The Constitutional Court and Control of Presidential Extraordinary Powers in Colombia

There are strong theoretical and empirical arguments in favour of the thesis that the rule of law is essential for democratic consolidation and economic development. The existence of an independent judiciary capable of controlling government abuses is an essential element of the rule of law. So it is important to improve our understanding of the factors that enable courts to fulfil properly this key function in precarious democracies. In that context, this study analyzes certain aspects of the efforts of the judiciary in Colombia to control government.