Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-09-28
NASHVILLE TENN. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28. 1861
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States Of America.

OF THE
Confederate States Of America,
We the people of the Confederate States each State
acting in its sovereign and Independent character
order 70 form permanent federal government esIab
sh justice insure domestic tranquility, and secure
the blessings of liberty TO ourselves and posler
| ty-nvokng the faver and guidance of Almighty tod
do aud establish this Constitution Tor The
Confederate States of America
ARTICLE
| SECTION 1.
All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
Congress OF the Confederate States, which shall
CONSIST of Il Senate and House of Representatives,.
| SECTION 2.
l. The House of REPRESENTATIVES shall be composed
OF members chosen every second year by the people
shall be citizens OF the Confederate States aud have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the most
| numerous branch of the State legislature but no
person of foreign birth not citizen OF the Confederate
States shall be allowed 10 vote Tor any officer civil
| politi. al state Federal
! z No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained the age OF twenty i've years. and
not, when elected, be inhabtaut Of that State in
which he shall be chosen.
! B Representatives aud Direct Taxes shall be appor
TONED among the vrr' states, which may be IN
cluded within this Conieeracy, according their
sp-eIive numbers, winch shall be determined, by ad
ding 10 the whole number OF free persons including
those bound TO service for term of years, and ex
Guiding Indians NOT taxed, three fths Of all slaves
The actual shal be made within three
years after the rst meeting OF the Congress OF the
Confederate states and within every subsequent
years, in such manner a. they sasll, by Law
/ direct. The number OF Representatives shall not
crei lilly THOUSAND bull each State shall
have at least one REPRESENT tive and unt such enu
uIeration shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall he entitled to choose sx-the Stale Of gia
tenthe State of Alabama nine-the State of Florida
twu-the State of Mississippi seven-the State OF Lou
l isiana six, and the State of Texas
4. When vacancies happen IN the representation
from State, the Executive authority thereof shall
| issue wrts of election To I'LL 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
her federal officers resident and acting solely within
| the limits of any State may be impeachei by vote
OF two-thirds Of both branches VI The Legislature
| thereof.
l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
of Senators from each State chosen for six
by the legislature thereof Al the regular session
| 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 of the first election they shall be divided
equally may be into three classes The seats OF
the of the first class shall be vacated at the
expiration of the second OF the second class at
the expiration of the fourth year and Of the third class
the expiration Of the sixth year that Ons hird
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation otherwise, during the re-
cess of the legislature of any State the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then I'LL
| such vacancies
s. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty years. and be citizen OF the
Confederate States and who shall not when elected
be an inhabitant OF the State for which he shall be
The Vice President of the Confederate States shall
be President of Senate but snail have no vote un
| less they shall be equally divided.
5. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro nPore in the absence of the Vice
President, when he shall exercise the office Of Pres
| dent of the Confederate States.
g. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all i'm
peacnnents Mhen sltIng or that purpose lney snaiI
be n oath or affirmation When the President OF the
Confederate States tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two-thirds of the members present
Z. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not
tend further than to removal from Office and dsqua-
fcation to hold and enjoy any office of honor profit
under the Confederate States but the party convicted
SHALL nevertheless, be liable and subject ndict-
mrnt, trial, judgment and punishment according to
| law.
l. The time, place and manner OF holding elections
for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
in each State by the gsl ture thereof subject 10 the
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
any time, by law, make alter such regulations
except the times and places of choosing Senator's
2 The Congress shall assemble least every
Sear and meeting shall be the irst Monday
December, unless they shall, by law appoint diaer-
snt day.
l. Each House shall be the judge OF the elections
returns and qualifications of its own members and
majority OF each shall constitute quorum to do bus
ness but a smaller number may adjourn from day TO
day and may 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-
ceedngs punish its members for disorderly belavi
and with the concurrence of wothirds of the whole
number, expel a member.
g. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ngs and from time TO time publish the same excepting
such parts may in their Judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays of the members OF either
House any question: shall at the desire of one nth
| OF those present, by entered ou the journal.
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
| i'll which the two Houses shall be sitting.
| SECTION g.
l. The and Representatives shall receive a
compensation for their services, TO be ascerained 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 returning from the same
and for any speech debate 10 either House, they
| shall not be questioned IN any other place.
| 2. No Senator Representative SHALL during the
time for which he elected, be app inied 10 any
civil office under the authority OF the 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 grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
| e;utiye departments seat upon the floor of either
House with the privilege OF discussing any measures
! aipertaining To his department.
-- SECTION I.
l. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
| House of Representatives but the Senate may pro-
pose 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 if he shall with his OBJ
iectons the House which il shall have originated
who shall enter the objections at large on their iourn
reconsider If after such reconsid
Grafton thirds of House shall agree pass
the BILL il shall be sent together with the objections
To the other House, by which il shall likewise be re-
considered, and if approved by two-thirds OF thai
House. il shall become law. But in all such cases
the votes Of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and and the voting for and against the
bill shall be entered the Journal of each House re
spectIvey If any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days (Sundays excepted) aIter
shall have been presented to him. the same shall be
law, in like If he had signed IT, unless the
Congress by their adjournment, prevent its return
which case il shall not be a law. The President may
| approve any appropriation and dsapprove any othei
appropriation the bill In such Case he shall
signing the bill designate the dlsap
| proved; and shall return a copy OF such appropris
tons with his objections, To the House in which iht
bill shall have originated, and the same proceeding
shall then be had in case Of other bills dsapprosee
| by the President.
g. Every order resolution vote, 10 which the con
curreuce of both Houses may be necessary Except OF
a question of adj0urnment) shall De presented 10 tn
President of the Confederate States and before tn
| same shall take effect, shall be approved oy niin; O
being disapproved by him, may be re-passed Oy Two
thirds of both Houses according TO the rules aud i
tations prescribed in case OF bill.
SECTION
The Congress shall have power
l. To Law and collect taxes, duties, imposs, ana ex
cses for revenue necessary to pay the debts, proslo
for the common defence, and carry on the govern q
ment of the Confederate states, but bounties sha
be granted the treasury; nor shall any duties
taxes on importations from foreign nations be aid
nronote or foster any branch OF industry and ali ou
ties imposts, and excuses shall be UNIFORM throuehou
/ H,,na afa