The Van Buren press., 1861-06-26
The Permanent Constitution
OF THE
CcGfederate States Of America.

we the people of the Confederate States
each State acting in its sovereign and inde-
pendent character. in order 10 form per-
manent federal government. establish JUS
tice. insure domestic tranquility. and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity-invoklng the favor and guild
ance OF Almighty Gnd---do ordain and es-
tabiish this Constitution fer the Confedes-
iats States.
ARTICLE I.
SECTION I,
All iegislatiye powers herein delegated.
hal. be vested in Congress Of the Con-
se.iorase States, which snail ceasist $ :.
-.ssfl. sy.l Il t,fs.. - ~ .ast tat Ysss
SECTION II
l. The House of Representative shall be
composed of members chosen every smbnd
! gear by the people of the sespgai States ];
and the electors in each State shall bs eiti-
zens Of the Confederate States and have
:he qualifications requisite for electors of the
most numerous branch Of the State Leg
is!ature but no person Of foreign birth not
citizen of the Confederate States, shall be
allowed to vote for aBy officer. civil or po-
,itical, state or federal.
2. No person shall be representative
who shall not have attained the age of
u
G Confederate States. and who shall not,
when elected, be an inha0itant of tha. State
in which he shall be chosen.
3. Representatives, ami direct taxes shall
be appor;ioned among the several States
which May be included within this Conted-
eracy according TO their respective numocrs
which shall be determined by adding to the
whole number Of free persons, including
| those bound to service for term of years,
and including Indians Eot aAed, three fifths
/ o. ali slaves. The actual enumeration Shall
be made within three years after the first
meeting Of the Congress of the Confederate
| States, and within every subsequent term
/ OF tea years, ii such manner rs they shall
/ by law direct. The number of Represeu-
/ sgtives shall not exceed one for every fifty
| Thousand, but each State shall have at least
one representative and until such enumer-
alton shall be made, the State OF South
Carolina shall ba entitled to choose six. the
State Of Georgia ten, the State OF Aisba-
ma nine. the State of Florida two, the State
Of Louisiana six, and the State of Texas
/ six.
| 4. When vacancies happea in the repre-
sentation from any State, the Executive
| authority thereof shall issue writs of elec-
1 tion to I'LL such vacancies.
| ). The House of Representatives shall
choose their speaker and other officers, and
shall have the sole power OF impeachment.
except that any judicial or other federal officer
resident, and acting solely within the limits
i oil any State, may be 1mpeachcd 10y vote
! Of twothirdS of both branches of the Leg
| islature 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 leg
isiature thereof, at the regular session next
/ preceding the commencement of the term OF
service and each Senator shall have one
vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assem-
/ b!ed, IN consequence Of the first election
! they shall be divided as equally as may be
into three classes. The seats of Senators
Of the first class shall be vacated at the ex-
| piration of the second year, of the second
class at the expiration OF the fourth wear,
and OF the third class at the expiration Of
the sixth year; SO that one-third may be
chosen every second yeal and if vacancies
happen by resignation or otherwise during
the session of the Legislature of any State.
the Executive thereof may make tempora.
ry appointments until the next meeting OF
the legislature, which shall then fill such
vacancies.
| B. No person shall be a Senator, who
shall not have attained the age of thirty
years, be citizen of the Confederate States
and who shall not, when elected, be an in.
habitant of the State for which he shall be
chosen.
4. The Vice President of the Confederate
States shall be President of the Senate, bu,
shall have no vote, unless they be equally
divided
5. The Senate shall choose their othel
officers /; and also President pro ten,pore.
in the absence of the Vice President, OF
when he shall exercise the office of Presi
dent of the Confederate States.
8. The Senate shall have the sole powe
to try all impcachments. When sitting fo
that purpose, they shall be on oath or affir
nation. When the President of the Con
federate States is tried, the Chief Justic,
shall preside and no person shall be con
vlcted without the concurrence of two -thirdi
of the members present.
Z. Judgment, in cases of impeachment
shall not extend further than to remova
from office, and disqualification to hold anc
enjoy any Office of honor, trust or prof
under the Confederate States but the par
ty convicted shall, nevertheless, be liabl.
and subject to indictment, trial, judgmen
and punishment. according to law.
SECTION ".
l. The times, places and manner of hold
ing elections for Senators and Representa-
tives shall be prescribed in each State by tn
Legislature thereof, subject to the provis
ions of this Constitution, but the Congress
may, at any time, by law, make or alte
such regulations, except as to the times ant
places of choosing Senators.
i 2. The Cons ress shall assemble at leas
once in every year and such meeting shall
be on the first Monday in December, unles.
they shall. by law, appoint different day
| SECTION v.
l. Each House shall be the Judge of tn
elections. returns and qualifications of it
own members, and a majority of each shall
constitute a quorum to do business but
smaller number may adjourn from day t,
day, and may be authorized to compel tn
attendance oil absent members, in such ma a
ner and under such penalties as each Hous,
4 may provide,
8 2. Each house may determine the rule