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Direct Democracy

Colombia

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Constitution foresees the plebiscite, the referendum, the popular consultation, the open town council meeting, the legislative initiative, and the recall of officials.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 40 (2), 103, 104, 155, 170, 307, 374-378: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD004

Optional referendums (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The President of the Republic, with the approval of the ministers and the prior approval of the Senate of the Republic, may consult the people on matters of great national importance. The people´s decision will be binding. Upon the initiative of the government or the citizens, the Congress, through a law which requires the approval of the majority of the members of both chambers, may call a referendum on a bill of constitutional reform which Congress would also include in the law. The referendum will be presented in such a manner that the voters may select from the agenda of the various items those on which they wish to vote favourably and those which they wish to defeat. The approval of constitutional reforms by means of a referendum requires the affirmative vote of over half the voters and the number of these must exceed one-fourth of the total number of citizens included in the electoral rolls. A group of citizens corresponding to one-tenth of the electoral rolls may solicit from the electoral organization the holding of a referendum for the repeal of a law. This law will be repealed if half plus one of the voters who participate in the referendum so decide as long as and whenever a quarter of the citizens making up the electoral rolls participate in the referendum. There can be no referendum with respect to laws approving international treaties or the budget or laws relating to fiscal or tax matters. Constitutional amendments approved by Congress can be submitted to a referendum when they involve the rights recognized in Chapter 1 of Title II and their guarantees, the procedures of popular participation, or Congress, if such referendum is requested within the six months subsequent to the promulgation of the legislative act, by five percent of the citizens who make up the electoral rolls. The amendment is defeated by a negative vote of the majority of the voters as long as at least one-fourth of those on the electoral rolls participate in the balloting.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 104, 170, 377, 378: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Legislative bills or those involving constitutional amendments may be introduced by a number of citizens equal to or greater than five percent of the existing electoral rolls on the relevant date or by 30 percent of the Councillors or deputies of the country.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 155: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”, art. 28: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD007

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	The recalls only comes against representatives of the departmental (Governors) and municipal (Mayors) levels.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 103: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”, art. 6: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD129

Question:	Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:	a. Always binding
Comments:
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 104, 170, 374, 377, 378: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”, art. 45, 46, 48: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD130

Question:	Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:	c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:	Legislative proposals, including presidential decrees, and any issue of national relevance.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 104, 170, 374, 377, 378: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”, art. 33, 35: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

DD131

Question:	Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Upon the fulfillment of the requirements and formalities prescribed by the general statute of the territorial organization and in the cases determined by the latter, the governors or mayors, as the case may be , will be entitled to hold popular consultations to decide issues falling under the jurisdiction of the irrespective department or municipality.
Source:	Constitution: “Constitución Política de Colombia”, art. 105: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/colombia-constitucion-politica-de-colombia-2016 (2016) Law 134 of 1994 on political participation: “Ley 134-1994 de participación ciudadana”, art. 6, 35, 48, 51, 53, 56, 64, 70, 72: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/americas/CO/leyes-electorales/colombia-ley-134-de-1994-participacion-ciudadana/ (1994)
Verified:	2024/12/13

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