New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-26
CON SIT u ION
CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA

ernment, establish Justice, insure domestic tran
guilty and secure the blessings Of liberty to our
selves and our Notwithstanding the favor and
guidance of Almighty God-do ordain and estab-
lish this Constitution for the Confederate States of
America.
ARTICLE 1.
Sec. AL legislative powers herein delegated
shall be vested in Congress of the Confederate
States which shall consist of Senate and House of
Representatives.
SEC, 81. The House of Representatives shall
be 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 Con-
federate States, and have the qualifications requ-
site for electors of the most numerous branch of
the State Legislature but no person Of foreign
birth not a citizen Of the Confederate States shall
be allowed TO vote for any officer, civil POLITICAL
State or Federal.
2. No person shall be Representative who shall
not have attained the age of twenty five years. and
be citizen of the Confederate States, and who
shall rot, when elected, be an inhabitant of that
State in which he shall be chosen.
3, Representatives and direct taxes shall be ap-
porti0led among the several States which may be
included within this Confederacy, according to their
respective numbers, which shall be determined by
adding to the whole number Of free persons, nclud
ing thEae bound to service for term of years, and
excluding Indians not taxed, three-ltths Of all
slaves. The actual enumeration shall be made
within three years after the first raeeLing 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 Re-
personalities shalt not exceed one for every fifty
thousand, but each State shall have at least one
REPRESENTATIVE and until such enumeration shall
be made the State Of South Carolina shall be en-
titled TO choose eix-the State of Georgia len the
State of Alabama nne-the State of Florida two
the State Of Mississippi seven-the State Of Louisi
ana sx-and the State of Texas six
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof
shall issue writs of election 10 fill such vacancies
S. The House OF Representatives shall choose
their speaker aud other officers : and shallhay the
sole power of impeachment; except that any lu-
dical or other Federal officer resident and acting
solely within the limits of any State, may be i'm
peacIled by q vote Of two-thirds of both branches
of this Legislature thereof.
SEC 81 The Senate of the Confederate States
shat! be composed of two Senators from each
State. chosen for six years by the Legislature
thereof, at the regular session next Immediately
preceding the commencement Of the term OF ser
vice: and each Senator shall have one vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled
in CONSEQUENCE OF the first election, they shall be
divided as equally may be into three classes. Ihe
seats of the Senators OF the first class 5nai ne "a
Gated at the expiration Of the second year; oil Tue
second class at The expiration Of tAe lourth yeAr'
and Df the Third class at the expiration OF the siXth
year;%so that one-tAird may be chosen every sec
ond year, andH vacancies happen ny resEhatl"h,
or otherwise, during the recess OF Ihe LeS'slatute
of any state the Executive thereof may make
temnoraTy appointments until the next meeting OF
the Iesisiatlre which shall then fill such vacan-
cies.
have attained the age Of thirty years, and be cit
izen of the Confederate States; and who shall not
when elected, be an inhaotant OF the Stale Tor
which he shalt be chosen.
a. The Vice-President Of the Confederate States
shall be President Of the Senate, but shall have no
vote, unless they be equally divided
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers !;
and also a President pro tenpore in the absence OF
the Vice President or when he shall! exercise the
Office of President of the Confederate states. .
g. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all
impeachments When sitting for that purpose,
they shall be on oath or affirmation Wheh NE NE
President Of the Confederate States is tried, the
Chief Justice shall preside and no person shall be
convicted without the concurrence OF two thirds OF
the members present.
l. Judgment 10 cases of impeachment shall not
extend farther than to removal from office, and
disqualification to hold and enjoy any office OF
honor, trust or profit, under the Confederate
States: but the party convicted shall, neyerte'
less be liable and subject to indictment, rlaI, JudB
ment and punishment according 10 law.
SIC Al. The times, places and manner OF
holding elections for Senators aud Representatives
shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature
thereof subject to the provisions OF TINS tohsllu
ton bat the Congress may, at any time, by law
make or alter such regulations, except as to the
times and places of choosing Senators.
2. The Congress shall assemble at ieas1 once II
every year; and such meeting shall he on the lf5'
Monday in December, unless they snail by Ia" ap
point different day.
SIC. 81. Each House shall be the judge 0
the elections, returns and qualifications OF Its owl
members and ma OTity OF each shall constitute
on0rum to do business; but Il smaller number may
= adjourn from day to day, and may be authofZet
to compel the attendance OF absent members, |!
such manner anl under such penalties as eacl
House may proVlle . p -,
nrocerdiugs, punish its members for djsorderiy be
hayior and, with the concurrence OF two-tmfds
the whole number, expei member.
8. Each House shall keep journal OF us pro
md frOU
-excnDtinr such parg-24s Judgment re
qure secresy, and the yeas and nays OF the mem
bers Of either House, any question, shali, AZ Inc
desire of oneftth Of those present, be entered Oh
d Seither House, duringt the session of Congress
shall without the consent of the other, adjourn fol
more than three days, nor to any other pace thal
that in which the two Houses shall he sltlln9.
SIC 6-1 The Senator'S and Representatives
shall receive compensation for their services, Il
be ascertained by law, and paid ont Of the treasury
of the Confederate states. lhey sh ia III al caSI rs
privileged from arrest during their attendance a
the session of their respective Houses, ana III gong
to and returning from the same; ana Tor any
speech debate in either House, they snail mol Ut
questioned in any other place.
9 No Senator or Representative shall, during
the time for which he elected, be appointed II
any civil Office under the authority OF the Conteder
ate States, which shall have been created, or tht
enlOluments whereof shall have been increased
during such time; and TO person holding any Office
under the Confederate States shall be member 0
either House during his continuance in office. Blu
Congress may, by law, grant to the principal oil
Ger in each of the Executive Departments sea
up0n the floor of either House, with the prvileg
of discussing any measures appertaininS to hi
department.
SEC. IL, All bills for raising revenue shall
originate in the House Of Representatives; hut tn
Senate may propose concur with amendment
as on other bills.
2. Every bill which shall have passed bot
Houses shall, before it becomes law, be present
ed to the President of the Confederate States
he approve he shall sign it; but if not, he shal
return it with his objections to that House in whlc
it shall have originated, who shall enter the objec
tons at large on their journal, and proceed to re
consider it. IT. after such reconsideration, two
thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill,
shall be sent together with the objections, to tn
other House by which it shall likewise be recon
sidered, aud il approved by two-thirds OF tina
House, it shall become law. But in all such case
the votes of both Houses shall be determined b
yeas and nays, and the names of the persons Vo
ing for and against the bill shall be entered on tn
journal Of each House respectively. If any bl
shall not be returned by the President within tie
days (Sundays exeepted) after it shall have bee
presented to him, the same shall be a law, in liz
manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress
by their adjournment, prevent its return in whlc
.Ss7se it shall not be q law. The President may al
prove any appropriation and disapprove any othe
appropriation in the same bill In such case
shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropr
fiOns ijsaDnrnypd and shall return CODY of sue