Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-07-19
CONSTITUTION
OF the
C!onfedarate States of America

=
OF rHB
Confederate States of America.
We, the people Of the Confederate States each
State acting 10 its sovereign and independent char
scter In order TO form permanent federal govern
nent establish justice insure domestic tranquility
and secure the blessings OF liberty to ourselves and
our Notwithstanding the favor and guidance Of
Almighty God--do Ordau and establish this Consti-
tuition for the Confederate States Of America.
ARTICLE l.
SECTION ].
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be
vested in a Congress Of the Confederate States,
which shall consist Of Senate and House Of Re-
presentatiyos.
SECTION 2.
l. The House Of Representatives shall be compos-
ed of members chosen every second year by the
people Of the several States and the electors in each
Stale shall be citizens Of the Confederate Statesan
have the qualifications requisite for electors OF the
most numerous branch of the State Legislature; but
no person OF foreign birth, not citizen Of the Con-
federate Stutes shall be allowed to vote for any Of
ficer civil or political, State or Federal.
2. No person shah be Representative, VINO shall
not have attained the age Of twenty-five years, and
be citizen of the Confederate States and who shall
not when elected be an inhabitant Of the State in
which he shall be chosen.
2 Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be APP
portioned among the several States which may be
inpndpd
respective numbers, which shall be determined by
adding the whole number of free persons, including
those hound to service for term OF years. and ex-
Gliding Indians not taxed three-fifths OF all slaves
Tho arfnal enumeration shall be made within three
wears after the first meeting OF the Congress OF the
Confederate States, and within every subsequent
term of ten years in such manner rs they shall, by
law. direct The number of Representatives shall
not exceed one for every fifty thousand. but each
State shall have at least one Representative; and
until such enumeration shall he made the State Of
South Carolina shall be entitled to sx-the State of
Georgia ten-the State of Alabama nine-the State
of Florida two-the State Of Mississippi seyen-the
State of Louisiana six, and the State o. Texas SIX
A. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any Safe, the Executive authority thereof
shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies
& The House of Representatives shall choose their
Sneaker and other officers and shall have the sole
mower of Impeachment, except that any Judicial or
other federal officers resident and acting solely with
In the limits of any State may be impeached by a
vote of two-thirds of both branches of the Legisla-
ture thereof
The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
composed of two Senators from each State, CHOSEN
for six wears by the legislature thereof at the regu-
lar session next Immediately preceding the COM
mencement of the term of service, and each Sena-
tor shall have one vote.
consequence of the first election, they shall be d.
vided as equally as may be into three classes The
seats of the Senators of the first class shall be va
Gated nj the expiration of the second year. OF the
second class at the expiration OF the fourth year ana
of the third class at the expiration oil the sixth
year; so that onethird may be chosen every second
wear: and If vacancies happen by resignation, OF
other wise during the recess of the legislature OF
any State the Executive thereof may make tempo
rarv amendments until the next meeting OF the Lee
gisiature. which shall then ill such vacancies.
g No person shall be n Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty years, and be citizen oil
the Confederate States; and who shall not, when
elected be an inhabitont of the State for which he
shall be chosen.
a. The Vice President of the Confederate State;
shall be President of the Senate but shall have nc
vote unless they be equally divided.
6. The Senate shall choose their other officers
and also President pro tempore in the absence OF
the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the
Office of President Of the Confederate States.
6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try al
impeachments When sitting for that purpose, they
shall be on oath or affirmation. When the Presi
dent of the Confederate States is tried, the Chief
Justice shall preside; and no person shall be con
yicted without the concurrence Of two-thirds OF thu
uumter present.
I Judgment in cases Of impeachment shall mo-
extend further than to removal from office, and dis
qualification to hold and enjoy any office Of honor
trust or profit under the Confederate States; bil
the party convicted shall, nevertheless be liahl
and subject to indictment, trial, judgment aud pun
ishment according TO law.
SECTION T.
l. The time places and manner of holding cleo
tons for Senators and Representatives shall be pre-
snrbpd in each State by the Legislature thereof sub
icct TO the provisions of the Constitution; hut tn
Congress may, at any time by law, make or ate
such regulations, except as to the times and place
of choosing Senators.
. The Congress shall assemble Mt least once in ey
cry yenr; and such meeting shall he on the FIR;
Monday in December unless they shall, by law al
point different day.
SECTION g.
l. Each House shall he the judge of the election
returns and qualifications Of its own members, an
amaiority OF each shall constitute quorum to
business: but smaller number may adjourn frol
dav TO day, and may be authorized TO compel Il
attendance of absent members in such manner an
under such penalties as each House may provide.
Q Each House may determine the rules OF i
proceedings punish its members for diSorderly COZ
duct and with the concurrence Of two-thirds of Il
whole number, expel a member.
3. Each House shall keep journal of its PR
ceediugs and from time TO time publish the sam
excepting such parts may in their Judgment r
auire secreSy, aud the yeas and nays Of the men
bers of either House, on any question: shall at Il
desire of one-6fh of those present. be entered {
the Journal
A. Neither House, during the session Of Congress
shall without the consent Of the other adjourn f
more than three days nor 10 any other place tia
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION g.
/. The Senators and Representatives shall recei'
compensation for their services to be ascertan'
by law, and paid out of the treasury Of the Co
fcdcratc States, They shall, in cases, except tire
SON and breach of the peace be privileged fro
arrest during their attendance ut the session
their respective Houses, and i'm going to and rctur
ing from the same and TOR any speech or debate
either House, they shall not be questioned in a.
other place.
q No Senator or Representative shall, duriI
the time tor which he was elected, he appointed
any civil office under the authority of the Couicd
rate States, which shall have been created, az d
emoluments whereof shall have been mcrpas
during such time; and no person holding any oiR
under the Confederate States shall hc a member
either House during his continuance ia Office. y