Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-29
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
Confederate States of America.

Confederate States Of America
we the people of the Confederate States each Stat
acting in its sovereign independent character il
order IN form permanent federal government estab
the blessings OF liberty ourselves and posteri
ty-nvoking the favor and guidance Of Almighty Got
do ordain and establish this Constitution for th
confederate States Of America
| ARTICLE
sA SECTION /. t-
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. r
L. The House OF Representatives shall be composed
of members chosen every second year by the people
of the several sttes and the electors in each State
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qoalncalons fequis'e LOT electors oil the most
numerous branch of the State legislature but no
of foreign BIRTH citizen of the Confederate
States shall be allowed 70 vote for any officer, civil
political, State or Federal.
2. No person shall be Representative, who shall
not have attained the age oi twenty-five years and
be- acitizen of the Confederate states and vino shall
not, when elected, be inhabtaat OF that State in
which he shall be chosen.
8. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among the several States, which may be in
cluded within this Confederacy, according TO their
spective numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding 70 the whole number of free persons, including
those bound to service for term of years, and ex
cluding Indians not taxed, three hths 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 they shall, by Law,
direct. The number of Representatives shall not
coed for every fifty Thousand but each State shall
have at least one Representative; aud until such
meraton shall be made the State OF South Carolina
shall be entitled to choose six-the State of Geo gia
ten-the State Of Alabama Dine-the State of Florida
two-the State Of Mississippi seyen-the State of Lou
isiana six, and the State Of Texas SIX.
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue wriis of election 10 fill such vacancies.
6. The House of Representatives shall choose their
speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole
power of impeachment except that any Judicial or
oher federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits OF any State, may be impeached by vote
of two-thirds Of both branches Of the Legislature
thereof. -
q SECTION 8. it@ 'f
l. The Senate Of the Confederate States shall be
posed of two Senator'S from each State chosen for six
years by the legislature thereof the regular session
next immediately preceding the commencement OF
the term of service and each Senator shall have
vote.
2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in
consequence of the first election they shall be divided
as equally as may be three classes. The of
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the
expiration of the second of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth and of the third class
at the expiration of the sixth year that third
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, otherwise, during the
of the legislature Of any State, the executive
thereof may make temporary appointments until the
next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill
8. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the of thirty and be citizen Of the
Confederate States and who shall not, when elected
be inhabitant of the State for which he shall be
chosen.
T. The Vice President Of the Confederate States shall
President of Senate, but shall have VOTE
less they shall be equally divided.
s. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro tepore in the absence OF the Vice
President when he shall exercise the office If Iresi
dent of the Confederate States.
g. The Senate shall have the sole power TO try all i'm
be on oath f1rmatton. When the President of the
Confederate States is tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence Of twothirds Of the members present
I. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not ex-
cation TO bold and enjoy any Office of honor profit,
under the Confederate States but tie rty convicted
shall, nevertheless be liable and sub ect to indict
ment, trial, judgment and punishment according 10
Law.
SECTION 4. ls-.-t
l. The time place and manner of holding elections
each State by the iegs thereof subject to the
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
It any time Sy law, make or after such regulations
2 The Congress shall assemble at least once in every
year and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in
December, unless they shal, by law, appoint differ
mt day.
SECTION 6. .sT5..f Z s.,.l
I. Each House shall be the judge Of the elections,
'eturns and qualifications Of its own members, and
majority OF each shall constitute quorum do busi-
less but smaller number may adjourn from day TO
lay ana may be author lied 70 compel the attendance
If absent members In such manner and under such |
,enaties as each House may provide. @
2 Each House may determine the rules of its pro-
seedlings punish It's members for disorderly behavior,
nd with the concurrence of twothirds of the whole
lumber, expei member. ----
g. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ngs and from time to time publish the excepting
uch parts as may in their judgment require secrecy,
md the yeas and nays Of the members of either |
5ouse, any question, SHALL at the desire of one fifth
f those present, by entered on the journal
a. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
hall without & the consent Of the other adjourn for
n which the two Houses shall be sitting.
~ SECTION 9.
1. The Senator's and Representatives shall receive
for their services be ascertained by
aw and paid out of the treasury Of the Confederate
ates- They shall in all cases. except treason, and
reach of the peace be privileged from arrest during
heir attendance at the session OF their respective
Houses and in going to and returning from the same
nd for any speech or debate 10 either House, they
hall not be questioned IN any other place. r
2. No Senator Representative shall, during the
ime for which he elected, be app inted to any |
ivil Office under the authority Of the Confederate
tates, which shall have been created, or the emolu
whereof shall have been increased during such
me and no person holding any Office under the Con-
ederate States shall be a member of either House
urng his continuance in Office Bat Congress may,
" Law grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
cutive Departments a seat upon the floor OF either
Iouse with the privilege of discussing any measures
pertaining TO his department Ess.t
SECTION Z.
Iouse Of Representatives; but the Senate may pro-
ose or concur with amendments as on other bills. |
2. Every bill which shall have passed both Fl uses,
ball, before it becomes law, be presented to the
resident of the Confederate States if be approve he
hail sign IL but if not he shall return it with his OBJ
actions 10 the House in which il sha have originated,
rho shall enter the objections at large their ourn
proceed reconsider It, IT, after such reconsd
ration thirds Of that House shall agree to pass
be bill, ii shall be SENT together with the objections,
the other House, by which it shall likewise be re-
and if approved by two-thirds OF that |
Iouse. il shall become law. But IN all such cases,
votes of both Housessshau be determined by yeas
nd nays and the voting for and against the
ill shall be entered the journal Of each House
any bill shall not be returned by the
resident within days (Sundays excepted) after it
hall have been presented to him. the same shall be
W. In like If he had signed il, unless the
ongress, by their adjournment prevent its return in
Thch case IL hall not be a law. The President may
pprove any propriation and disapprove any other
ppropration in the same bill In such case he shall,
signing tho 11, designate the appropriations disap
royed; and shall return copy of such appropria-s
ons, with his objections, to the House in which the
i'll shall haVe originated and the same proceedings
hall then be'had Of other bills dsapproved
y the President.
3. Every order, resolution VOTE to which the
urrence Of both Houses may be necessary Except
question Of adjournment) shall be presented TO the
resident of the Confederate States and before the
anne shall take effect, shall be approved by hn or
eng disapproved by him, may be re-passed by two
birds Of both Houses according 70 the rules and limi