Colombian Constitution of 1991

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The Constitution of Colombia was drafted by a National Constituent Assembly in 1991, which replaced the old Constitution which dated from 1886 (reformed in 1910, 1936, 1953, 1958, 1968, 1986).

The new Constitution was created during a period of political change under the Presidency of Cesar Gaviria Trujillo (1990-1994), with the purposes of expanding freedom and acknowledging the rights of minorities, among others.

It also reformed the judiciary system, creating the General Attorney Office and the Constitutional Court. Other institution created or reformed included: the Vicepresidency, the Supreme Court, the National Committee of Television,the Republic's bank board and the form to elect mayors and governors.

The Constitution originally forbade the extradition of nationals, and so called "pork-barrels" (auxilios parlamentarios). Both elements were reintroduced in later reforms.

Some critics say that it was this rapid change that caused a fiscal imbalance between revenues and spending during the 90s.

The new Constitution defined the Nation as a Unitary Republic, decentralized, with regional autonomy, and with a considerable number of rights.

During Alvaro Uribe's period as President, the Constitution was amended, in order to allow for the possibility of presidential re-election. He won the 2006 election.