Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-10
Go n . t1tut1O IA

ment. establish Justice insure domestic tranquility,
and secure the blessings of liberty 10 ana
our postsrity-invoking the favor anu Suio@lce Vi
Almighty God-do ordain and estaDlis THIS Oonstitu
t,on for the Confederate States Of America
ARTICLE L
crc All legislative powers herein delegated
shall he vested in Congress of the Confederate
States, which shall consist of a Senate and House
IF Representatives
SEC 2-I. 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 Confederate
States, and have the qualifications requisite 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, vino shall
not have attained the age of TWENTY-FIVE wears and
be citizen Of the Confederate States ard who shall
not, when elected be inhab:ant of that State in
which he shall be chosen.
3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be ap-
rortioned among the several States which msy be
included within this Confederacy according TO their
respective numbers, which shall be determined, by
adding TO- the whole number ofree persons, includ-
ing those bound to service for term of years. and
excluding Indians not taxed three fifhs 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 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 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 Louisiana six, and the State of
Texas six.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof
shsl issue writs of election to fill such vacancies
5. The House of Representatives shall choose
their speaker and other officers and shall have the
sole power of impeachment; except that any judi
cial or other federal officer resident and acting
solely within the limits of any State, may be i'm
peached by vote of two-thirds of both branches
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
their regular session next Immediately preceding
the commencement of the term of service: aud each
Senator shall have one vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled, in
consequence of the first election, they shall be di-
vided as equally may be into three classes. The
seats of the Senators of the first class shall be
ted at the expiration of the second year, of the
cOnd class at the expiration of the fourth year. and
of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year,
so that third may be chosen every second year;
and if vacancies happen by resignation. other
State. the Executive thereof may make temporary
appointments until the next meeting of the Legisa
ture which shall then fill such vacancies.
s. No person shall be Senator who shall not
have attained the age of thirty years, and be citi
zen of the Confederate States; and who shall not
when elected be an nhabitant of the State for which
he shall be chosen.
f. 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 tempore in the absence of
the Vice President when he shall exercise the
Office of President, of the Confederate States.
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all
impeahments. When sitting for that purpose they
shall be on oath or affirmation! When the Presi-
dent of the Confederate States is tried the Chief
Justice shall preside and person shall be convict
ed without the concurrence Of twOthirds the men,
bers present
7. Judgment IN cases of impeachment shall not
extend further than to remove from Office, and dis
qualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor,
trust or profit, under the Confederate States but
the party convicted shall nevertheless, be liable and
subject to indictment trial, judgment and punish
ment according to law.
SEC. Al. The times places and manner of hold
ing elections for Senators and Representatives shall
be prescribed in each State by the Legislature
thereof, subject to the provision of this Consttu-
ton, but the Congress may, at any time, by law,
make or a'ter such regulations, except as to the
times and places of choosing Senators.
2 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, ap-
point different day.
SEC. 81. Each House shall be the Judge of the
elections returns and qualification of its own men,
bers, and majority OF each shall constitute quo
rum TO do business; but smaller number may ad-
journ from day to day, and may be authorized 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 its
proceedings punish its members for disorderlY be-
haviour, and with the concurrence of twothirds of
the whole number, eXpel member.
s. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ings and from time to time publish the same ex-
ceptiDg such parts as may, in their judgment
quire secrecy, and the ayes and nays of the men,
bers of either House. any question, shall at the
desire Of Oneifth CT those present, be entered on
the journal.
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress.
shall without the consent of the other adjourn for
mere than three days, nor to any other place than
that which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SEC 6-I The Senator's and Representatives shall
receive compensation for their services TO be
certained by law. and paid out of the treasury of
the Confederate States. They shall, in all cases,
cept treason and breach of the peace be privileged
from arrest during their attendance at the session
of their respective Houses, and IN going 10 and
bate in either House, they shall not be questioned
in any other place.
.. No Senator or 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 emo pa
ments whereof shall have been increased during
such time; and no person holding any office under
the Confederate States shall be member of either
House during his continuance in Office. But Con-
gress may, by law grant to the principal officers in
e ch Of the Executive Departments a seat upon the
floor of either House. with the privilege of discuss
ing any measures appertaining TO his department.
SEC Il. Ali bills for raising revenue shall Orig-
nate in the House of Representatives but the Senate
may propose or concur with amendments as on
other bills.
Every bill which shall have passed both Hous-
es, shall. before it becomes law, be presented to
the President of the Confederate States if he ap
prove he shall sign it but if not, he shall return it
with his objections to that House in which it shall
have originated, who shall enter the objections at
large their journal, and proceed TO reconsider it.
IT, after such reconsideration. twO-thirdS of that
House shall agree to pass the BILL it shall be SENT
together with the objections to the other House, by
which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if APP
proved by twothirds of that House it shall become
a law. But in all such cases. the votes of both
Houses shall be determined by yeas ald nays, and
the of the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered on the journal Of each House
respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by
the President within ten days Sundays excepted)
after it shall have been presented to him, the same
shall be law, in ike manner as 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 dis
approve any other appropriation in the same bill.
In such case he shall, in signing the BILL designate
the appropriation disapprOveJ AMI shall return q
copy of such appropriations, with his objections t.
he House in which the bill shall have originated
md the same proceedings shall then be had as
Ease Of other bills disapproved by the President.
3. Every order resolution vote. to which the
concurrence of both Houses may be necessary lex
,ept on a question of adjournment) shall be pre-
ented TO the President OF the Confederate States
md before the same shall take effect, shall be APP
proved by him. or being disapproved by him, may
De rn>passed by two-thirds of both Houses accord
ng to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of
bill.
SEC s. The Congress shall have power
l. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and
xcises for revenue necessary TO pay the debts pro-
Tide for the common defence, and carry on the SOW
eminent Of the Confederate States; but no bountes
hall be granted from the treasury; nor shall any
luties or taxes on importations from foreign ma
ions be laid to promote foster any branch of in