Country Profile:

Upcoming Elections

  • Legislative
    March 14, 2010
  • Presidential
    First Round
    May 30, 2010
Colombia
  • Colombia
  • Republic of Colombia
  • Region: Americas

Description of government structure:

  • Chief of State: President Alvaro URIBE Velez *
  • Head of Government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez
  • Assembly: Colombia has a bicameral Congress (Congreso) consisting of the Senate (Senado) with 102 seats and the House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes) with 166 seats.

* The electoral system is two-round.

Description of electoral system:

  • The President is elected by absolute majority vote to serve a 4-year term.
  • In the Senate (Senado) 102 members are elected by proportional representation to serve 4-year terms*. In the House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes) 166 members are elected by proportional representation to serve 4-year terms.**

* Parties may present multiple lists, and they may choose to have lists be open or closed. There is one, nationwide district with a threshold of 2 percent. There is a separate election by indigenous groups for 2 of the 102 seats.

** There are 33 multi-member districts corresponding to the country's departments, and no district may return fewer than 2 members. Parties may present multiple lists in any given district. Parties may choose to present open or closed lists.

Population:

  • Population: 43,677,372 (July 2009 est.)

Future elections

  • Presidential
    First Round - May 30, 2010
  • Legislative - March 14, 2010

Past elections

Last Updated on 02/04/2010