Political Parties plays an important role in a democracy that it became one of the

avenues in which citizens exercise to participate in their political life. As to which parties

aggregate and represent the interest of their constituency. Some their role in molding the

image of democracy are parties propose policies which serve as a representation of their

member, help the government accountable by the contributing look the executive and

being a critique or present alternatives to the ruling proposal.

They campaign those policies which they think are beneficial and needed by the

majority. Truly, a representation of their values and principles as a party that adheres to

the rule of law in their country and pro-citizen visions and missions.

In a country like Columbia with the rights that are restricted on political parties and Right

to form political parties which are stated on the Title IV: Democratic Participation and

Political Parties, Chapter II: Parties and Political Movements, Article 107 of their

constitution which states that

“ All citizens are guaranteed the right to establish, organize, and promote parties and

political movements and the freedom to become affiliated with them or to withdraw from

them. In no case will citizens be allowed to belong simultaneously to more than one

political party or movement with illegal personality.The political parties and movements

organize themselves democratically. In order to make decisions or to select candidates,

they may hold popular or internal ballots that may or may not coincide with elections to

public bodies, in accordance with their bylaws. In case of popular ballot that rules

relating to campaign financing and advertising and access to the state media which

govern the ordinary election apply.

1.Peter Burnell, Building Better Democracies: Why Political Parties Matter (London: Westminster Foundation for
Democracy, 2004), 5.

2. Marcia W. Coward, Peter B. Heller, Anna I. Velle Torras, and Max Plank Institute. (Constituteproject.org., July 2018), 27

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Those who participate in the ballot of the party or political movement may not register for

another one in the same electoral process.

Social organization is also guaranteed the right to demonstrate and to participate in

political events. “

The Columbians constitution is clearly defining everyone’s right to assembly or right to

political parties but also with restrictions to those who would want to be affiliated to any

other parties.

On the Party System of Columbia, they mainly have two political parties, the Liberal and

the Conservative party.

The Liberal Party ( Partido Liberal—PL) continues to support religious toleration and a

positive response to the social and economic demands of the masses. The Liberals

theoretically support separation of church and state, In general practice, a strong church

is accepted. Federalism, while important in theory, has been abandoned in practice by

Liberal leaders. In general, Liberals have been more successful in elections than the

Conservatives, having won all but one post-National Front presidential elections, and

controlling a majority of seating both houses.

The policy of the Conservative Party (Partido Conservador Social—PCS) has been

characterized by close cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church, a lack of tolerance

for non–Roman Catholic religious beliefs, maintenance of class privileges, and highly

centralized government, with local authority strictly subservient to national rule. Before

universal suffrage, the Conservatives sought to allow only heads of families to vote.

3. https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Colombia-POLITICAL-PARTIES.html#ixzz5j4V18FVw

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The liberal party believes in the ideology of Social Liberalism which means seek to

improve society through change and reform. The concept of ''progress'' is key within

social liberalism, so much so that many social liberals refer to themselves as

''progressives''. Inequality is a condition that social liberals often seek to remedy: this

could be racial inequality, economic inequality, or it could take other forms.

Another ideology which liberal party believes is being the Centrist or the center is a

political outlook or specific position that involves acceptance or support of a balance of

a degree of social equality and a degree of the social hierarchy while opposing changes

which would result in a significant shift of society their strongly to the left or to the right.

Both of these parties are, in the history of Columbia are become so keen to have the

seat in the government. According to the study of Gerald Roland and Juan Gonzalo

Zapata “ Two parties maintained a balance between the 1960s and the 1970, with a

slight Liberal Majority. The Liberal party take its lead in the 1980s, achieving an average

representation of 55% in Congress, while the conservative averaged about 25% and the

remaining 20% went to other political forces.

4.https://study.com/academy/lesson/social-conservatism-vs-social-liberalism.html

5.https://www.quora.com/Politics-What-is-the-difference-between-Conservative-Liberal-Centrist-Leftist-Right-Wing-
Parties-in-the-modern-world

6. Colombia's Electoral and Party System : Proposal for Reform,( Gerald Roland and Juan Gonzalo Zapata, June 200 ), 6

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On the other hand, Conservative party ideologies are; conservatism, social conservative

Economic liberalization and Christian Democracy.

Conservatism as a political and social philosophy that promotes retaining

traditional social institutions in the idea of culture and civilization. They seek to

preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, opposing

modernization and seek to return to “the way things they were”. This has also a

similarities with the Social Conservatism that the belief in holding to historical

beliefs, often influenced by religion, on so-called social issues. This includes the belief

that marriage is only between one man and one woman, that life begins at conception

(and that abortion is tantamount to killing a human being), that gender is determined by

biology, and that religious organizations and businesses should be free to operate

without the government interfering (often referred to as religious liberty or religious

freedom).

Social conservatism is often based in religious traditions, but being religious is not a

prerequisite for being socially conservative.

Economic Liberalism refers to an economic philosophy that supports and promotes

laissez-faire economics and private property in the means of production. It is the

economic component of classical liberalism. The highest aim of economic liberalism is

efficiency. The supporters of economic liberalism believe that if everyone is left to their

own economic devices instead of being controlled by the state, the result would be a

harmonious and more equal society of ever-increasing prosperity.

7.https://www.quora.com/Politics-What-is-the-difference-between-Conservative-Liberal-Centrist-Leftist-Right-Wing-
Parties-in-the-modern-world

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8.https://definitions.uslegal.com/e/economic-liberalism/

Christian Democracy is a political ideology that has largely been shaped by the social

teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, which has given rise to political parties

representing the middle of the political spectrum, between liberalism and socialism.

Between Liberal and Conservative party of Colombia it is noticeable that Conservative

is more into preservation of what they were used to before, they even object every

changes that may interfere to the principal and ideology of the party. Although, the liberal

stands at the middle serving which is which is more beneficial and needed though they

are centrist per se they act only as mediator.

9.https://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/sociology-and-socialreform/sociology-general-terms-and-
concepts/christia

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 Columbian Party Number of Membership

Table1. Liberal Party

Government Office Numbers of Incumbent Official

Senate 14/108

House of Representative 35/172

Governors 6/32

Mayors 181/ 1,102

10. www.partidoliberal.org.com

Out of 108 seats in the senate liberal party has 14 senators seated, and on the House of

Representative out of 172 they have 35, while Governs has 6 out of 32, and on the

Mayors out of 1,102 they have 181 incumbent officials.

Table 2.Conservative Party

Government Office Numbers of Incumbent Official

Senate 14/108

House of Representative 21/172

Governors 1/32

Mayors 194/ 1,102

11. www.partidoconservador.com

Out of 108 seats in the senate liberal party has 14 senators seated, and on the House of

Representative out of 172 they have 21, while Governs has 1 out of 32, and on the

Mayors out of 1,102 they have 194incumbent officials.

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Between Conservative and Liberal Party, Liberal Party is being the most trusted partylist

among them as they have incurred the most number of seats in areas of the government

branches. Although that the Liberal Party is a centrist ideology and act only based on

what seems to be favorable for the welfare of their constituency as compared to

Conservative which stand to the principles and ideology which seeks to sustain what is

innate from their culture and traditions and belief giving the idea of preservation among

themselves.

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