Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-07-16
CONSTITUTION.
l- OF THE s - ..
Confederate States Of America.

We the people of the Confederate States each stat
acting in its sovereign and independents character,
order tn form permanent federal government, estab
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility. and secur
the blessings of liberty TO ourselves and posteri
do ordain and establish this Constitution for tn
| Confederate States Of America
ARTICLE L
SECTION l.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall veetet
in Congress Of the Confederate States, which shal
INSIST Of a Senate and House Of Representatives
SECTION 2
l. The Eouse OF Representatives shall be composed
OF members chosen every second year by the people
of the several STATES; and the electors each stats
shall be citizens of the Confederate states and have
the qualifications requisite for electors OF the m'si
| numerous bsanch Of the STATE legislature but 10
person OF ioregn orth not citizen OF the Confederate
States, shall be allowed vote oficer, civil
poltic al, State Federal
2. No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained the age OF twenty-five years. and
be citizrp 81 the Gcaieaerate states, and tsho AL
net, whan ehctcd be an inhabitaut Of that state IA
which he shall be chosen.
5. Representatives Direct Taxes shall be appor-
| toned among the e.-verfi States, which be
cuded within this Coreeracy according to their re-
spective numbers, winch shall be determined by ad-
ding To the whole number OF free persons including
those bound TO service for term of years and ex-
Guiding Indians not taxed, three fhs of all slaves.
The actual enumeration shall be made within three
after the first meeting OF the Congress OF the
4 ana every SuDseluent m
Of ten yesrs, in such manner as they shall, by law
direct. The number OF Representatives shall not
ceed for every hfty tousand but each State shall
have least Representatives aud until such
meratiOn shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall be entitled to choose sx-the state Of Geo gia
ten-the State of Alabama niDe-the State of Florida
two-the State Of Mississippi seven-the State Of Lou
/ isiana six, and the State of Texas SIX.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from State, Executive authority thereof shall
| issue wriis of election 10 I'LL such vacancies.
5. The House of REPRESENTATIVES. shall choose their
i hall huxa
power of impeachment, except that any Judicial
oher federal officers resident and acting solely tain
the hmits OF any Sate, may De impeaihed oE vote
of twothirds Of both branches oi the Legislature
thereof
SECTION g.
The Senate of the Confederate States shall he com
posed of Senators from each State, chosen for
by the legislature thereof the regular session
next Immediately preceding the commencement OF
the term of service and each senator shall have
vote
q Immediately after they shall he assembled, in
consequence of the first election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three Glasses The seats Of
the of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth and OF the third class
the expiration OF the sixth that one-third
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, otherwise, during the re-
cess of the legislature of any State, the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting OF the Legislature, which shall then I'LL
such
g. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have
attained the Of thirty years, and be citizen of the
be inbabitsnI OF the State for which lie shall be
Chosen-
be President OF the Senate but shall have vote,
less they shall be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro tepOIe IN the absence OF The Wee
President when he shall exercise the Office Vf Pres
dent of the Confederate States.
O. The senate shall have the sole power try all i'm
peachments. When sitting Tor that purpose they shall
oath affirmation. When the President of the
Confeuerate States tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
nd no shall he a will ne
concurrence of twothrds of the members present.
Z. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not
tend further Than TO removal from Office, and disc ua
hcation hold and enjoy any Office honor prunt,
under the Confederate States but tue party convicted
shall, nevertheless, be liable and sub lnoct-
ment, trial, Judgment and punishment according TO
law.
SECTION 4.
l. The time place and manner OF holding elections
for Senators aud Representatives shall be prescribed
in by the legis thereof subject
provisions Of this Constitution but the Congress
any time, by law, make alter such regulations,
except to the times and places of choosing Senator's
TIE C''gres- sbs ass ,l,oe - lsasi on,e Ia seEy
year meeting sIIaf De nrst Monday III
ntcembcr, unless they shah, by Law, appoint dirier
ent day
/ Each House shall be the Judge OF the elections
returns and qualifications of its own members, and a
majority of each shall constitute quorum do busi-
ness bat smaller number may adjourn from day 10
aud be author zed "a compel the attendance
OF absent MEMBERS in such manner and under such
penalties each House may provide
=
ceedngs punish its members Tor dlsorderly behavior
and with the concurrence Of twothirds the whole
number. eXpel q member. .. .... ....
3. Zach House shall keep journal Of its proceed
ings, and from time 10 tie publish the excepting
such parts in their judgment require secrecy,
and the yeas and nays of the members of eithAr
House, any Question, shall the desire Of nth
of those present, by entered the journal
g. Neither House, during the session Of Congress
shall wtlout the consent of the other adjourn for
than three days any other place than
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 9.
l. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a
compensation for their services be ascertained by
law and paid of the treasury of the Confederate
States. They shall, in all cases, except treason and
their attendance at tile session Of their respective
Houses, and in going TO and returning from the
and for any speech debate ia either House, they
shall not be questioned any other place.
2 No Senator or Representative shall, during the
time for which he was elected, be app nted TO any
civil Office under the authority of the Confederate
States, which shall have been created the enolu-
ments whereof shall have been increased during such
time and person holding any Office under the Con-
federate States shall be member of either House
during his continuance in office. But Congress may,
by law the principal officer in each of the tx
ecutiye DEPARTMENTS upon the floor OF either
House with the privilege OF discussing any measures
appertainng TO his department.
7. ..--.
l. All bills for raising shall originate in the
House of Represent taIives; but the Senate may pro-
pose concur with amendments other bills.
2 Every bill which shall have passed both III uses
W,
President OF the Confederate states be approve he
shall sign it but if he shall return it with his OBJ
jections the House in which it shall have originated
who shall the objections at large their joITn
ais ami proceed 10 reconsider IL IT, after such reconsd
Grafton, thirds of that House shall agree pass
the bill, II shall be together with the objections
to the other House by which it shall likewise be re-
considered, and if approved by two-thirds OF that
House, II shall becon1e law But IN all such cases,
votes Of both Houses.shall be determined by yeas
and and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered on the journal of each House
IL hall,
President within days (Sundays excepte) alter
shall have been presented 10 him. the shall be
law, in ike if he had signed il, unless the
Congress by their adjournment prevent its returns in
which case il shall not be law The President may
approve any appropriation and dsapprOve any other
appropriation the bill. In such he shall,
signing the bill, designate the appropriations dsap
proved; and shan return copy of such sppropria-
lions. with his objections the House in which the
bib shall have originated, ana the proceedings
shall then be had IN case OF other bills disapproved
by the President
g. Every order resolution or vote to which the con-
oil both Houses may be necessary Except
question of adJournmenL) shall be presented 10 the
President of the Confederate State,; and before the
shall take effect shall be approved by him:
beng disapproTed by him. may be Te-rassed by two
tatiops prescribed Ia cast OF bah. ,4
$500 SECTION s.
The Congress shall have power -
l. To hay and collect taxes duties, imposts, and
cses for revenue necessary 10 pay the debts, provide
for the common defence, and carry the govern
of the Confederate states, but bouBties shall
be granted from the treasury; nor shall any duties
iinportatons from foreign nations laid TO
promote foster any branch of industry and all
ties, imposts, and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States: LfH tuH
2 To borrow money the credit of the Confeder-
ate States: r. sl ts 4'-ta
g. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several states and with the Indian tribes
but neither this, nor any other clause cepIain-
ed IN the constitution shall be construed dele
gate the power 70 Congress 70 appropriate money for
merce; except for the purpose Of furnishing lights
beacons, and buoys and other aids 10 navigation upon
the coasts and the improvement OF Larbors and the
removing OF obssructions In river navigation in ali
which cases, such duties shall be laid the nayigs
ton facilitated thereby, may be necessary 70 pay
the costs and expenses thereof: fi-l-.
e. 20 establish uniform Iaws Of naturalization, and
uniform lsws the subject Of bankruptcies, through