Procuraduría General de la Nación
PGN
Summary
The Procuraduría General de la Nación is Colombia's supreme disciplinary oversight body, established under Articles 275-279 of the 1991 Constitución Política. The Procurador General de la Nación is elected by the Senate for a four-year non-renewable term from a list of three candidates proposed jointly by the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the Council of State. The PGN has broad powers to investigate, sanction, and remove any public official for disciplinary infractions, including elected officials at all levels of government. It also monitors compliance with the constitution and laws, intervenes in judicial and administrative proceedings in the public interest, and defends collective rights and interests. The institution has subpoena-equivalent powers to compel documents and testimony in disciplinary proceedings. Annual reports are published and presented to Congress.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Mixed (multi-branch) |
|---|---|
| Term length | 4 years |
| Removal standard | Cannot be removed before term expires |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | Yes |
| Compel testimony | Yes |
| Records access | Full access |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Constitución Política Arts. 275-279; Ley 734 de 2002 (Código Disciplinario Único)
- Citation
- CP Arts. 275-279; Ley 734/2002
- Full text
- Agency website →
Jurisdiction scope
Disciplinary oversight and ethics enforcement for all public servants at all levels of government; investigates and sanctions misconduct; intervenes in judicial and administrative proceedings; protects collective rights and interests.