Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-22
NASHVILLE, TENN. TUESDAY, OCTOBER %. 1861 5zsa
CONSTITUTION
OF THE .-..l.-
Confederate States Of America.

| CONS i i i u l1ON
Confederate States of America.
we the people of the Confederate States each State
acting its sovereign and independent character in
order form permanent federal government esiGb-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure
the blessings of liberty ourselves and Posteri-
ty-inyoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
Confederate States Of America
ARTICLE L
| SECTION 1.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
in Congress of the Confederate States which shall
consist OF Senate and House of Representatives
| SECTION 2.
l. The House of Representatives shall be composed
OF members chosen every second year Dy the people
of the several States and the electors IN each State
shall citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the
numerous branch OF the State Legislature but no
person of foreign birth not citizen Of the Confederate
States, shall be allowed to vote for any officer civil
| 2 No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained the age OF twenty five years, and
bc citizen of the Confederate states and who shall
not, when elected, be sn nhabtnt Of that State in
8. Representativeg and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among the several States, which may be in
cuded within this Confederacy according to their
spectve numbers, which shall be determined, by ad-
those bound 10 for a of years, and ex
cuGing Indians not taxed, threefths 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 shah, by law
direct. The number of Represen tatves shall not ex-
ceed for every fifty thousand but each Sste shall
have at least one Representatives and until such
meration shall be made the State of South Carolina
shall be entitled to choose six-the State of Georgia
teD-the State Of Alabama Dine-the State of Florida
two-the State of Mississippi seven-the State of Lou
STX Staf - Of &
4. When vacancies happen il the representation
from any State the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. "a
8. The House of Representatives shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole
power Of impeachment; except that any judicial
other federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits of any State, may be impeached by
of itwo-thirds of both branches OF the Legislature
thereof.
SECTION s.
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be com
posed of two Senators from each State chosen for six
years by the legislature thereof the regular
next Immediately preceding the commencement of
the term of service and each Senator shall have one
vote
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence the first election they shall be divided
as equally as may be into three classes The seats 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
the expiration of the sixth year that third
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation or otherwise, during the re-
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then I'LL
such vacancies.
g. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the of thirty years and be citizen of the
Confederate States and who shall not when elected,
be an inhabitani OF the State for which he shall be
chosen
4 The Vice President OF the Confederate States shall
be President Of heSenate but shall have vote,
less they shall be equally divided.
s. The Senate shall choose their other officers aud
also President pro tepOre the absenceO 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 to try all
peachments When sitting for that purpose, they shall
be on oath affirmation. When the President of the
Confederate States is tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and no person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two-thirds of the members present
I. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not ex
tend further than to removal from office and disoua
hctiOn to hold and enjoy any Office of honor profit
under the Confederate States but the party convicted
shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to ndict
SECTION A. /
l. The time, place and manner Of holding elections
for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
in each State by the legis lture thereof subject the
PROVISIONS of this Constitution che Congress NAV
time by law, make or alter such reguI'ItiOa
except the times and places of choosing Senator's
2 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every
year and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint differ
ant day.
SECTION s.
/. Each House shall be the Judge of the elections,
returns and qualifications of its own members, and
majority of each shall constitute quorum do bust
ness 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 each House may provide
2 Each House may determine the rules of its pro-
ceedings, punish its members disorderly behavior
and with the concurrence of twOthrds of the whole
number, expel member.
3. Each House shall keep journal OF its proceed
ings and from time TO time publish the excepting
such parts may their judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays of the members of either
House. on any question, shall, the desire of fifth
Of those present, by entered on the journal.
N.TfIa ,ffrrSr Of
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 8.
l. The Senator's and Representatives shall receive a |
compensation for their services TO be ascertaned by
law and paid ont Of the treasury of the Confederate
States. They shall,N 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
and for any speech debate in either House, they |
shall not be questioned IN any other place. |
2. No Senator Representative shall, during the |
time for which he was elected, be appointed to any
civil Office under the authority Of tho Confederate
States which shall have been created or the emou- |
ments whereof shall have been increased during such
time and no person holding any office under the Con-
federate 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 Ex
ecutive Departments seat upon the floor of either
House. with the privilege of discussing any
appertaining to his department. |
SECTION Z. r |
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 1t becomes law, be presented TO the
President of the Confederate States if he approve he
shall sign # but If not he shall return it with his OBJ
ectons to the House which shali have originated
who shall enter the objections at large their journ
ais and proceed 10 reconsider it, IT, after such reconsd
Grafton, twothirds of that House shall agree to pass
the bill, it shall be sent together with the objections
to the other House, by which it shall Likewise re-
considered, and if approved by twothirds OF that
House. II shall become law. But in all such cases
the votes of both Housessha be determined by yeas
and nays and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered on the jonrna OF each House
spectIvey If any bill shall be returned by the
President within ten days Sundays exoepted) after it
shall have been presented to 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 law. The President may
approve any preparation and disapprove any other
appropriation p the same bill In such case he SHALL
in signing the IA, designate the appropriations disap
proved; and shall return copy Of such appropris-
hons, with h objections TO the House in which the
bill shall ha9e originated, and the proceedings
shall then behad in case of other bills dsapproved
by the President.
3. Eyeryorder resolution or vote to which the con
currence of both Houses may be necessary Except
question of adjournfnent) shall be presented TO the
President of the Confederate States; and before the
same shall take effect, shall be approved by him;
being disapproved by him. may be re-passed by two
thirds OF both Houses according the rules and lmi
tstons prescribed in case OF bill.
p SECTION 8
The Congress shall have power- ~
l. To lay and collect taxes duties, imposts, and ex
eises for revenue necessary pay the debts provide
for the common Defence and carry on the govern
ment of the Confederate States, but bounes shall
be granted from the treasury nor shall any duties or
taxes mportations from foreign nations be Ald 10
promote foster any branch of industry; and ali dn-
ties mposts and excses shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States: --slHs=s-s
2. To borrow money the credit Of the Conieder-
ate States: -F "a -.sf -
5. Te regulate commerce with foreign nations and
among the several States and with the Indian tribes
but neither this, nor any other clause contain
ed the constitution shall be construed 10 oeie
gate the power Congress TO appropriate money or
any internal improvement intended 10 facilitate COM
merce except for the purpose Of furnishing lights,
beacons and buoys, and other aids TO upon
the coasts, and the Improvement OF haroors ana me
removing of distractions in river naSigation IN all
which cases such duties shall be laid on the nayga