Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1861-10-04
CONSTITUTION
or THB 4
States of America

etnte setting ~ its sovereign and independent char
actsr 10 ordcr II tUrm permanent federal govern
uirut establish justice insure domestic tranquility,
aud sccuTc tie blessings 81 liberty 20 ourselves and
our postctity Invoking the favor anil guidance Of
Almighty God-do oryiHh and establish this Consti-
tuition for the Confederate States Of America
ARTICLE l.
SECTION |.
All legislative lowers hefein delegated shall be
vested IN Congress ~ tire Cnnfetfctntc States,
which shall coasis, Of Senate and Ifonse Of Re-
preseni~tivsa.
J. The Housc OF Representatives shall he eompos-
ed Of merabert chosen every secord wear hy the
people Of the several Safes and tie trfors in each
State shall be citizens ~ tie onf crat States and
have he qualifications requisite for electors of the
most numerous branch OF The State Legislature; but
no person Of foreign birth no; citizen on the Con-
federate States shall We allowed 20 vote for any Of
hcer, civil OF political State o. Featrill.
2. 70 person shall be a Representatives who shall
not have attained the nge Of twenty-five years and
be citizen of the Confederate States, and who shall
not when elected nc an inhabitant of the State in
which he shall be chosen.
g. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be ap-
= toned 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 a term of years. and ex
Guiding Indians not taxed, three-ffths 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
fern 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 be entitled to six-the State of
Georgia ten-the State of Alabama nine--the State
of Florida two--the State Of Mississippi seven-the
Etate Of Louisiana six, and the State o. Texas six
4. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof
shall issue writs of election 10 ill such vacancies.
g. 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-thirds Of both branches of the Legsla
iure thereof
SECTION 3.
l. The Senate OF the Confederate States shall he
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
mencement of the term Of service, and each Sena-
tor shall have one vote.
D. Immediately after they shall be assembled in
consequence of the FIRST election they shall be d.
vided as equally as may be into three classes The
seats of the Senators of the first class shall be
Gated at the expiration Of the second year; of the
second class at the expiration Of the fourth yeaaapd
of the third clsss at the expiration Of the SIXTH
year; so that one-thrd may be chosen every second
year; aud if vacancies happen by resignation, or
ether wise during the recess OF the legislature Of
any State, the Executive thereof may make tempo
nary appointments until the next meeting of the Lee
Rislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.
g. No person shall be Senator " no shall not have
attained the age Of thirty years and be citizen of
the Confederate States; and who shall not, when
elected, be inhabtant Of the State for 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.
g. The Senate shall choose their other officers ;
and also President pro tenpore in The absence Of
the Vice President or when he shall exercise the
Office of President Of the Confederate States.
G. The Senate shsll have the sole power TO try all
impeachmeuts When sitting for that purpose, they
shall be on oath or affirmation. When the Pres-
dent of the Confederate States is tried the Chief
Justice shall preside; and no person shall be con-
yicted without the concurrence of twothrds of the
number present.
T. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not
extend further than 20 removal from Office and dis
qualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor,
trust or profit, under the Confederate States but
tho party convicted shall, nevertheless be liable
aud subject TO indictment trial, judgment and pun
ishment according 10 law.
SECTION L.
The time places and manner of holding cleo
tons for Senators and Representatives. shall be pre-
sebed 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 alter
ouch regulations except 10 the times aud places
of choosing Senators,
O. The Congress shall assemble at least once in
cry yer; and such meeting shall be on the first
Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, APP
point a different day.
SECTION 8.
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 dc
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
snder such penalties each House may provide.
q Each House may determine the rules of its
proceedings, punish its members for dsordery con.
duct and with the concurrence of two-thrds of the
whole number, expe member.
3. Each House shall keep journal of its pro
eeedings and from time to time publish the same
excepting such parts rs may in their Judgment re
quire secresy, and the yeas and nays of the mem
hers of either House. on any question, shall, at thu
desire of one-ffth of those present. be entered oil
the Journal.
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress
shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn TO
more than three days, nor 10 any other place thar
that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
sECTION 6.
l. The Senators aud Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services to be ascertaine,
by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Con
federate 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 and return
ing from the same; and for any speech or debate il
either House. they shall not be questioned in an.
other place.
2. No Senator or Representative shall, durnl
the time for which he was elected, be appointed 4
any civil office under the authority of the CoHfede
rate States which shall have been created, or tn
emoluments whereof shall have been increase,
during such time; and no person holding any olic
under the Confederate States shall be Il member q
either House during his continuance in Office Blu
Congress may by law, grant to the principal Office