Correction to: An Introduction to Colombian Legal Culture

The legal sphere has been central to the shaping of the Republic of Colombia since its beginnings. The law has been an instrument for structural violence but also, importantly, for the pursuit of social justice and peace. The institutional structure of this legal culture encompasses centralized norm production and multilayer hierarchies of specialized jurisdictions for conflict resolution. Codified laws are reserved for Congress and undergo constitutional judicial review, including possible incompatibilities with ratified human rights treaties. Past abuses of the norm production power of the President under states of exception, and distrust in the capacity of Congress to represent all members of the nation, have led to a strengthening of judicial review. Checks and balances among the branches of power are common and considered key to democracy, although they are not unproblematic.