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

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August 1994);
note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ernesto SAMPER Pizano (since 7 August
1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998); vice
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new
procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents
by newly elected presidents
election results: Ernesto SAMPER Pizano elected president; percent of
vote-no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, therefore,
a run-off election to select a president from the two leading
candidates was held 19 June 1994; percent of vote-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; percent of vote-NA

Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the
Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de
Representantes (161 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate-last held 13 March 1994 (next to be held March
1998); House of Representatives-last held 13 March 1994 (next to be
held March 1998)
election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by
party-Liberal Party 59, conservatives (includes PC and NDF) 31, other
12; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by
party-Liberal Party 89, conservatives (includes PC 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