Grouping Ordinance
Introduction
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a sovereign country located in the northwestern region of South America, which is a unitary, social and democratic state of law whose form of government is presidential. It is a republic politically organized into decentralized departments and the capital district of Bogotá, seat of the National Government.
According to the 1991 Constitution, Colombia is made up of 32 departments and a capital district. The departmental governments are divided into three powers: The executive branch, exercised by the departmental governor, elected every four years. Each department has its own departmental assembly, a public corporation of regional popular election that enjoys administrative autonomy and its own budget. The departmental assemblies are made up of no less than 11 nor more than 50 deputies, popularly elected for a period of 4 years. The departmental assemblies issue mandatory ordinances in their territorial jurisdiction or department.
First administrative level
Departments
The departments are the first level territorial units in Colombia. The country is divided administratively and politically into 32 departments, which are governed from their respective capital cities. The departments form geographical, cultural and economic regions. In accordance with Article 298 of the Political Constitution of Colombia of 1991, it is a territorial entity that enjoys autonomy for the administration of sectional affairs and the planning and promotion of economic and social development within its territory in the terms established by the Constitution and the laws.[1].
Previously there were the figures of police station and mayor,[2] which made up the so-called national territories "National Territory (Colombia)"). Their administrative regime was very different from the departments, this being relegated to the provisions of the central government; among which were: Guainía, Vaupés, Vichada, among others. However, these were elevated to the category of department through the national constitution of 1991.[2].
Capital District
Bogotá, together with the thirty-two departments, form the Republic of Colombia. It is the capital "Capital (political)") of Colombia and the department of Cundinamarca. It is administered as a capital district, and enjoys autonomy to manage its interests within the limits of the Constitution and the law. Unlike the other districts of Colombia, Bogotá is a first-order territorial entity, with the administrative powers that the law confers on the departments. It is made up of 20 towns and is the political, economic, administrative, industrial, artistic, cultural, sports and tourist epicenter of the country.