Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-27
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States of America.

!
we the people of the Confederate States each State
acting in its sovereign and independent character in
order u form permanent federal government, estab
lsh Justice inslre domestic tranquility and secure
the blessings of liberty ourselves and our poster
ty--nyokng the fayer and guidance of Almighty God
| do ordain and establish this Constitalon for the
| Confederate States of Americas - - -ssss-sTs.
ARTICLE /. ~
SECTION L. $50
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
in Congress of the Confederate States, which shall
consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
SECTION 2.
l. The House OF Representatives shall be composed
OF members chosen every second year by the people
of the several >ta,es and the electors in each State
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and 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 Confederate
States, shall be allowed 10 vote for any officer, civil
political, State or Federal.
2. No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained the age OF twenty five years and
be- citizen of the Confederate states, and who shall
not, when elected be inhabitat of that State in
which he shall be chosen.
3. Representatives Direct Taxes shall be appor
TONED among the several States, which may be in
cuded within this Conederacy, according their
spective numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding TO the whole number of free persons, including
those bound to service for term of years and ex
cuding Indians not taxed three-hfths of all slaves.
The actual enumeration shall be made within three
years alter the hrst meeting of the Congress OF the
Confederate States, and within every SUBSEQUENT term
of ten years, in such manner as they shall, by law
ceed for every fifty thousan but each State shall
have at least one Represent tive aIld until such
meratlon shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall be entitled choose sx-the State of gia
ten-the State Of Alabama nine-the State OF Fi0riia
twothe State of Mississippi seven-the State of Lou
iSiana six, and the StIte OF Texas X.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election TO fill such vacancies.
5. The House of Representatives shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have sole
power of Impeachment; except that any judicial or
fade naixr
the limits of any State, may be impeached by
of twothrds Of both branches OF the Legislature
thereof.
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
posed of from each State chosen for six
years by the legislature thercof at the regular session
next immediately preceding the commencement OF
The term OF service and each Senator shall have one
vote.
consequence of the first election they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes The of
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second year of the second LASS at
the expiration of the fourth and of the third class
at the expiration of the sixth year that onethird
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, otherwise, during the
Of the legislature of any State, the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting OF the Leg lsature, which shall then ill
such vacancies.
g. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the Of thirty years and be citizen the
Confederate States and shall mol, when elected,
be an nhabtant OF the State for which be shall be
chosen = 4s7sfss<
T. TIE Vice President of the Confederals States shall
be President of the Senate, but shall have VOTE
less they shall be equally divided - /
g. The senate shall choose their otise@ ON Es ana
also President tenpore in the aDssace8 The 3fee
Presidents when he shall exercise the oee :. resi-
dent of the Confederate States.
g. The Senate shall have the sole power TO try All
peachmenfs When sitting tor that purpose they shall
be oath Affirmation. When the President of the |
States is tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and no person shall be convicted without tn.
of two-thirds of the members present
IndU in Rfl lfllIQa ft.T,n Shall
tend further than to removal from office, and disqua
fcaon to hold and enjoy any Office of honor profit
SHALL nevertheless, be liable and subject to n,iict-
ment, trial, judgment and punishment according TO
aw.
1. The time, place and manner of holding elections
Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
each State by the egsl ture thereof subject to the
siOns of this Constitution but the Congress may,
1t any time, by law, make or alter such regulations,
except to the times and places of choosing Senator's
2 The Congress shall assemble at least in every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday in
December, unless they shaI by law, appoint dier-
MT day.
SECTION 5.
l. Each House shall be the judge of the elections,
eturns and qualifications of its members, and
majority of each shall constitute quorum to do bust
less but smaller number may adjourn from day to
lay, and may be authorized compel the attendance
# absent members, in such manner and under such
,enaltes as each House may provide. |
2 Each House may determine the rules of its pro
eedings, punish its members for dsordery behavior
md, with the concurrence of two thirds of the whole
lumber, expel a member.
3. Each House shall keep journal of its pr ceed-
ngs and from time to tae pnblish the excepting
uch parts may in their judgment require secrecy,
nd the yeas and nays of the members OF either
House, any question: shall, the desire of fifth
4 those present, by entered on the Journal.
4. Neither House, during the session OF Congress,
hall without the consent of the other, adjourn for
than three days. nor TO other place than that
q which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 8.
Tho Senators and eentatives shall receive n
compensation for their services, 10 be ascertained by
and paid out of the treasury OF the Confederate
tates. They shall, in all cases, except treason and
reach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
heir attendance at the session of their respective
Iouses and in going to and returning from The same
nd for any speech or debate In either House they
hall not be questioned IN any other place.
2. No Senator or Representative shall, during the
ime for which he elected, be app inted 10 any
iyil office under the authority of The Confederate
tates, which shall have been created, the emolu
nents whereof shall have been increased during such
me and no person holding any oiice under the Con- |
sderate States shall be member of either House
uring his continuance in Office. Bat Congress may
cutive Departments seat upon the hoor OF either
louise, with the privilege OF discussing any measures
to his department.
SECTION Z.
1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate the
louise of Representatives,; but the Senate may pro-
ose concur with amendments as on other bills. |
2. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses,
hall, before il becomes law, be presented to the
resident of the Confederate States If he approve he
hall sign but he shall return it with his OBJ
ctions the House in which il shall have originated
Tho shall the objections at large their ourn-
proceed reconsider il IT. after such reconsd-
ration, thirds of that House shall agree pass
De BILL it shall be sent together with the objections,
the other House, by which it shall likewise be
3nsiderea, aud if approved by two-thirds OF that
ouse. il shall become q law But in all such cases,
ne votes Of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
nd nays and the persons voting for and against the
i'll shall be entered the journal of each House
Dectivcy G any bill shall not be returned by the
resident within days (Sundays excepted) after il
hall have been presented TO him the same shall be
w, in like If he had signed it, unless the
ongress by their adjournment prevent its return in
hich case il hall not be a law The President may
pprove any roprstion and disapprove any other s
ppropriation in the same bill In such Case he shall
signing the O. designate the appropriations disap
roved; and Shall return copy of such appropria-
ons, with his objections to the House in which the
i'll shall have originated, and the proceedings
nall then be'had as in case Of other bills disapproyed
y the President
g. Every order, resolution vote, to which the con-
irrence OF both Houses may be necessary (except on
question of adournment) shall be presented TO the
resident Of the Confederate States and before the
sme shall take effect, shall be approved by him. or
eng disapproved by him, may be passed by
iIrds of both Houses according the rules and limi
Itions prescribed in case Of a bill. 500 {s
SECTION sl.si
The Congress shall have power sesssf ,
l. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and
ses for revenue necessary 10 pay the debts, provide
,r the common defence, and carry on The govern
s~s ~ - a