Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-09-13
CONSTITUTION
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Confederate States of America.

We, the people Of the Confederate Siaes, easl
State acting In is sovFegn and independent char
ncter, In order to form permanent federal govern
ment establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility
and secure The blessings Of liberty 20 ourselves and
our notwithstanding the favor and puidiuce Of
Almighty tiod--ho orain and establish this tlensti-
tuition for the Confederate States Of America.
ARTICLE l.
sHcTtN !.
An legislative powers herein delegated sln'll be
vested in Congress OF the Confederate States,
which shall consist Of Senate aud House Of Re
personalities, ~
SECTION q
/. The House Of Representatives shall lie coHpos-
ed Of members chosen every secord yeilr by the
people of he several States nnd The electors ~ each
State shalt lie citizens Of the Oblfeieratc Shresand
have the qualifications requisite for electors Of the
most numerous branch of The State Legislatures but
no person Of fovcign M1h not citizen of the Con-
fedtrntc States sha hr allowed to vote for any Of
fcer civil or political. State or Federal.
g. No person shall be n Representative, who shall
mot have attained the age Of twenty-five years, and
be citizen of the Confederate States, and who shall
not when elected be an inhabitant Of the State in
which he shall be chosen.
a REPRESENTATIVES and Direct Taxes shall be APP
portioned among the several States, which may. be
included within the Couiederacy, according to their
respective Numbers, which shall be determined by
adding the whole number of free persons, including
those bound to service for term of years and ex-
Guiding Indians not taxed hree-ifhs 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
Iaw. direct The number of Representatives shall
not exceed one for every fifty thousand, but each
State ehall have mt least one Representatives and
until such enumeration shall be made the State of
South Carolina shall be entitled TO sx-the State of
IA. Stafa NJ Alabama ninp--thp State
of Florida two-the State of Mississippi seyen--thc
State of Louisiana six, and the State o. Texas six.
a. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any ate the Executive authority thereof
shall issue writs Of election to fill such vacancies.
g. The House Of RepresenatIessha shall choose their
Speaker and other officers and shall have the sole
power Of impeachment, except that any judicial or
other federal officers resident and acting solely with
in the limits of any State may be impeached by a
vote of two-hrds of both branches of the Legisla'
ture thereof.
SECTION 3.
|. The Senate Of the Confederate States shall be
composed of two Senator's from each State, chosen
for six years by the legislature thereof at the regu
lar session next immediately preceding the COM
mencement of the term of service and each Sena-
tor shall have one vote.
O. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first election they shall be di-
vded as equally as may be into three classes. The
seats of the Senators of the first class shall be va
Gated at the expiration of the second year. of the
second class the expiration of the fourth yearend
Of the third class at the expiration of the sixth
year, SO that one-third may be chosen every second
year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, OF
ether wise during the recess of the legislature of
any State the Executive thereof may make tempo
rary appointments until the next meeting of the Le-
gsiature which shall then fill such vacancies.
g. No person shall be Senator who shall nothave
nod tbo NJ thirty and lp n citizpn n
the Confederate States and who shall not, when
elected be an inhabaut of the State for which he
shall be chosen.
4. The Vice President of the Confederate States
shall be President of the Senate, but shall have nc
vote unless they be equally divided.
3. The Senate shall choose their other officers
and also President pro tempore 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
impcachments When sitting for that purpose, they
shall be on oath or affirmation. When the Pres.
dent Of the Confederate States is tried, the Chief
Justice shall preside and no person shall be con
viced without the concurrence of two-hrds of the
number present.
Z Judgment in cases of impeachment shall moi
extend further than Ia removal from Office and dis
qualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor
trust or profit under the Confederate States hu
the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liabl
and subject to Indictment trial. Judgment and pun
ishment according 10 law.
SECTION 4.
/ The time places and manner of holding cleo
tons for Senators and Representatives shall be pre-
Scrhcd in each State by the legislature thereof sub
iect TO the provisions of the Constitution; but Tia
Congress may at any time, by law, make or alte
such regulations except as to the times and place
Of choosing Senators.
q The Congress shall assemble at least once in ev
al sucb tOpptium shall he the frs
Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, ap
point a different day.
SECTION s.
l. Each House shall he the Judge of the election;
returns and qualifications Of its own members, an
majority of each shall constitute quorum to d
business; but ~ smaller number may adjourn tror
day to day, and may be authorized to compel tn
attendance of absent members in such manner an
under such penalties as each House may provide.
. Each House may determine the rules of il
proceedings punish its members for dsordery con
duct aud, with the concurrence of two-thirds of tn
whole number, expel member.
O. Each House shall keep a journal of its pre-
cccdings, and from time to time publish the sam'
excepting such parts MS may in their judgment re
Quire secresy and the yeas and nays of the men
bers of either House, on any question, shall, at til
desire of one-fhh of those present be entered 0
the journal.
A. Neither House, during the session of Congress
bnll, WllnOul Tue consent OF the olher, aulOuln Il
more than three days nor TO any other place tina
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 6. .r...
/ The Senators and Representatives shall receiy
compensation for their services, to be ascertaine
by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Con
fedcrate States. They shall, in cases. except trei
son. and breach of the peace, be privileged fro,
arrest during their attendance at the session
their respective Houses aud in going to and return
ing from the same; and for any speech or debate
either House, they shall not be questioned in al
other place.
q No Senator or Representative shall, durir
the time for which he was elected, be appointed
any civil Office under the authority Of the Confed
rate States, which shall have been created, or Il
omouments whereof shall have been increase
during such time; and no person holding any Off
under the Confederate States shall be member
either House during his continuance in Office. B
congress may, by law grant 10 the PRINCIPAL ofic