Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-06-21
CONSTITUTION
Confederate States of America

our Notwithstanding the favor and guidance of
Almighty God 10 Ordain and establish this Consti-
tuition for the Confederate States of America.
ARTICLE j.
SECTION. l. tri-l.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be
vested in n Congress Of the Confederate States
which shall consist Of Senate aud House Of Re-
representatives..
SECTION =.
I. The House Of Representatives shall he compos-
ed Of members chosen every second wear by the
people Of the several States and the electors 10 each
State shall be citizens Of the Confederate Statesand
hive The qualifications requisite for electors Of the
most numerous branch Of the State IegisIature hut
40 person of foreign birth, not citizen of the Con-
federate States shall be allowed to vote for any of
6cer, civil or political, State or Federal.
?. person shall be a Representative, who shall
not have attained the age Of twenty-five years. and
Ne q citizen of the Confederate States and who shall
not when elected, be an inhabitant of the State in
which he shall be chosen.
,. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be ap-
porlioned among the several States, which may be
included within the Confederacy 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 three-fths 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 as 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 he made the State of
South Carolina shall be entitled TO six-te State of
t Georgia tcn--the State Of Alabama nine -thc State
Of Florida two-the State of Mississippi seven-the
State of Louisiana six and The State o. Texas six.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any Safe, the Executive authority thereof
hall of nln tn stcb,
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
other federal officers resident aud acting solely with
in the limits of any State may be impeached by o
vote of two-thrds of both branches of the Legisla
ture thereof.
SECTION 3.
J. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
composed of two Senators 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
Q. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first election they shall be di-
yided 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 ut the expiration of the fourth year and
of the third class at the expiration of the sixth
year; that One-third may be chosen every second
ether wise, during the recess Of the legislature of
any State, the Executive thereof may make tempo
Tary appointments until the next meeting of the Lee
gisature, which sAall then ill such vacancies.
3. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty years. and be a citizen OF
the Confederate States; and who shall not when
elected, be an nhabitant of the State for which he
shall he chosen
4. The Vice President of the Confederate States
shall he President Of the Senate, but shall have no
vote unless they be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers ;
and also President pro tsmpore 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 oath or affirmation. When~he Presi-
dent Of the Confederate States is tried the Chief
Justice shall preside; and person shall be con-
vcted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the
number present
q. Judgment in cases Of impeachment shall not
extend further than to removal 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 pun
ishment according 10 law.
I.. SECTION 4.
/. The time, places and manner of holding cleo.
tions for Senators and Representatives shall be pre-
scribed in each State by the Legislature thereof sub
ject TO the provisions Of the Constitution but the
Congress may, at any time, by law make or altel
such regulations except as to the times and places
of choosing Senators.
2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in ev
ery year; and such meeting shall be on the frs
Monday in December, unless they shall by law ap
point different day.
SECTION g.
l. Each House shall he the Judge of the elections
returns and qualifications of its own members, and
majority of each shall constitute quorum to dc
buSineSs hut Il smaller number may adjourn from
day 10 day, and may be authorized TO compel tn,
attendance of absent members in such manner anC
under such penalties each House may provide.
g. Each House may determine the rules of ii
proceedings punish its members for discrderly con
duct aud with the concurrence of two-thrds of tn,
whole number, expel a member
3. Each House shall keep a journal of its pro
ceedings, and from time to time publish the same
excepting such parts as may in their Judgment re
quire secresy and the yeas and nays of the mem
bers of either House, any question, shall, at thu
desire of one-hfth of those present. be entered OIL
the journal
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress
shall, without the consent of the other adjourn fo
more than three days, nor to any other place thai
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 6.
/. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services to be ascertainet
by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Con
federte States, They shall, in cases, except trea
son, and breach of the peace, be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at the session o
their respective Houses and in going TO and return
ing from the same; and for any speech or debate il
either House, they shall not be questioned in an,
other place.
?. No Senator or Representative SHALL during
the time for which he elected, be appointed L
any civil office under the authority of the Confcde
rate States, which shall have been created or thu
VIII hall han, IN,
during such time; and no person holding any oiIic
under the Confederate States shall be member o
either House during his continuance in office Blu
Congress may, by law, grant to the principal office
in each of the Executive Departments II seat upor
the floor of either House, with the privilege of dis
cussng any measure appertanngto his Department
SECTION Z.
l, All bills for raising revenue shall originate il
the House of Representatives; hut the Senate ma,
nrnnnse or cnncnr with nmenlmnnls MS ON nlhn