GOVERNMENT. Colombia has practically had a republican form of government since 1819. The present Colombian Constitution (the sev enth since 1821) dates from 1886, and. in con trast with the preceding instruments, which rec ognized the sovereignty of the constituent States, it provides for a very strong centralization of power.
Ad»unistration.—The President. according to the Constitution, is elected indirectly for a period of six years, and is assisted by six min isters, who are theoretically responsible to the Senate. There is a State Council of six mem bers. The legislative power is vested in Con consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. In the former each of the nine departments is represented by three Sen ators, elected for a period of six years: while in the latter (sixty-six members) the depart ments are represented at the rate of one mem ber (elected for four years) for every 50,000 inhabitants. Both Senators and members of the House of Representatives are elected indirectly by voters restricted by an educational and prop erty qualifieat ion. The departments, except Panama, which is ruled directly by the National Government. are administered by governors ap pointed by the President and removable at his pleasure. The departments have councils elected. by the people at the rate of one member for every 2.5,000 inhabitants, and are divided into provinces presided over by prefects ap pointed by the Governor. For the administra tion of justice, there are a Supreme Court of seven judges. appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate, district supreme courts, and provincial courts. Military service is obligatory in time of war, while in time of peace the army is recruited by lot, but substi tutes are admitted. The size of the army in
time of peace is regulated by Congress, and was fixed at 1000 in 1S95.
Finance.—The finances of the Republic have always been in a deplorable condition. The pub lic debt has constantly increased. The consoli dated and floating internal obligations amounted in 1899 to 11,359,071 pesos. The external debt, held chiefly in Great Britain, amounted in 1896, with arrears, to f3,514,442 ($17,050,188). By an arrangement with the bondholders in 1897, the Government was able to cut the external debt down to f2,700,000 ($13,122,000), and new bonds were issued to that amount at 1V, per cent. interest, the rate to be gradually increased to 3 per cent. This programme was satisfactorily carried out until the civil troubles of 1899. By the middle of 1901 the arrears of interest amounted to about $500,000. The revenue is derived chiefly from the import and export duties, and from monopolies (salt, liquors, ci gars, and meat). The budget is estimated for two years, and fluctuates as a rule from 30,000, 000 to 40,000,000 paper pesos. The revenue for 1901-02 was estimated at about 29,000,000 paper pesos, as against expenditures of over 40,000,000. The departments are independent in their internal financial affairs, and derive their revenues chief ]y from monopolies. The currency of the coun try consists of depreciated paper pesos, of which there are about 40.000,000 in circulation. In 1894 a provision was made for their redemption by the free coinage of gold, but the scheme proved unsuccessful and gold is at a high premium.