Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-28
os-,,rr,os OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF

ALL - IhLS SS''t6 ~
ent character, in order to form q permanent
federal government, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings
of liberty 10 ourselves and our posterity-in-
vokipg the favor and guidance Of Almighty
God-do ordain and establish this constitution
for the Confederate States of j America.
ARTICLE 1.
SECTION |. All legislative powers herein del
egated shall Le vested in o Congress of the
Confederate States, which shall consist Of q
Senate and House Of Representatives.
SECTION al. The House OF Representatives
shall lie 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 thu State Lcgisla-
ture; but no person Of foreign birth not 4 clN.
zen OF the Confederate States Shall be allowed
to vote for any officer, civil or political, State
or federal.
9. No person shall bo q representative who
shall not have attained the age OF twenty-five
years. and be 4 citizen of the Confederate
States, and who shall not, when elected, be
an inbabitant Of that State in which he shall
be chosen.
9. Representatives and direct taxes shall be
apportioned among the several States, which
may be included within this Contederacy, &C.
cording. to their respective numbers, which
shall be determined by adding to tho whole
number Of free persons, including those bound
to service for q term Of years, ana excluding
Indians not taxed, three-ffths OF al! slaves
The actual enumeration shall be made within
three years after the meeting OF the hrst Con.
grrss 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 ut least one Representatives and un-
til such enumeration shall be made the Stale
of South Carolina. shall be entitled to choose
six-thc State Of Georgia ten-the State OF
Alabama nine-thc State Of Florida two-lhe
State Of mississippi sevcn-the State OF Loulsi.
ana six, and the State Of Texas six.
+. When vacancies happen in the represen-
tation from any State, the Executive authority
thereof shall issue writs Of election to ill such
vacancies. =.
.. The House of Representatives Shall
choose their Speaker and other officers; ana
shall have the sole power Of impeachment;
except that any judicial or other federal oitlcer,
resident and acting solely within the limits OF
any State, may he impeachcd by a vote OF
two thirds of both branches Of the Legislature
thereof
SEcrIoS al. The Senate Of the Confede.
rate States shall be composed Of two Senators
FROM each State, chosen for Six years ny the
Legislature thereof. al the regular session next
immediately preceding the commencement OF
the term of service; and each Senator shall
have one vote.
9 Immediately after they shall be assem-
blcd, iG consequence of the first election, they
shall ic divided MS equally as may be into
three classes. The seats Of the Senators of
the first class shall be vacated ut the cxplra
ton of the second year; Of tho second
class at the expiration Of the fourth year;
and of the third class at the expiration
of the sixth year; SO that one.thiId may
be chosen every second year; and II va
cancies happen by resignation, or otherwise,
during the recess Of the Legislature OF any
State, the Executive thereof may make TEN.
porary appointments until the next meeting Of
the Legislature, which shal! then bill such va
~canc;es.
3. No person shall be q Senator who shall
not have attained the age Of thirty years, and
be q citizen of the Confederate States; and
who shall not, when elected, be nm inhabitan,
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 no vote, unless they be equally d.
vided.
5. The Senate snail choose their other Off
cers, and also u President pro tempore in the
absence of the Vice President, or when he
shall exercise the utice Of President Of the
Confederate States.
s. The Senate shall haze the sole power to Try
all rmpeachmcnts. When sitting for that pur'
pose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When
the President of the Confederate States is tried
the Chief Justice shall preside, and no person
| shall be convicted without the concurrence Of
tue-titirds "s,s; :, "rtaseS oi impeachment shall
not eXteh0 iGrInvr than to rsiuoval from Of
fec, and disqualification to hold and enjoy
any office of honor, trust, or profit, under the
Confederate States but the party convicted
shall nevertheless, he liable and subject to in
i%,ctment, trial, judgment, and punishment,
according to las.
SEcTloS +.-kz. Tho times, places, and man
ner Of hulding ELECTIONS for Senator's and Re
luSSCDtdiiNSS 0hdI " piCoSl luCo IA C9'ii
State by the legislature thereof, subject to the
provisions OF this Constitution but the Con,
gress may, at any :irnc, by law make or alter
such regulations, except as TO the times and
places Of choosing Senator'S
2. Th Congress shall assemble at lenst once
in every year, and such nicetiny shall be on
the first Monday in December, unless they
shall, By law, appoint a different day.
SECTION 5.-l. EACH House shall be the
judge OF the elections, returns. ard quali6ca.
tons OF its " members, and a majority Of
each shall constitute a quorum 10 do business
but a smaller number NAY adjourn from day
to day, and may be authorized to compel the
attendance Of absent members, in such man
ncr and under such penalties as each House
may provide.
2. Each Louise may determine the rules Of
its proceedings, punish its members for dis
orderly behavior, and, with the concurrence
Of two.thirds Of the whole number, eXpcl u
member.
g. Elch House shall keep o journal Of its
proceedings, and from time to time publish
the same, excepting such parts rs may III
their judgment require secresy; and the Yeas
and nays Of the members Of either House,
on any question, shall, ut the desire Of one
fifth Of those present, he entered on the jour
nal.
4. Neither House. during the session Of
Congress, shall without the consent Of the
other, adjourn for more than three days, nor
to any other place than that in which the two
Houses shall he sitting.
SECTION G.-l. The Senators and RrepreSen-
natives shall receive a compensation for their
services, 10 be ascertained by law, and paid out
Of the treasury of the Confederate States
They shall, in nil 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 return.
ing from the same; and for any speech or
debate in either House they shall not he ques.
toned in any other place.
.. No Senator OF 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 ere.
uted, or the cmolumcntS whereof shall have.