Análisis comparativo del proceso de selección y las funciones de la figura presidencial en Colombia y Estados Unidos

Abstract

This thesis comparatively analyzes the presidential election systems in Colombia and the United States, as well as the roles played by presidents in each country. Through the study of constitutional and political frameworks, it is evident how both models respond to distinct historical, social, and cultural contexts, which has given rise to specific electoral mechanisms. While Colombia adopts a system of direct, secret, popular voting with the possibility of a runoff, the United States maintains an indirect system through the Electoral College, preceded by a complex process of primaries and caucuses. This structural difference reflects different conceptions of representativeness and citizen participation in the election of the head of state. Regarding presidential functions, the analysis shows that, although in both countries the president acts as head of state, head of government, and supreme commander of the Armed Forces, there are important differences in the way power is exercised. In Colombia, the president has greater participation in the legislative process and an administrative role that is more integrated into the state structure. In contrast, the president of the United States operates within a stricter system of separation of powers, but has tools such as vetoes, executive orders, and judicial appointments that grant him significant influence, especially in the international and constitutional spheres. This study provides an understanding of how institutional structures shape the exercise of presidential power based on the specific realities of each nation.