Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-11-15
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States Of America

nsnt, establish fastice insure domestic tmuqnilty,
and secure the blessings Of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity-invoking the favot and guidance of
Almighty God--do ordan and establish this Consti-
tntion for the Confederate States Of America.
ARTICLE ].
SECTION L.
All Legislative powers herein delegated shall be
vested in a Congress OF the Confederate States
which shall consist Of Senate and House Of Re-
presen,atives.
SECTION O.
i Tie House oil Representatives, shall be compos-
ed OF mcinhcrs chosen every second year by the
neope of the several States; and the electors in each
State shall be citizens of tho Confederate States and
have the qualifications requisite for electors of the
most numerous braech Of the State Legislature; but
no person Of foreign birth nota citizen of the Con-
federatc States shall be allowed TO vote for any Of
fcer, civil or political, State or Federal
2. 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
not when elected be an inhabtaat Of the State in
which he shall be chosen.
3. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be APP
portioned among the several States which may be
included within the Confederacy, 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 ex-
Guiding indians not taxed, threehfths 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 shall, By
law, direct The number of Representatives shall
not exceed one for every fifty thousand, but each
State shall have at least one Representative; and
until such enumeration shall be made the State of
South Carolina shall he entitled to sixthe State of
Georgia ten--the State Of Alabama nine--the State
of Florida two-tte State of Mississippi seven--the
State of Louisiana six, aud the State o. Texas six.
a. When vacancies happen in the representation
nom any Safe, the Executive authority thereof
shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
5. The House OF Representatives. sllchoose 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-thirds of both branches Of the Legsla
ture thereof.
SECTION 3.
!. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
composed of two Senator's from each State, chosen
for six years by the legislature thereof at the regu
lar session next Immediately preceding the com
meucemcnt of the term of service, and each Sena-
tor shall have one vote.
Q. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the first election, they shall be di-
yided as equally rs may be into three classes The
seats of the Senators of the first class shall be
CateQ NJ the expiration ol iltc StCOlu VI lic
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
etherwise during the recess of the legislature of
any State the Executive thereof may make tempo
rary appointments until the next meeting of the Lee
gislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.
g. No person shall he a Sepatorwho shall nothave
attained the age of thirty years, and be citizen of
A.. nd bn choI ppt hon
elected, be an nhabitant of the State fpr which he
shall be chosen
A. The Vice President of the Confederate States
shall be President of the Senate, but shall have
vote unless they be equally divided.
s. The Senate shall choose their other officers
and also President pro tempore 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 two-hrds 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,
the party convicted SHALL nevertheless, be liable
and subject to indictment, trial. judgment and pun
ishment according TO law
SECTION 4.
l. The time, places and manner of holding cleo
tions for Senators and Representatives shall he pre-
scribed 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.
2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in ev-
ery year; and such meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, APP
point,a different day.
SECTION 3,
l. 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 dc
business; but smaller number may adjourn from
day to day, and may he authorized to compel the
attendance of absent members in such manner and
under such penalties as each House may provide.
a Each House may determine the rules of it;
proceedings punish its members for disorderly con
duct and with the concurrence of twothirds of thu
whole number eXpel a member.
3. Each House shall keep a journal of its pro-
ceedings, and from time to time publish the same
excepting such parts as may in their judgment re-
qurc secresy, aud the yeas and nays of the mem
bers OF either House, on any question, shall at the
desire of one-flth OF those present, be entered OIL
the journal.
A. Neither House, during the session Of Congress
SHALL without the consent OF the other, adjourn io
more than three days, nor to any other place thar
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
SECTION 6,
| /. The Senators and Representatives shall rccev,
n compensation for their services, to be ascertaueC
! by law and paid out of the treasury of the Con
| federatc States They shall, in cases except trea
son, and breach Of the peace be privileged from
arrest during their attendance at the session o
their respective Houses, and in going to aud return
ing from the samc; and for any speech debate II
either House. they shall not he Questioned in an!
other place.
2. No Senator or Representative Shall during
the time for which hc was elected, be appointed Il
any civil Office under the authority of the COnfede
rate States which shall have been created, or tn
emoumonts whereof shall have been increase,
during such timo and no person holding any otlic
under the Confederate States shall be member o
either House during his continuance in Office. Blu
Congress may 10y law, grant to the principal Office
in each Of the Executive Departments seat upoi
the floor of either House with the privilege Of dis
cnssuo any measure nppprtaiuiuw 10 his department