Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia 1991, as amended to 2023
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    The essential goals of the State are to serve the community, promote the general prosperity, and guarantee the effectiveness of the principles, rights, and duties stipulated by the Constitution; to facilitate participation by everyone in the decisions that affect them and in the economic, political, administrative, and cultural life of the Nation;
    … (Art. 2)
  • Spanish
    Son fines esenciales del Estado: servir a la comunidad, promover la prosperidad general y garantizar la efectividad de los principios, derechos y deberes consagrados en la Constitución; facilitar la participación de todos en las decisiones que los afectan y en la vida económica, política, administrativa y cultural de la Nación;
    … (Art. 2)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    Sovereignty resides exclusively in the people from whom public power emanates. The people exercise it in direct form or by means of their representatives according to the terms established by the Constitution. (Art. 3)
  • Spanish
    La soberanía reside exclusivamente en el pueblo, del cual emana el poder público. El pueblo la ejerce en forma directa o por medio de sus representantes, en los términos que la Constitución establece. (Art.3 )
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    The right of free association for the promotion of specific [distintas] activities that persons pursue in society is guaranteed. (Art. 38)
  • Spanish
    Se garantiza el derecho de libre asociación para el desarrollo de las distintas actividades que las personas realizan en sociedad. (Art. 38)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    Any citizen has the right to participate in the establishment, exercise, and control of political power. To make this right effective the citizen may:
    1. Elect and be elected.
    2. Participate in elections, plebiscites, referendums, popular consultations, and other forms of democratic participation.
    3. Constitute parties, political movements and groups without any limitation; freely take part in them and disseminate their ideas and programs.
    4. Revoke the mandate of those elected in the cases and in the form established by the Constitution and the law.
    ... (Art. 40)
  • Spanish
    Todo ciudadano tiene derecho a participar en la conformación, ejercicio y control del poder político. Para hacer efectivo este derecho puede:
    1. Elegir y ser elegido.
    2. Tomar parte en elecciones, plebiscitos, referendos, consultas populares y otras formas de participación democrática.
    3. Constituir partidos, movimientos y agrupaciones políticas sin limitación alguna; formar parte de ellos libremente y difundir sus ideas y programas.
    4. Revocar el mandato de los elegidos en los casos y en la forma que establecen la Constitución y la ley.
    … (Art. 40)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    The quality of [being] in full exercise of citizenship [ciudadano en ejercicio] is a prior and indispensable condition for exercising the right of suffrage, to be elected and to perform public responsibilities [cargos] which have authority or jurisdiction attached [to them]. (Art. 99)
  • Spanish
    La calidad de ciudadano en ejercicio es condición previa e indispensable para ejercer el derecho de sufragio, para ser elegido y para desempeñar cargos públicos que lleven anexa autoridad o jurisdicción. (Art. 99)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    Mechanisms of participation of the people in exercise of their sovereignty are: the vote, the plebiscite, the referendum, the popular consultation, the open cabíldo [assembly], the legislative initiative, and the revocation of office. The law will regulate them.
    ... (Art. 103)
  • Spanish
    Son mecanismos de participación del pueblo en ejercicio de su soberanía: el voto, el plebiscito, el referendo, la consulta popular, el cabildo abierto, la iniciativa legislativa y la revocatoria del mandato. La ley los reglamentará.
    ... (Art. 103)
Political Rights and Association
  • English
    All citizens are guaranteed the right to establish, organize and develop political parties and movements, and the freedom to affiliate with them or to withdraw.
    … (Art. 107)
  • Spanish
    Se garantiza a todos los ciudadanos el derecho a fundar, organizar y desarrollar partidos y movimientos políticos, y la libertad de afiliarse a ellos o de retirarse.
    … (Art. 107)
1

Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia 1991, as amended to 2023 (English), available in HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated Library (2024). According to Art. 10: “Castilian is the official language of Colombia. …”

2

Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia 1991, as amended to 2023 (Spanish).

Links to all sites last visited 8 April 2024
3
Articles are located in Title II on Rights, Guarantees, and Duties and Chapter I on Fundamental Rights.