The
Senate of Colombia is one of the two branches of the Colombian Congress. It comprises of 102 members out of which 2 senators are the representatives of the indigenous community while the rest are elected by direct voting. The President of the Senate is the President of the Colombian Congress which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The term of office of all the Senators is four years. Moreover, a person who has attained the age of 30 years or above can only be nominated for the election. Though the sessions of the Colombian Senate is organized only twice a year, extraordinary, special or permanent sessions can be called in except in the period after 20th June.
Legislative, Supervisory and Constitutional Role of the Senate
The Legislative Powers of the Colombian Senate are as follows:
- It has the power to initiate the legislation
- It has the power to make amendments in any of the resolutions or drafts passed in the legislature.
- Draft laws covering international relations will be presented first in the Senate.
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The Supervisory powers of the Colombian Senate are listed below:
- It can cite ministers and senior civil servants to present reports and explanations.
- It can request information in writing from the Government
- It can remove the ministers or senior civil servants on failure of presentation of information.
The constitutional powers of the Colombian Senate comprises of:
- It has the right to accept or deny resignations from President and Vice President.
- It has the right to hear the complaints brought in by the Chamber of Deputies against the President, Justices of the Constitutional Courts, members of the Upper Council of Magistrates, judges of the Supreme Court, Council of State and the General Fiscal of the Nation.
- It has the power to empower the President to declare war against any foreign nation.
- It has the power to allow any foreign troop to move across its territory.
Other Powers of the
Senate of Colombia are as follows:
- To appoint Magistrates in the Constitutional Court
- To appoint General Prosecutor of the nation.
