Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-11-01
CONSTITUTION
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Confederate States of America.

Confederate States Of America.
We, the people Of the Confederate States, each
State acting in its sovereign and independent char
acter in order to form permanent federal govern
ment, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility
and securethe blessings of liberty to ourselves aud
onr Notwithstanding the favor and guidance of
Almighty God--do oriain and establish this Consti-
tuition for the Confederate States Of America.
ARTICLE l.
SECTION |.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall he
vested in Congress 81 the Confederate S'a,es
which shall consis, of Senate aud House of Re-
prcseniatives.
SECTION 2
l. The House of Representatives shall be compos-
ed OF snpirlers chosen every second year by the
people Of the several States and the electors in each
State shall I've 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 q citizen of the Con-
tederate States shall be allowed 10 vote fer any of
fcer, civil or political State or Federal.
2. No person shall I've Representative, who shall
not have attained the age of twenty-five years and
I've citizen of the Confederate States aud who shall
not when elected he an inhabitant of the State in
which he shall he chosen.
B. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be APP
poriioned among the several States. which may be
included within the Confedericy, according 10 their
respective numbers, which shall be determined by
adding the whole number Of free persons including
those bound to service for a term Of years and ex-
Guiding Indians not taxed, threeths 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 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 he entitled to sx--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 o. Texas six.
A. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any Safe, the Executive authority thereof
shall issue wrts of election to fill such vacancies
3. The Houseof 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 and acting solely with
in the limits of any State may be impeached by a
vote of two-thirds of both branches of the Legisla
ture thereof
SECTION g.
!. 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
rnencement of the term of service, and each Sena-
tor shall have one vote.
2. 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
Gated at the expiration of the second year. of the
second class at the expiration of the fourth
of the third class at the expiration Of the sixth
year; so that onethird may be chosen every second
year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or
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 Lee
gislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.
g. No person shall he Senator who shall nothave
attained the age of thirty years. and be citizen Of
the Confederate States; and who shall not when
elected he an inhabitant 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
vote unless they he equally divided
s. 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
impeachments 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 no person shall be con-
vcted without the concurrence of twothirds of the
lumber present.
7. Jud gment 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 aat pun
ishment according 10 law.
SECTION 4.
The time places and manner Of holding cleo
tons for Senators and Representatives shall he pre-
scribpd in each State by the legislature thereof sub
icct TO the provisions of the Constitution; but the
Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter
such regulations, except TO the times and places
Of choosing Senators.
@ The Congress shall assemble at least once in ev-
ery year; and such meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December, unless they shall, by law ap-
point different day.
SECTION 5.
l. Each House shall he the Judge of the elections,
returns and qualifications of its own members, and
| A majority of each shall constitute quorum to do
business; but u 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 rs each House may provide.
! 9 Each House may determine the rules of its
proceedings punish its members for disorderly con-
duct and with the concurrence of two-thirds of the
whole number, expel a member.
| 3. Each House shall keep a journal of its pro-
/ ceediups. and from time to time publish the same
excepting such parts may in their Judgment re-
uuire secresy, and the yeas and nays Of the mem
bers Of either House, any question, SHALL at the
desire Of one-fth Of those present be entered OF
the journal
A. Neither House, during the session of Congress
shall, without the consent Of the other adjourn fol-
more than three days, to any other place thar
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 6.
/. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services, TO be ascertaineC
Iby law, and paid out of the treasury of the Con
federate 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.
2 No Senator or Representative shall, during
the time for which he was elected, be appointed Il
any civil office under the authority Of the Coniede
rate States, which shall have been created, or TN
emoluments whereof shall have been increased
during such time; and no person holding any oiic
under the Confederate States shall be a member q
Inithar Hnusa luruo his continuance in Office. Bu