Knowra Colombian Constitution of 1991 Colombian Constitution of 1991 Colombia’s supreme law, adopted in 1991 to replace the 1886 Constitution. It established a social state of law and broadened rights, political participation, and regional autonomy.
National Constituent Assembly of Colombia : The elected body that drafted and adopted Colombia’s 1991 Constitution. It was the constitution’s direct author, bringing political parties, movements, and former guerrillas into one assembly.
Constitutional Court of Colombia : Colombia’s high court charged with reviewing the constitutionality of laws and protecting constitutional rights. It made constitutional review more accessible and gave the new rights framework an institutional guardian.
Indigenous peoples in Colombia : The Indigenous communities and peoples inhabiting Colombia, with distinct languages, territories, and systems of authority. The charter recognized Indigenous territorial and cultural rights and protected special Indigenous jurisdictions.
Constitution of Colombia of 1886 : The Colombian constitution that governed from 1886 until it was replaced in 1991. Its centralized, formally unitary order provides the clearest comparison with the 1991 charter’s decentralization and pluralism.
Palace of Justice siege : A 1985 armed seizure of Colombia’s Palace of Justice by M-19, followed by a military retaking and deadly fire. The violence intensified demands for political reform and helped shape the climate preceding constitutional change.
tutela action : A Colombian legal action allowing individuals to seek prompt judicial protection of fundamental rights. The tutela turned constitutional rights into a practical, rapidly enforceable remedy.
Afro-Colombians : Colombians of African descent, including communities with distinct cultural and historical ties to the country. Constitutional recognition of ethnic diversity enabled collective land rights for some Afro-Colombian communities.
Federalism in Colombia : The organization of Colombia as a federation, with constitutionally divided powers between national and regional governments. The 1991 Constitution expanded territorial autonomy without restoring the federal system Colombia had abandoned in 1886.
M-19 : A Colombian guerrilla movement that demobilized in 1990 and became a political party. Its participation in the constituent process showed how former armed opponents could enter constitutional politics.
Constitutional amendment in Colombia : The procedures through which Colombia formally changes its Constitution. The 1991 text sets out how its rules can be amended, including routes involving Congress and popular votes.
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