Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-05
CONSTITUTION
4-.atsssle9 E- OF THE liL
Confederate States of America.

We the people Of the Confederate States each Stat
acting in its sovereign and independent character,
order form permanent federal government estab
lish justice, Insure domestic tranquility, and secnr
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our poster
ty-inyoking the Gyer and guidance of Almighty GO,
do ordain and establish this Constituion for th,
Confederate States Of America.
p ARTICLE 1, ~
SECTION l.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
in Congress of the Confederate States, which shall
consist of Senate and House of Representatives.
$50 - SECTION 2.
l. The House of Represen batives shall be composed
of members chosen every second year by the people
of the several eaies and the electors 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 a of the Confederate
states shall be allowed 10 vote Tor any officer, civil
politics al, State or Federal.
2. No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained tie age OF twenty-five years. and
be citizen OF the Confederate states and who shall
not, when elected, be nhabitaut Of that State
which he shall be chosen
B. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
taaaed slig The soNeE al States, which be in
euded within this COnfederaGy, according their re-
sPectve numbers, which shall be determined, by ad-
ding 10 the whole number of free persons, including
those bound TO for a term of years and ex-
GLIDING Indians not taxed three-flhs of all slaves
The actual enumeration shall be made within three
years alter the drst 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 shall not ex-
coed for every fifty Thousand, but each shall
have at least one Representative; and until such emu
Ieration shall be made the State of South Carolina
shall be entitled TO choose six-the State of gia
ten-the State OF Alabama nine-the State OF Florida
two-the State of Mississippi seven-the State of Lou
isiana six, and the State of Texas SIX.
q a. When vacancies happen in the representation
from State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election To fill such vacancies. -
8, The House of Representatives shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole
power Of Impeachment; except that any judicial or
o,her federal officers resident and acting SOLELY within
the limits OF any State, may be impeached by vote
OF two-lhirds Of both branches vi the Legislature
thereof , ssssl i=.ss.Ff- ts5iI fzsN
es.,.s.sss SECTION 81 a.tss
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be com
posed of two Senator's from each State chosen for six
years the legislature thereof the regular session
next Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term of service and each Senator shall have one
vote.
2 Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first eleeton they shall be divided
equally as may be into three classes The seats of
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second year of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth and of the third class
at the expiration of the sixth year; that onehrd
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation or otherwise during the re-
cess of the legislature of any State, the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting of the legislature which shall then I'LL
g. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty years and be citizen of the
Confederate States and who shall not, when elected
be an inhabtant OF the State for which he shall be
chosen
A. The Vice President of the Confederate States shall
be President of the Senate but shall have vote,
less they shall be equally divided. ..ls-7- :.
8. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro teOre in the absence of the Vice
President when he shall exercise the office of Pres-
dent.of the Confederate States.
g. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all
be oath affirmation When the President of the
Confederate States is tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and no person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two thirds of the members present.
Z. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not ex
tend further than removal from ofice and disauaIi
icaton TO hold and enjoy any office of honor profit
shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject TO indct-
ment, trial, judgment and punishment according TO
law -.r.
SECTION 4.
1. The time place and manner OF holding elections
for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
in each State by the legis ture thereof subject the
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
al any tme oy law, make or alter such regulations,
except 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
unless they shall by law, appoint differ
snt day.
= SECTION 5.
l. Each House shall be the Judge of the elections
returns and qualifications ofiits own members, and a
majority of each shall constitute quorum do busi-
ness but smaller number may adjourn from day to
day and may be authorized TO compel te attendance
of absent members, in such manner and under such
penalties each House may provide.
2 Each House may determine the rules of its pro-
ceedings, punish its members disorderly behavior
and, with the concurrence Of o-thrds of the whole
number, eXpel member - 7! -
g. Each House shall keep journal Of its prnceed-
ings, and from time TO tae publish the excepting
such parts may in their judgment require secrecy,
and the yeas and nays of the members of either
House, any question shall the desire of fifth
Of those present, by entered on the journal
D. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
SHALL without the consent of the other adjourn for
her hal
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
~ ~ SECTION @.
l. The Senator'S and Representatives shall receive
for their services, be ascertained by
law and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate
States They shall, in all cases, except treason and
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
Houses and in going to and returning from the
and for any speech debate 10 either House, they
shall not be questioned IN any other place.
e No Senator Representative shall, during the
time for which he was elected, be appointed to any
civil office under the authority of the Confederate
States, which shall have been created the eolu-
ments whereof shall have been increased during such
time and person holding any office under the Con-
federate States shall be a member of either House
law grant TO the principal officer in each of the Ex
ecutive Departments seat upon the floor of either
House, with the privilege OF discussing any measures
apper ertaining TO his department. {
--g SECTION Z.
1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives.; but the Senate may pro-
pose concur with amendments on other bills.
2. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses
shall, before it becomes law, be presented to the
President of the Confederate States if he approve he
shall sign it but if not he shall return it with his OBJ
jectons 10 the House in which it shall have originated
who shall enter the objections large their ourn-
ais proceed reconsider it, If after such
eration othirds of that House shall agree to pass
the bill, il shall be sent, together with the objections
TO the other House, by which il shall likewise be re-
considered, and if approved by two-thirds OF that
House. it shall become law. But in all such cases,
the of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and nays and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered ON the journal of each House
spectIvey If any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days Sundays excepted after
shall have been presented to him. the same shall be a
law, in like manner if he had signed it, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment prevent its return; in
which case it shall not be law The President may
approve any appropriation and dsapproye any other
appropriation in the BILL In such case he shall
in signing the bill designate the appropriations disap
proved; and shall return copy Of such appropria-
tions, with his objections, TO the House in which the
bill shall have originated, and the same proceedings
shall then be had in case of other bills disapproYed
by the President. = q ~ -
g. Every order resolution vote, to which the con-
currence Of both Houses be necessary Except on
a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the
President of the Confederate States; and before the
same shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or
being disapproved by him, may be re-passed by two
thirds of both Houses according 70 the rules and li
tations prescribed in case Of abiiis
SECTION 8 ,se}ss
The Congress shall have power
To lay and collect taxes duties, imposts, and ex-
cises for revenue necessary pay the debs provide
for the common defence, and carry on the govern.
ment of the Confederate States but bounties shall
be granted from the treasury nor shall any duties or
taxes mportatoas from foreign nations be laid TO
promote foster any branch of industry and all du-
ties mposts and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States:
i q To borrow money On the credit OF the Coneder-
ate States: - = ~, - -.
g. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States and with the Indian tribes
but neither this, nor any other .clause contain
ed the constitution shall be construed to dele
gate the power TO Congress to appropriate money for
any internal Improvement intended 10 facilitate COM
merce except for the purpose of furnishing lights,
beacos and buoys and other aids 10 navigation upon
the coasts, and the Improvement of harbors and the
removing of distractions in river navigation, in all
which cases. such duties shall be laid the nayiga
tion facilitated thereby may be necessary 10 pay
the cssts and expenses thereof: Hat
4 10 establish uniform laws Of naturalization, and
uniform laws the subject Of bankruptcies, through