Congress of Colombia is a two divisional national legislature congress. It comprises of 166 seats in Chamber of Representatives and 102 seats in Senate, members to which are elected for four years through public votes. The Colombian Congress meets twice annually in two ordinary sessions. The first session lasts from July to December while the other from March to June, though the executive body can call an extraordinary session at any time during the year except after June 20th.
Both the divisions of the
Congress of Colombia gather at the neoclassical Capitolio Nacional building in the Central Bogota. Both the houses have their own election procedure and powers which make them stand apart from each other.
Powers of the Senate and Chambers of the Colombian Congress
Senate:
- To approve or deny the resignations of both the President and Vice President
- To elect the Constitutional Court Justices.
- To approve or reject promotion of all the military ranks at all levels.
- To elect the Attorney general of Colombia
- To permit movement of foreign troops through Colombian territory.
- To empower the Government to declare a war on any other nation.
Chamber:
- To scrutinize the audit by Auditor General of budget and treasury.
- To choose the People's Defender of Colombia.
- To hear the complaints of the Attorney General or the private citizens against the President, Supreme Court Justices, State Council Magistrates, Attorney General, Constitutional Court Justices and Judicature Superior Council Magistrates.
- To charge the above mentioned officials for impeachment of any law.
