Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-08-28

CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States Of America,

we the people of the Confederate States each Stat
acting in its sovereign and Independent character
order tn form permanent federal government estaI
lish justice insure domestic tranquility, and
the blessings of liberty TO ourselves and poster
ty-invoking the fayer and guidance of Almighty Go
do ordain and establish this Constitution for th
Confederate States Of America
ARTICLE l.
| SECTION l.
All legislative powers herein delegated shallbe vestet
in Congress of the Confederate States, which shal
consist OF a Senate and House of Representatives,.
| ~ SECTION 2.
l. 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 Sat
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for of the mos
numerous branch of the State Legislature but nc
of foreign BIRTH not citizen of the Confederate
States, shall be allowed TO vote for any officer, civil
poti al, State Federal
2 No person shall be Representative, who sl.a
not have attsined tae age OF twenty-five years. and
be citizen Of the Confederate states and who shall
not, when elected be inhabitant of that State In
B. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among the sever Il States, which may be in
cuded within this Conederacy according to their
sPectlve numbers, which Shall be determined by ad-
ding to the whole humber OF free persons including
those bound TO service for a term of years and ex
Guiding Indians not taxed, threefths 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 as they shall by law
direct. The number of Representatives shall ex-
ceed one for every fifty thousand but each shall
have at least Representative and until
meration shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall be entitled to choose sx-the State Of gia
teD-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
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election 10 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 judicial or
oher federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits of any State, may be impeached by
of tw0-thirds Of both branches of the Legislature
thereof
SECTION 8.
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall
posed 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 service and each Senator shall have
vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in
consequence of the first election, they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes The seats of
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second of the second class
the expiration of the fourth and of the third class
at the expiration OF the sixth year that onethird
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, otherwise, during the
cess of the legislature 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 a Senator who shall not have
attained the of thirty years. and be citizen of the
Confederate States and who shall when elected,
be an inhabitant OF the State for which he shall be
chosen.
The Vice President Confederate States shall
be President of the Senate but shall have vote
less they shall be equally divided.
8. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President teDpore in the absence of the Vice
President, when he shall exercise the office Pres
dent of the Confederate States.
8. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all i'm
peachments. When sitting for that purpose they shall
be un oath or affirmation. When the President of the
Confederate States tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of twothrds of the members present
I. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not ex-
tend further than removal from Office and disquaIi-
hcation to hold and enjoy office of honor profit
under the Confederate States the party convicted
shall, nevertheless, be liable and SUBJECT indict-
ment, trial, judgment and unishment according to
law.
SECTION 4.
1. The time place and manner of holding elections
sa aBS B the hee s Be
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
at any time, by law, make alter such regulations
except to the times and places of choosing Senator's
2 The Congress shall assemble least once in every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday in
December, unless they shall, by aw, appoint differ
ent day.
SECTION s.
1. Each House shall be the judge of the elections
returns and qualifications of its own members, and a
majority of each shall constitute quorum do busi-
ness but a smaller number may adjourn 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 pro-
ceedngs, punish its members for disorderly behavior
and with the concurrence of two thirds of the whole
number, expel member.
3. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ings: and from time TO time publish the excepting
such parts may in their judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays of the members of either
House, any question, SHALL the desire of one fifth
of those present, by entered on the journal
a. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
shall without the consent of the other, adjourn for
than three days. any other place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 8.
l. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
for their services to be ascertaned by
law and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate
States They SHALL in all cases. except treason, and
breach of the peace be privileged from during
their attendance at the session of their respective
Houses, and in going to and returning from the
and for any speech or debate 10 either House thew
shall not be questioned IN any other place.
2 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 or the emolu
ments whereof shall have been increased during such
federate States shall be member of either House
during his continuance in office. But Congress may
by law grant TO the principal officer in each of the Ex
ecutive departments seat upon the floor of either
House. with the privilege Of discussing any measures
appertaining 10 his department.
SECTION Z.
l. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
House OF Representatives; but the Senate may pro-
pose or concur with amendments other bills
2 Every bill which shall have passed both Houses
shall, before 1t becomes law be presented to the
President of the Confederate States If he approve he
shall sign but if not he shall return it with his OBJ
lectlons to the House in which shall have originated
who shall enter the objections at Large their journ
ais Snd proceed TO reconsider IT, after such reconsd
GRAFTON, twot thirds 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 re-
and if approved by twothrds of that
House. II shall become a law But in all such cases.
the votes OF both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and nays, and the persons voting for against the
bill shall be entered on the journal of each House re-
spectlvey If any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days (undays exceped) after
shall have been presented to him. the same shall be
law, in like manner as he had signed it, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment, prevent its return;
which case II shall not be a4aw. The President may
approve any appropriation and disapprove any other
In the same BILL In such he SHALL
III signing the bill, designate the appropriations dsap-
proved; and shall return copy of such approprja-
iI WIN ms objections to the House in which the
by the President.
Every order resolution or vote to which the con-
currence OF both Houses may be necessary Except
question of adjournment) shall be presented to the
President of the Confederate States and before the
shall take effect shall be approved by him: or
being dsapproyed by him. may be re-passed by two
thirds OF both Houses according the rules aud ni
tallons prescribed in case of bill.
SECTION
The Congress shall have power s. $50. i.--
l. To lay and collect taxes duties imposts, and
cses for revenue necessary pay the debts provide
ment of the Confederate States but no bounties shall
be granted from the treasury; shall any duties
taxes on iportatons from foreign nations be laid TO
promote or foster any branch Of industry and all du
imposts and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States: a5es3
- To borrow money on the credit of the Confeder-
ate States:
g. Te regulate commerce with foreign nations, and |
among the several States and with the Indian trbes
put neither this, nor any other lclause tcontain-
ed In the constitution shall be construed to dele
gate the power 10 Congress to appropriate money for
any internal Improvement intended TO facilitate COM
merce except for the purpose of furnishing lights,
beacons and buoys and other aids 70 navigation upon
the coasts, and the Improvement of harbors and the
removing of distractions in river navigation, in all
which cases, such duties shall be laid the naviga
tion facilitated thereby, as may be necessary TO pay
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