Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-08-09
CONSTITUTION
OF TIRE
Confederate States of America.


We. rfe people Of the Confederate States, e.ek
State acting in its sovereign and independent char
scter in order n form permanent federal govern
nent establish lusice iusure domestic tranquility,
and secnI the blessings of liberty to ourselves and
eur Notwithstanding the favor aud guidance Of
Almighty dod-ho ordain and establish this Consti-
tuition for the Confederate States Of America.
ARTICLE l.
sBcTIoE l.
An legislative powers herein delegated shall be
vested IN Coogrcss of the Confederate States,
which shall consist Of y 'iena,e and House Of Re
personalities.
FICTION O.
I. The Fouse Of Representatives shallbe compvs-
ed Of members chosen every second year by the
people Of the several States and the electors Ia each
State shall be citizens Of the Confederate States and
have the qualifications requisite for electors OF the
most numerous branch Of the State begisature but
no person nj foreign birth, not citizen Of the Con-
Tolerate STAIRS shall be allowed TO vote for any Of
hcer. civil or political State or Federal.
g. No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained the age of twenty-five years and
be citizen of the Confederate States and who shall
moi, when elected, be an inhabtant Of the State in
which he shall he chosen.
g. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be APP
portioued among the several States, which may be
included within the ConiederacY, 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
GLIDING Indians not taxed threefths Of all slaves.
The actual enumeration ehall 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 exceed one for every fifty thousand, but each
State shall have ut least one Representative; and
until such enumeration shall be made the State Of
South Carolina shall be entitled to sixthe State of
Georgia ten---the State of Alabama nine-the State
of Florida tvo--thc State of Mississippi seven--the
State Of Louisiana six, and the State O. Texas six
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any S ate the Executive authority thereof
shall ssue writs of election TO FIJI 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 with
in the limits of any State may be impeached by a
vote Of two-thrds of both branches Of the Legisa-
ture thereof.
SECTION g.
I. 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
mencernent of the term of service, and each Sena-
tor shall have one vote
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence Of the fret election, they shall be di
vided as equally as may be into three classes. The
seats Of the Senators Of the first rass shall be va
Gated at 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; so that one-third 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
rlry appointments until the next meeting Of the Lee
gsslatire, which shall then fill such vacsucies.
g. No person shall be Senator who shall nothave
n tha of q Of
the Confederate States; and who shall not, when
elected be an nhabitant of the State for which be
shall he chosen.
4. The Vice President Of the Confederate States
shall be President of the Senate but shall have
vote unless they be equally divided.
8. The Senate shall choose their other officers
and also President pro tonpors 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-
victed without the concurrence Of twothirds of the
Number present
T. 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
ishment according TO law.
SECTION 4.
/ The time, places and manner Of holding cleo
tons for Senators and Representatives shall be pre-
scrihed in each State by the legislature thereof sub
iect 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 Mt least once in ev
cry year; and such meeting shall be on the first
Monday In December unless they shall, by law, APP
point different day.
SECTION s.
/. Each House shall he the Judge Of the elections
returns and qualifications Of its own members, and
majority of each shall constitute quorum to do
business; 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 MS each House may provide
q Each House may determine the rules of its
proceedings, punish its members for dsorderly con-
duct and with the concurrence Of two-thrds of the
whole number, eXpel member.
g. Each House shall keep journal of its pro-
ceediugs 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 on any question, shall, at the
desire of one-hfth of those present be entered on
the journal.
L. Neither House during the session Of Congress,
Ehall 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 be sitting.
sECTiOS 6.
l. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
q compensation for their services, TO be ascertained
by law and paid out of the treasury Of the Con-
Tolerate States They shall, in cases, except tres-
con, and breach of the peace be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at the session Of
their respective Houses aud in going to and rcturn-
ing from the same and for any speech or debate in
either House, they shall not be questioned in any
other place.
2. No Senator or Representative shall, during
the time for which be was elected be appointed to
any civil office under the authority of the Confede-
rate States, which shall have been created, or the
emouments whereof shall have been increased
during such time; and no person holding any Office
under the Confederate 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 Executive Departments a seat upon
the floor of either House, with the privilege of dis