The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-03-27
Constitutional tbe GurfeOstate gtates.

ings Of liberty to ourselves and our posterty-invokino
the favor and guidance of Almighty God-do ordair
and establish this constitution forthe confederate States
Of America.
ARTICLE I, SEC. l.-An legislative powers hereir
delegated shall be vested in congress of the confederate
States which shall consist of senate and house of rep
rasentatives
SEC 2--I. The house Of representatives shall b
composed of members chosen every second year by the
people of the several States and the electors in each
State shall be citizens of the confederate States and
have the qualification requisite for electors of the
numerous branch of the State legislature but no person
of foreign birth citizen of the confederate States
shall be allowed to vote for any officer civil orpotca
State or federal.
9 No person shall be representative who shall not
have attained the age of twenty-five years. and he be
citizen Of the confederate States and who shall not
when elected be inhabtant Of that State in which he
shall be chosen.
g. Representatives and direct taxes shall be appoint
ed among the several States which may be included
within the confederacy according to their respective
numbers which shall be determined by adding to the
whole number Of free persons including those bound to
service for Of years and excluding Indians not
taxed thrce-fths OF all slaves. The actual enumera-
tiGa shall be made within three wears after the first
meeting of the congress of the confederate States and
within every subsequent Of ten years in such
ner they shall by law direct The number Of repre-
seutatives shall not exdeed for every fifty thousand
but each State shall have at least Representatives
and until such enumeration shall be made the State of
of Georgia ten-the State of Alabama nine-the State
of Florida two-the State of MISSISSIPPI seYen-the
State Louisiana sx-and the State Of Texas six.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from am 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 mpeachment except that any Judicial other federal
officer resident and acting solely within the limits Of
any State may be mpeached by vote of twothrds of
both branches of the legislature thereof
SEC 81 The senate Of the confederate States shall
be composed of two senators from each State chosen
for six years by the legislature thereof at the regular
session next Immediately proceeding the commence
ment Of the term of service and each senator shall
have one vote.
2 Immediately after they shall be assembled in con
sequence Of the first election they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes The seats of the
senator's of the first class shall be vacated the expra
ton of the second year. OF the second class at the exp
ration of the fourth year. and of the third class the
expiration of the sixth year, that one-third may be
chosen every second yar and if vacancies happen by
resignation. otherwise during the Of the legis
ature of any State the executive thereof may make
temporary appointments until the next meeting of the
legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies
8 No person shall be 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 inhabant of the State for which he shall be chosen
4 The yee.presdent of the confederate States shall
be president of the senate but shall have no vote unless
they be equally divided.
s. The senate shall choose their other officers; and
also president pro empore in the absence of the vice
president when he shall exercise the Office Of presi
dent Of the confederate States.
g. The senate shall have the sole power try all i'm
peachmens. When sitting for that purpose they shall
be OF cath affirmation When the president Of
the confederate States is tried the chief Justice shall
preside and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two thirds Of the members present.
7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not
tend farther than to removal from Office and disquali-
hcaton to hold and enjoy any Office of honor trust
profit under the confederate States; but the party
vcted SHALL nevertheless be liable and subject ndict
ment, trial. Judgment and punishment accordingt law
SEc. Al. The times places and manner of holding
elections for senators and representatives shall be pre-
scribed in each State by the Legislature thereof subject
to the provisions of this constitutions but the congress
may at any time by law make alter such reguotions
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 shall by law appoint different
day.
SEC 6-l Each house shall e the Judge of the cleo
tons, returns and qualif ations OF its members
and majority of each shall constitute quorum to do
business; but smaller number may adjourn from day
day and may be authorised to compel the attendance
Of absent members, in such manner and under such
penalties as each house may provide.
2. Each house may determine the rules of It's pro-
ceedings, punish its members for dsOrdcry behavior
aud, with the concurrence OF tTothrd5 OF the whole
number eXpel a member
g. Each house shall keep journal of its proceedings
and from time to time publish the same excepting such
parts may in their judgment require secresy and the
yeas aldnays Of the members of either house. any
question SHALL the desire Of onefth Of those present.
be entered on the journal
f. Neither house during the session of congress SHALL
without the consent of the other adjourn for than
three days to any other place than that in which
the two houses shall be sitting.
SEC. The senators and representatives, shall
receive compensation for their services to be ascer
ained BY law, and paid Of the treasury of the
federate States They SHALL in all cases. except treason
felony and breach Of the peace, be privileged from
rest during their attendance at the session of their
respective houses and in going to and returning from
the same and for any speech debate in either house
they shall not be questioned in any other place.
2 No senator representative shall, during the time
for which he elected, be appointed to any civil
office unGer the authority of the confederate States
which shall have been created, or the emoluments
whereof shall have been increased during such time;
and person holding any office under the confederate
States shall be member of either house during his
continuance in Office But congress may by law, grant
the prncipal officer in each Of the executive depart
ment scat upon the floor of either house, with the
privilege Of discussing any appertainng to
his department.
SEE I'll. All bills for raising revenue shall origin
ate in the house Of representatives, but the senate may
propose with amendments on other bills.
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 ohec
tons to that house in which it shall have originated,
who shall enter the objections at large their journal
and proceed to reconsideri If after such reconsdera
ton two-hrds Of that house shall agree pass the
bill it shall be sent together with the objections, to the
other house by which it shall likewise be reconsidered
and if approvedby twothres of that house it shall be-
come law. But in all such cases. the votes of both
houses shall be determined by yeas and nays and the
Of the persons voting for and against the bill
shall be entered the journal Of each house respec
lively Il any bsha not be returned by the president
within ten days Sunday excepted) after it shall have
been presented to him. the shall be law, in like
manner if he had signed it. unless the congress- by
their adjournment prevent its return; in which it
shall not be a law The president may approve any
appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation
in the same bill. In such case he SHALL in signing the
BILL designate the appropriations disapproved; and
shall return copy of such appropriations, with his
objections TO the house in which the bill shall have
originated and the same proceedings shall then be had
as in caBe Of other bills dsapproyed by the president
g. Every order resolution vote, to which the con-
curence of both houses may be necessary Except
question of adjounment) shall be presented to the
president Of the confederate States and before the
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