Political Constitution of Colombia (1991)

In the case of a serious disruption of the public order imminently threatening the institutional stability, the security of the state, or the peaceful coexistence of the citizenry, and which cannot be met by the use of ordinary powers of the police authorities, the President of the Republic, with the approval of all the ministers, may declare a state of internal disturbance throughout the Republic or part of it for a period no longer than 90 days, extendable for two similar periods, the second of which requires the prior and favorable vote of the Senate of the Republic.

By means of such a declaration, the government shall have the strictly essential options to deal with the causes of the disruption and prevent the spread of its effects.

The legislative decrees that the government may issue can suspend the laws incompatible with the state of disturbance and shall no longer be in effect as soon as public order is declared to have been restored. The government may extend it application up to 90 more days.

Within the three days following the declaration or extension of the state of disturbance, Congress shall meet in its own right, with all its constitutional and legal powers. The President shall transmit to it an immediate report concerning the reasons motivating the said declaration.

In no case may civilians be questioned or tried by the penal military system.