.

Government and public officers work together with each other under the name “Control institutions” to bring out better results for state of Colombia. For example; Public general inspector works in close collaboration with Government controller general, who is in charge of governmental fiscal responsibility. An Independent Ombudsman in Colombia is responsible to deal with maladministration complaints and functions [2].

Executive Branch of Colombia

The President of Republic has power to deal with executive branch of Colombia. The head of executive is supported by Vice President, the Council of Ministers and Administrative Departments of Colombia. All the policies of Colombia are created by government of Colombia; the governors of different Departments of Colombia are elected through votes. This voting system represents President and executive branch of Government of Columbia. In order to maximize the representation, mayors are subordinated to governors. Governors are the maximum representative of executive branch at municipal level. Regional elections allow the selection of mayors and governors of department via votes [3].

Legislative of Columbia and its Government System

The legislative branch of Colombia has responsibility or making laws in the country. People have power to elect the representatives in order to support their political and general thoughts in government.

Judiciary of Columbia and its Government System

The judiciary of Colombia is a branch of Colombia which is also known as Rama Judicial de Colombia. This branch coins the laws for the state of Colombia in order to ensure that equal justice is being served in all the states, and to provide a mechanism upon which decisions will be taken and justice will be served. The judiciary system has hierarchy system which means that courts of Colombia comprises of judges, magistrates and adjudicators.

Except for the special indigenous jurisdictions there is only one jurisdiction in centralized state such as Colombia. This jurisdiction is further divided into ordinary, penal, administrative, constitutional, disciplinary and special jurisdiction (military, peace and indigenous matters) on the basis of functions these bodies perform [4].

Local Government Structure of Columbia

According to Constitution of 1991, the local government of Colombia has two tier systems. The higher level of this local government comprises of total 32 departments and a Capital district, Bogotá which has its own position and provide powers to government just as other departments. The second level of tier is composed of 1101 municipalities which include five special districts because of their significant cultural, historical, commercial, environmental, political and commercial characteristics along with important constituents which provide certain privileges with respect to new sovereignty presented in 2013. Constitution of 1991 provides special position for certain regions; 817 native regions, homes for 1.4 million residents along with 6 modern areas which are legislated region jurisdictions.

Over the past three decade, Colombia has gone through rapid changes which are connected to decentralization reforms. In 1986, the process of decentralization began, which was strengthen by the Constitution of 1991. The LOOT law of 2011 clarified the rules of decentralization, competency distribution across the levels of government of Colombia remain complex. The majority of competencies are distributed among binary system of decentralization and designated responsibilities. The competencies are distributed among all the levels of government of Colombia i.e. health, education, housing, water and sewage. All the departments are responsible for sale and promotion of products of their concerned department in order to develop social and economic values of the region. They practice functions of administration of coordination and intermediation with the municipalities. The municipalities are responsible for give services like electricity, transport, cadaster, local planning system and municipal police. These sectors are certified and non-certified for certain capacities such as health, water, education and sanitation. [5]

Changing and Enduring Political Patterns

Political history of Colombia is divided into two blocks of time. i.e. 1860 and 1930. The 1860 is known as Radical Olympus while 1930 is known as Conservative Hegemony; both the eras were dominated by two political parties, each with different policies. Liberals were in power during Olympus Radical which was from 1860-80s. In order to remove Colombia’s heavy colonial patrimony frantic institutional improvements were designed by the faction known as “Radical” [6].

In another outlook which was not based upon party or differences of policies but on the basis of political conflict. The period 1850 to 1950 can be divided into two sections of time, the first block comprises of time prior 1905 which is remembered as interparty warfare and the second part is known as peaceful sharing of power. It implies the division of the Conservative Hegemony which is viewed as the same period. After 1905, emergences of political orders were due to efforts of political parties. The same political parties were responsible for the chaos created in political history and destruction of material prior to that date.

Till the beginning of 20th century both the political parties i.e. Liberal party and Conservative party were electorate as well as part military organizations with the fluctuations of proportion over time. The superiority of military is the main reason to access and have charge over government. In order to come out of chaos in Colombia replacement of military fronts was required which was achieved with electoral conditions which is a common practice of interplay relations, was caused by electoral system [7].

Proportional Representation of Colombian Transition

Two main reforms were required to change majoritarian to equal electoral institutions in Colombia, they separation was about a quarter century apart. Due to incomplete voting the majoritarian rule was replaced in 1905. Which clarified that the winning party will get 2/3 seats while the runner ups will be allocated with 1/3 seats, and this has nothing to do with the percentages of the votes. In 1929, the Quotient rule, precisely known as a standard version of PR replaced the incomplete voting. Ever since, elections in Colombia relay upon proportional representation.

The extended, albeit intermittent and negotiation process that took place between Liberal and Conservative parties caused incomplete votes and quotient rule. The rectifications were introduced when Conservative party was in government and during the remaining half of the Conservative Hegemony. The electoral reform is unexplainable through incomplete voting of 1905 and replacements of incomplete voting by PR in 1929 most variations are pioneered in account of Stein Rokkan’s Scandinavian cases. In Rokkan’s perspective, the rectification of majoritarian rule when Conservative party was in charge shows that social reformation and modernization and the rise of Left parties the minority force would be Conservatives and it is better if the Conservatives are represented as it in political arena in this way their future position will be present in certain proportion rather than majority representations rule [8].

In objection with Rokkan’s perspective of withdrawal of Conservative party, both reforms were introduced in politics right when were expected by Conservative party. Intentionally or unintentionally, with thought that their position and majority rule will remain as it is without any challenge. Moreover, both Colombian parties thought that under majoritarian rule Conservative share of legislative seats would be greater than any other voted institutions; it also includes incomplete vote and quotient rule.

Thereby, electoral rectification has to decline rather than incline the future power of institutions that are affiliated to government. Another contrast with Rokkan’s illustration over Scandinavian process is that the improvement in elections was natural, unplanned and one sided decision of the party in charge. Conservation government made a concession with Liberal party by incomplete vote and quotient rule of Colombia. This recommended electoral changes for several years and bought benefit to in context of legislative seats [9].

Conclusion of Columbia and its Government System

It is concluded that findings of Colombian changed from majoritarian rule to representation in certain proportions in association with present literature or the electoral history of Colombia. It is also assessed that share of power in first part of 20th century and flare up of violence in other half of general abstract lessons were provided, regarding to origination of  rule through voting and exploration of their use to other cases of Latin America.

References of Columbia and its Government System