The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-05-29
PERMANENT CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States of America

Confederate States OF America
We. the people of the Confederate States,
each Stale acting IN Us sovereign anu niue
pendent character, n order 70 form per-
manent federal government, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility. and secure the
blessings Of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity--inyoklng the favor and guidance Of
Almighty God--to ordain and establish this
Constitution for the Confederate States Of
America.
ARTICLE
SECTION 1.
All legislative powers herein delegated
shall be vested in Congress Of the Conted-
Ute States, which shall consist Of Senate
1dd House of Representatives.
SECTION II.
l. The House 81 Representatives shall be
composed of members chosen every second
year by the people Of the several States !;
and the electors in each State shall be citi-
zens Of the Confederate States. and have the
qualifications requisite for electors OF the
most numerous branch Of the State Legisla.
ture (; Ibut no person OF foreign birth, not a
citizen of the Confederate States, shall be
allowed 10 vote for any officer, civil or po-
HuCal, state or leueral
2. No person shall be a representative
who shall NOT have attained the age OF TWEEN.
ty-fiye years, and be citizen Of the Con-
federate States, and who shall not. when
elected, be an inhabi;ant OF that State 10
which he shall be chosen.
5. Representatives and direct taxes shall
be apportioned among the several States
which may be included within this Conied-
eracy according to their respective numbers,
which shall be determined BY adding 10 the
whole number of free persons, including
these bound to service for a term of years,
and including Indians not taxed, three tifths
OF all slaves. The actual enumeration shall
be made within three years after 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, direct. The number Of representatives
snail not exceed one for every fifty thousand,
but each State shall have at least one repre-
sentative; and until such enumeration shall
be made, the State Of South Carolina shall
be entitled TO choose six. the state Of Geor
gia ten, the State OF Alabama nine, the Stale
Of Florida twa, the State Of Mississippi sew
en-. the State Of louisiana six, and the State
Of Texas six.
4. When vacancies happen in the repre-
sentation from any State, the Executive au
thority thereof shall issue writs Of election
to Gil such'vacancies.
S. The House Of Representatives shall
choose their Speaker and other officers, and
shall have the sole power Of impeachment,
Except that ans Judicial or other federal OH
Ger resident aud acting solely within. the
limits Of any State, may be impeaehed oy
vote Of two thirds Of both branches OF the
Legislature thereof.
SECTION III.
l. The Senate Of the Confederate States
shall be composed OF two senators from each
State, chosen for six years by the I.egIsla-
ture thereof, lat the regular session next i'm
mediately preceding the commencement o.
the term OF service j and each senator shall
have one vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assem-
bled, 10 consequence Of the first election,
they shall be divided a. equally as may be
into three classes. The seats Of the sena-
tors Of the first class shall be vacated al the
expiration Of the second rear, Of the second
class al the expiration Of the iourtn year,
and Of the third class at the expiration Of the
sixih year - that one.thlrd may be chosen
every second year; aud ii vacancies happen
BY resignat,on or otherwise during the reces,
OF the legislature d any State, the executive
thereof mar make Temporary appointments
until the next meeting Of the legislature
which shall then iil such vacancies.
5. No person shall be senator who shall
not have attained the age Thirty years. and
be a citizen OF the Confederate states; and
who shall not when elected be an inhabI-
tant Of the STATE for which he shall DC chosen.
4. The Vice President Of the Conteder-
ate States shall be President Of the Senate,
but shall have no vote, unless they be equal
ly disideds
s. Tue Senate shall choose their other Of.
heers; and also President pro fempore 10
the absence Of the Vice President, vr when
he shall exercise the office Of President Of
the Confederate States.
G. The senate shall have the sole power
to try all impeachments. When sitting fo'
that purpose, they shall be on oath Of AFR
nation. When the President 81 the C1nfej
crate States il tried, the chief Justice shall
preside and 10 person shall be convicted
without the concurrence Of two.thirds OF tn,
members present.
Z. Judgment 10 cases OF impeachmen
shall not extend farther than 10 removal iron
Office. and disqualification to hold and EMO.
any Office Of hDnor, trust or profit under tn
Confederate States bat the party consicte,
shall, nevertheless. be liable and subject {
indictment. trial. and judgment and punish
ment according to law.
SECTION ~.
/. The times. places and manner Of hold
ing elections for Senators and Represents
iises shall be prescribed 10 each State BY III,
Legislature thereof, subject 70 the provision
Of Til, Constitution, but the Congress may
at any time. BY Law, make or alter sgcb reg
ulaiions, except As 70 the times .nd places .
choosing Senators.
2 Ths Congress shall assemble IL leas
once 10 every year and such meeting shall
be on the fret Monday IN December, unless
they shalt BY law annn5nt d,Hsrsat A 40