Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-30
CONSTITUTION
OF THE 2
Confederate States Of America.

acting in its sovereign and independent character
order 10 form permanent federal government estab
the blessings Of liberty ourselves and posteri
ty-nvoking the faver and guidance Of Almighty Goo
do ordain and establish this Constitution for tn.
confederate States OF America s..ss.sag..3 l,s
| e ARTICLE 1. szssa i ssssi
| :. sEcEsos L. z 81 .z5ssls
All legislative powers herein delegated siaa be vested
CONGRESS- Of the Confederate STATES. which shall
consist of Senate and House of Representatives.
Es-s - SECTION 2 .sssss s-,s
L. The House of Representatives shaA bs esuposed
Of me ysss ~ ne ps9ps
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the most
person Of foreign birth not citizen Of the Confederate
States shall be allowed to vote for any officer civil or
political, State or Federal. saFs - - i,.a
q No person shall be Representative, who shall
have attained the age of twenty-five years. and
bacitizen of the Confederate States, and who shall
not when elected, be inhabtant Of that State in
which he shall be chosen. "a k@az E
8. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
cluded within this Confederacy according to their
spective numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding to the whole number Of free persons, including
those bound TO service for term of years, and ex-
cluding Indians taxed three ffths Of all 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 ten years. in such manner they shall, By law
direct The number of Representatives shall not ex-
ceed one for every ty thousand, but each State shall
have at least Representative; and until such emu
meraton shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall be entitled TO choose six-the State of Georgia
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. 81, .l5
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue wrts of election to ell such vacancies.
5. The House Of Representatives shall choose their
he ia
power of impeachment except that any Judicial or
other federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits of any State, may be impeached by vote
Of; two-thirds of both branches OF the Legislature
thereof
2" SECTION 8.
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be com
posed of Senator'S from each State chosen for six
years by the legislature thereof the regular
next Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term Of service and each Senator shall have
vote -
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in
consequence Of the first election they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three classes The seats of
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the
expiration Of the second of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth year and Of the third class
at the expiration the sixth year that onethird
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 until the
next meeting Of the Legislature, which shall then IN
such vacancies. =
8. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty and be citizen OF the
be an inhabitant OF tho State for which he shall be
chosen. =.
L. The Vice President of the Confederate States shall
be President of the Senate but shall have vote
less they shall be equally divided. -. esa
g. The Senate shall choose their other otioeFs: and
also President pro te1ore In the absence of the Vice
President when he shall exercise Office Of Presi
dent of the Confederate States. -t
g. The Senate shall have the sole power TO try all i'm
peachments When sitting for that purpose they shall
be oath affirmation. When the President OF the
States is tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
ho tod fha
Of two-thirds Of the members present.
I. JUDI in cases of impeachment shall not
tend further Than TO removal from Office and disqua
the but the party convicted
SHALL nevertheless, be liable and subject to indct-
ment, trial, Judgment and punishment according TO
law sss
SECTION 4.
l. The time place and manner of holding elections |
or Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
each State by the legs ture thereof subject the
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
1t any time, by law, make or alter such regulations,
except the times and places Of choosing Senator's
e. The Congress shall assemble at least once In every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday In
December unless they shall, by law, appoint differ
mt day. = .si
l. Each House shall be the judge of the elections,
eturns and qualifications Of its own members, and
majority of each shall constitute quorum to do busi
less but smaller number may adjourn from day to
lay, and may be authorized to compel the attendance
f absent members, in such manner and under such |
,enaltes each House may provide.
e. Each House may determine the rules Of its pro-
eedings, punish its members for disorderly behav or
nd, with the concurrence Of twothrds OF the whole
lumber, expel member. is.s-s ssstt 4
8. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ngs and from time to time publish the excepting
uch parts may in their Judgment require secrecy,
nd the yeas and nays of the members of either
iouse on any question: shall at the desire of one nth
f those present, by entered on the Journal. d5-4
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
hail. without the consent of the other, adjourn for
aore than three days nor to other place than that
. which the two Houses shall be sitting.
H4 SECTION s. Aa
/. The Senator's and Representatives shall receive
Compensation for their services, TO be ascertaned by
and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate
tates. They SHALL in all cases, except treason, and
reach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during
heir attendance at the session of their respective
Iouses and in going to and returning from the same
nd for any speech or debate 10 either House, they
hall not be questioned N any other place. -, |
2. No Senator Representative shall, during the
me for which he was elected, be appointed to any |
lvi office under the authority OF the Confederate
tates, which shall have been created, or the emolu
tents whereof shall have been increased during such
me, and no person holding any office under the Con-
,derate States shall be member Of either House
uring his continuance in office. But Congress may,
law grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
,utive Departments a seat upon the floor Of either
ouse, with the privilege OF discussing measures
pertaining to his department sd i>it
80 SECTION Z. M fas.la sts
l. All bills for raising revenue shall originate the
ouse of Representatives; but the Senate may pro-
ose concur with amendments as on other bills.
l
lall, before it becomes law, be presented TO the
resident of the Confederate States If he approves he
la sign it but If not he shall return il with his OBJ
ctions to the House in which shall have originated
no shall enter the objections at large their journ
and proceed to reconsider it. after such reconsid
,aton, two-thirds of that House shall agree TO pass
bill, il shall be SENT together with the objections,
the other House, by which II shall likewise be re-
,nsidered, aud If approved by twothrds OF that
ouse, il shall become law But IN all such cases.
ie votes of both HousesEhan be determined by yeas
Id nays, and the persons voting for and against the
III shall be entered on the journal Of each House re-
,ectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the
resident within ten days Sundays exceped) after it
lai have been presented TO him. the same shall be
W, in like manner If he had signed IT, unless the
,ngress by their adjournment prevent its return in
hicf case il hall not be a law. The President may
,prove any ropriation and disapproye any other
,propriaton in the same BILL In such case he SHALL
.eved; and stall return copy of such appropria-
Dns with his objections, TO the House in which the
II shallahaVb originated, and the proceedings
an then be had as in case OF other bills dsapproved
Y the President. is-@~
8. Every order, resolution vote, TO which the con-
rrenee OF both Houses may be necessary Except ON
question of edjournment) shall be presented to the
resident Of the Confederate States and before the
me shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or |
,ing disappreved by him, may be passed by two
rds Of both Houses according 70 the rules and lii-
tons prescribed in case Of a bill $50 "a
SECTION |
The Congress shall have power -.ssa -
l. To lay and collect taxes, duties mposts and ex-
ses for revenue necessary pay the debts provide
r the common defence, and carry on the govern
ent of the Confederate States, but bourtes shall
xes on mportations from foreign nations be laid to
.omote or foster any branch of Industry md all fu-