Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-24
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER "a, 1861.
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States of America.

Il OO4N ~ u L l. ~ - L wv
OF THE
Confederate States of America
acting in lis sovereign and independent character IL
order to form permanent federal government essb
llsh justice, insure domestic tranquility and secur,
The blessings of liberty TO ourselves posteri
ty-nyokng the Iaver and guidance of Almighty (ot
do ordain and establish this Constitution Tor III,
Confederate States of America
| ARTICLE L
| ---- '---- SECTION l.
All Legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
IN Congress oi the Confederate States, which snail
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
oi the several tales AMI the electors in each
shall be citizens The Confederate States aud have
The qualifications requisite for electors of most
numerous b. anrh OF the Slate Legislature but no
person of foreign birth moi ctiZen OF the Confederate
States, shall be allowed TO any officer civil or
poti al, state Federal.
z. No person shall be a Representative who shall
n1 have attained the age OF twenty i've years and
b&a citizen OF the Confederate states, and shall
not, when elected, be inhabitanI of That State in
which he shah be chosen.
3 Representatives Direct Taxes shall be amor
toned among the srvrr States, which may be in-
ciuded within this COnIederacy according 10 their re-
spective numbers, which shall be determined 10y sd-
ding 10 the whole number OF free persons including
those bound 10 servlca tor term of years and eX
Guiding Indians not taxed, three 1fths ali slaves
The actual enumeration shall be made within three
Confederate SIaes aud within every Subsequent rIi
OF ten years, in such manner as they shall, by law,
direct The humber of Representatives shall lot ex-
ceed one for every hIy THOUSAND but each sIall
have At east one Represent Iive and until such
meration shall be nalie the State South Carolina
shall he entitled TO choose sx-the State OF ga
tcn--the State of Alabama Dine-the State of Florida
two-the State of Mississippi eyeuIhe state of lou
siana six, and the State of Texas SIX
4. When vacancies happen III the representation
from State, tue Executive authority thereof shall
Issue writs Of election 10 hI such vacancies.
8. The House of Representatives shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole
power Of Impeachment; except that auy Judicial
her federal officers resident and acting solely
the limits nf any State, may be iIupeached by vote
Of twOthlTds Of both branches ol the Leg islature
thereof.
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
posed of two Senators from each state chosen for six
years by the legislature thereof the regular session
mex, Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term of service and each Senator shall have
2 Immediately after they shall be assembled, in
consequence of the first election, they shall be divided
equally as may be into three classes The OF
the of the first class shall be the
expiration of the second year OF the second class
the expiration Of the fourth year and of the third class
at the expiration Of the sixth that third
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 uHtu Lle
next meeting OF the Leg stature which shall then I'LL
such yacancies.
8. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the of thirty years and be citizen Of the
Confederate States anu who shall no; when elected,
be an inhabitant OF the State for which he shall be
chosen
The Vice Presi lent the Confederate states shall
be President of the Senate but shall have vote,
less they shall be equa y divided.
s. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro teHpore the absence the Vice
President when he shall exercise the Office Pres
dent Of the Confederate State.
O. The Senate shall have the sole power all i'm
peachments When sitting Ior that purpose they shall
Confederate States Is tried the Chief Ju shall pre-
side and uo person shall be convicted without tn
concurrence Of two thirds of the members pres Mt.
!. Judgment in cases Of Impeachment shall not
tend further than To removal fro Office and disquai
hcation to hold and enjoy any office of prout
under the Confederate states but Ity convicted
SHALL nevertheless, be liable and sub ect TO indct- I
meut, trial, Judgment and punishment according 70
law.
I. The time, place and manner of hold ng elections
FOR Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
n each State by the legisl ture thereof, bect
visiOns of this Constitution but the Co grss may
II any time by law, make or alter such reg yatiops
except 10 the times and places of ch slng
2. The Congress sha assemble at least 10 every
and such meeting shall be on the FIRST Monday
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint diner
,nt day
SECTION 8.
l. Each House shall be the Judge Of the elections
eturnS and qualifications Of its own nbers, and
majority OF each shall constitute quorum do bust
less but smaller number may .iourn ay to
lay and may be authorized To- compel the attendanc
" absent members, IN such manner and under such
PENALTIES as each House may provide
2 Each House may determine the rules OF pro-
eedngs, punish its members Tor disorderly bella Tor,
md with the concurrence Of twothirds OF the whole
lumber, expel member. f
3. Zach House shall keep Journal of its pr ceed-
and from time 10 time publish the excepting
md the yeas and nays of the members of 18th 4
House, any question, shall the desire Of fh
ii those present, by entered on the Journal.
q. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
hall, without the consent OF the other, adjourn for
than three days, any other place than that
Ii which the two Houses shall be sitting.
o. |
/. The Senator'S and Representatives shall receive
Tor their services, be ascerained by
aw and paid of the treasury of the Confederate
states They shall, in all cases, except treason, and
preach of the peace be privileged from during
heir attendance at the session Of their respective
Houses, and in going TO and returning from the same
md for any speech debate Ia either House, they
hall not be questioned IN any other place. |
2 No Senator Representative shall, during the
lime for which he was elected, be app inted to any
avn on1ce under The authority OF the Confederate
states, which shall have been created the emou-
nents whereof sha have been Increased during such
jIne and person holding any Office under the Con-
aderate States shall be member of either House /
Turing his continuance in office. But Congress may,
law grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
cutive Departments seat upon the floor of either
House, with the privilege OF discussing any
Ippertaining 10 his department isl :.
SECTION 7. .L .##
l. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
House OF Representatives.; but the Senate may pro-
,use or concur with amendments other bis.
z. Every bill which shall have passed both Ii uses,
hall, before IL becomes law, be presented TO the
resident of the Confederate States If he approve he
hal sign 1t but If not he shall return il with his OBJ
ections 10 the House in which it shall have originated,
who shall enter the objections large their journ
s an proceed TO reconsider It, IT, after such reconsid
sratiOn othirds of that House shall TO pass
he bi ii shall be sent, together with the objections,
70 the other House, by which 1t shall likewise be re- |
and if approved by two thirds OF that /
House, IL shall become law. But In all such cases,
he votes OF both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered the Journal Of each House re-
;EectIvely- If any bill shall be returned by the
President within days (Sundays excepted) aiter 1t
shall have been presented TO him. the shall be
aw, in like If he had signed IL, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment prevent It's return IN
which case il shall not be law The President may
approve any appropriation and disapprove any other
in the bill In such oase he shall,
signing the bill, designate the appropriations dIsap
proved; and shall return copy OF such approprla-
sons with his objections to the House IN which the
bill shall have Originated, and the same proceedings
shall then be had as In case of other bills dsappr9ved
by the President. -. . g.
currence both HOUSES may be necessary except On
question of adiournment) shall be presented TO the
President OF the Confederate States and before the
game shall take effect shall be approved by him; or
being dsspproved by him, may be re passed. by two
thirds of both Houses according 10 the rules aud imi-
tstions prescribed In case OF q bIi. 9 s.,-s
salb.7eI ilsc SECTION -3i r
The Congress shall have p,wer- -s.-.--
To lay collect taxes, duties, inposts, and ex-
cses for revenue necessary TO the debts provide
for the common defence, and carry Oh the COVE n
be granted from the treasury; nor shall any duties
taxes ON importatons from foreign nations be laid t.