Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-18
NASHVILLE TENN. FRIDAY. OCTOBER Is. 1861.
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
States of Americ

OF THE
| Confederate States of America
We the people of the Confederate States each STAT
acting its sovereign and independent character,
order to form permanent federal government, estaI
lsh justice insure domestic tranquility and secur
ty-inyoking the faver and guidance Of Almighty Go
do ordan and establish this Constitution for tn
| Confederate States Of America.
| ARTICLE l.
SECTION 1.
All legislative powers herein delegated shalt veste.
in Il Congress OF the Confederate States, which shal
consist OF a Senate and House OF Representatives
| SECTION 3
L. The House of Representatives shall be composed
OF members chosen every second year by the peopl'
of the several states; the electors each Stat,
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for electors OF the mos
numerous branch of the State Legislature but nc
of foreign BIRTH citizen OF the Confederate
States shall be allowed 10 vote FOR any officer civil
| political State or Federal
| =. No person shall be representative, who shall
not have attained tie age OF twenty years. and
bek citizen OF the Confederate states, and who shall
not when elected, De an nhabltant oi thai state II
which he Shall be chosen.
B. Representatives aud Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among the several States, which may be in
ciuded within this COnlederacy according TO their
spective numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding the whole number of free persons including
those bound TO service for a Of years and OK
Guiding Indians not taxed, three hths Of ali 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
for every fifty thousand but each shall
have at least Representatives and until such
neration shall be made the State Of South Carolina
shall be entitled choose sx-the State Of GeoI ga
ten-the State of Alabama nine-the State of Florida
two-the State Of Mississippi seventhe State of Lou
isians six, and the State of Texas SIX.
l.. When vacancies nappeD the represent nt2tlOu
from State, the Executive authority thereof shall
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 judicial or
other federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits OF any State, may be impeached by vote
OF two-thirds of both branches Of the Legislature
| thereof
SECTION 3.
l. The Senate Of the Confederate States shall be com
posed of Senators from each State chosen for
years by the legislature thereof the regular
next Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term OF service and each Senator shall have one
vote.
=. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first election, they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes The of
the of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second year of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth year 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, or otherwise, during the
of the legislature of any State, the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting oi the Legislature which shall then I'LL
such vacancies.
g. 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 not, when elected,
be inhabitant of the State for which he shall be
chosen.
The Vice President of the Confederate States shall
be President Of the Senate, but shall have VOTE
less they shall be equally divided. Pr
The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President tepOre in the absence of the Vice
President when he shall exercise the Office of Presi
dent of the Confederate States.
g. The Senate shall have the sole power try all i'm
peachmens. When sitting for that purpose they shall
be ON oath or affirmation. When the President of the
Confederate tried, the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and no person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of twO-thirds Of the members present.
Z Judgment in of Impeachment shall not
tend further than removal from office and dsquali
caton TO hold and enjoy any office of honor profit,
under the Confederate States but the party convicted
shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject indict-
law
SECTION 1.
1. The time, place and manner of holding elections
for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
each State by the legis ture thereof subject
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
at any time by law, make or alter such regulations
except to the times and places of choosing Senator's
=. The Congress shall assemble at least in every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday in
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint dler
ent day. --z
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 to do bust
ness I; but 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 twothirds of the whole
number, eXpcl a 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. on any question shall at the desire of one th
IF thncp CONT laV ppfa rad IN tf,n
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for
than three days, to other place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 6.
l. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services to be ascertained 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 arrest during
their attendance at the session of their respective
Houses and IN going To and returning from the same
and for any speech debate 10 either House, they
shall not be questioned IN any other place.
2. No Senator or Representative shall, during the
time for which he elected, be app ,inted to any
civil office under the authority of the Confederate
States, which shall have been created, the cmolu
whereof shall have been increased during such
time and no person holding any office under the Con-
federate States shall be a 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 TO his department
SECTION 7.
1. All bills for raising shall originate the
House of Representatives; but the Senate may pro-
pose or concur with amendments as on other bills
2. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses,
shall, before il becomes law, be presented the
President of the Confederate States if he approve he
shall sign but if he shall il with his OBJ
ectons TO the House in which il shall have originated,
who shall enter the objections at large their journ
ais AMI proceed 20 reconsider IL IT, after such reconsd
eration twothirds of that House shall agree to pass
the BILL il shall be sent together with the objections
TO the other House, by which it shall likewise be re-
anl OVai Y lvEn- iric nff hat
House. it shall become law. But in all such cases.
the votes Of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and nays and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House
spectIvey II bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days Sundays excepted after
shall have been presented 10 him, the shall be
law, IN like manner as If he had signed it, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment, prevent its return
which case it hall not be a law. The President may
approve any iropriation and disapprove any other
appropriation " the same BILL In such Case he shall
in signing the designate the appropriations dissp
proved; and shall return copy of such appropria-
tions with hE objections, TO the House in which the
bill shall haf originated, and the sam, proceedings
shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproyed
by the Presi lent.
3. Every order, resolution vote which the con-
currence OF both Houses may be necessary Except
question of adjournment) shall be presented the
President of the Confederate States and before the
same shall take effect, shall be approved by him. o.
being disapproyed by him, may be passed by
thirds Of both Houses according the rules and lmi-
tatOns prescribed in case OF bill.
The Congress shall have power 80
l. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and ex
cises for revenue necessary 10 pay the debts provide
| fer the common defence, and carry the govern
ment of the Confederate States, but no bounties shall
be granted from the treasury shall any duties or
taxes on importatons from foreign nations be laid
promote or foster any branch of industry and all
ties mposts and excises shall be uniform throughout
| the Confederate States:
2. To borrow money on ths credit of the Confeder
ate States:
3. Toregulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States and with the Indian tribes
/ but neither this, nor any other clause contain
ed in the constitutions shall be construed dele
gate the power to Congress to appropriate money or
any internal Improvement intended TO facilitate com
merce; except for the purpose OF furnishing lights
beacons and bu0ys and other aids to navigation upon