New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-15
CoN 5TITIJILoN
OF THE
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA,

We. the people Oh tCe ooHlSNSIhtG NPTAtee'
State acting in its sovereign and independent char
aeter, in order to form permanent teaeral gov
ernment, establish justice, insure domesuc iran
guilty and secure the blessings OF liberty 70 our
selves and our MISUNDERSTANDING the favor ana
guidance of Almighty God-do ordain ana estaor
fish this Constitution for the Confederate States Oh
America.
ARTICLE I.
SEC 1.-An legislative powers herein aeiegaleu
shall be vested in Congress OF the Cchleuerate
States which shall consist of Senate ana aouse VI
Representatives. o,.,.;ro, sba, |
he composed of members chosen every seGonu
wear by the people of the several states anu VIC
electors in each State shall be citizens OF Inc ooL
federate States and have the quanca.'pns Of
thn State Legislature but no person OF foreign
birth not citizen of the Confederate States sha,l
be allowed to vote for any officer, civil or pohtcai'
| State or Federal. ~, hal,
not have attained the age of twentyf years ana
| he a citizen of the Confederate States, and VINO
| shall not when elected, be an lhhapitahs OF tha'
| State in which he shall be chosen.
| q Representatives and direct taxes shall be ap-
| nortioned among the several States which may pc
included within this Confederacy according 10 teir
| respective numbers, which shall be determined ny
adding to the whole number of free persons, lheho
ing those bound to service for term OF years. ana
| excluding Indians not taxed, three-hths OF Ell
slaves. The actual enumeration snal ne nf 4 the
within three years after the first meeting OF me
/ Congress of the Confederate states, ana WITHIN
every subsequent term of ten years, 10 such manner
as they shall by law direct Inc hnhioer ol e ne
representatives. shall not exceed one for every htty
thonsand hut each State shall have at least one
Representative and until such enumeration snail
be made the State of South Carolina shaii De en-
| titled to choose siX-the State OF Georgia len-the
State of Alabama nine-the State of Florida two
the State of Mississippi seventhe State of Louisi-
ana six-and the State of Texas six.
When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof
shall issue Writs of election to fill such vacancies
s. The House of Representatives shall choose
their speaker aud otheF officers: and shall nave the
sole power of impeachment; except that any lu-
diciai or other Federal officer resident and acting
solely within the limits Of any State, may be I'M
reached by vote of wothrds of both branches
of the Legislature thereof.
i Sgc 81. The Senate Of the Confederate States
shall be composed of two Senators from each
State, chosen for six years by the Legislature
thereof at the regular session next Immediately
f. | preceding the commencement OF the term OF SER
vice and each Senator shall have one vote.
q Immediately after they shall be assembled,
in consequence of the first election they shaii pc
divided equally as may be into three classes. me
seats of the Senators of the first class shall be va
Gated at the expiration of the second year; OF the
second class at the expiration of the fourth year,
and of the third class at the expiration OF the slStn
wear. SO that one third may be chosen every sec
. ond year, and if vacancies happen by resignation
: or otherwise during the recess OF the Legislature
9 of any State, the Executive thereof may maze
temporary appointments until the next meeting oi
i the Legislature, which snail tnen Hi sucn Facah'
5. No person shall be a Senator who shall not
have attained the age of thirty years aud be cit
t zen of the Confederate States and who shall not
when elected, be an inhabitant OF the state for
which he shall be chosen.
4 The Vice President of the Confederate States
shall be President of the Senate. but shall have nc
: vote, uuless'they be equally divided.
r 5. The Senate shall choose their other oftcers
aud also President pro tenepore in the absence Of
the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the
4 office of President of the Confederate States.
G. The Senate shall have the sole power to try al
: impeachments When sitting for that purpose
they shall be oath or affirmation. When the
President of the Confederate States IS tired, thf
Chief Justice shall preside and no person shall be
convicted without the concurrence OF two thirds
/ the members present.
Z. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall no
extend farther than to removal from office, anC
0 disqualification to hold and enjoy any office o
honor trust or profit, under the Confederate
q States but the party convicted shall, neverthe
= less be liable and subject to Indictment trial. Judg
:" ment and punishment according to law
- SEC. Al. The times, places and manner O
holding elections fer Senators and Representative
w shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislator
. thereof, subject to the provisions of this Consutu
'e ton but the Congress may, at any time, by Law
at make or alter such regulations, except as to tn
Ike times and places of choosing Senators.
al g. The Congress shall assemble at least once
Az every year: and such meeting shall be the fir
" Monday in December, unless they Shall by law a.
ef point different day
ed SEC. 81. Each House shdll pc the Judge
ot the elections returns and qualifications OF Its oW
~, members, and majority of each shall constitute
I'll quorum to do business but smaller number ma
er adjourn from day to day, and may be authorize
it to compel the attendance of absent members,
slch manner and under such penalties as eac
House may provide.
3. Each House may determine the rules of
proceedings punish its members for disorderly b
!. havior and, with the concurrence of tWo-thlrds
- the whole number, eXpel member
air 8. Each House shall keep journal of its pr
al ceedings, and from time to time publish the sam
excepting such parts may in their judgment r
uujre secresy, ana the yeas and nays of the mel
NV hers Of either House, any question. shall at t
ed desire of one-fEth of those present. be entered
the journal.
H. 4 Neither House during the session of Congre
- shall without the consent Of the other, adjourn
On more than three days MOI to any other place tn
that in which the two Houses shall he sitting.
ION SEC. G.-1. The Senators and RepresentatlT
ra shall receive compensation for their services,
be ascertained by law, and paid out OF the treaSu
of the Confederate States. They shall, III all cas-
ted except treason felony and breach of the peace
led privileged from arrest during their attendance
i the session of their respective Houses, and in go
NJ to and returning from the same; and for a
Inc speech or debate in either House, they shall not
questioned in any other place.
ro- q No Senator Representative shall, nurl
al | the time for which he was elected, be appointed
w any civil Office under the authority OF the Conted
re- ate States, which shall have been created, or
emoumeuts whereof shall have been lacreat
the during such time aud 10 person holding any oil
49,. | under the Confederate States shall be a member
a." either House during his continuance in office.
use Congress may by law, grant to the principal {
Ger in each Of the Executive Departments 8
upon the floor of either House, with the priVl:
of discussing any measures appertalning TO
% department.
SEC I'll. All bills for raising revenue ST
re- originate in the House OF Representatives; but
nor Senate may propose or concur with amendme
as on other bills
'N g. Every bill which shall have passed b
Houses, shall, before it becomes law, be prest
dge ed to the President of the Confederate States
Col he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, be 81
return it with his objections to that House in VII
| it shall have originated, who shall enter the OBJ
nce tons at large their Journal, and proceed to
ght. consider it, IT, after such reconsideration, t
ded thirds of that House shall agree TO pass the b
f shall be sent, together with the objections, to
'O' other House by which it shall likewise be rec
sidered, and it approved by twothtrds Of
Patti House 1t shall become flaw. But in all such Ca
ROW the votes Of both Houses shall be determined
yeas and nays and the names of the persons
ing for and against the bill shall be entered on
journal of each House respectively. If any
's' shall not he returned by the President within
item days Sundays eXceped) after it shall have
- presented to him, the same shall be law, in
;" W manner if be had signed it, unless the Congr
ecal by their Adjournment, prevent its return in wi
the case it shall not be Il law, The President may
prove any appropriation aud disapprove any o
appropriation in the same bill. In such cas-
-, SHALL in signing the bill, designate the approx
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