Year: 1861

CONSTITUTION


Confederate States Of America


We the people of the Confederate States each STAT.
acting in its sovereign and independent character il
order 10 form permanent federal government estab


ish justice insure domestic tranquility and
the blessings OF liberty TO ourselves posteri
v-inSoklng the aver and guidance of Almighty Goo
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
Confederate States Of America


ARTICLE l.
| SECTION ].


All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
in Congress Of the Confederate States which shall
CONSIST OF a Senate and House of Representatives.
| SECTION 2.
l. The House of Representatives shall be composed
OF members chosen every second year by the people
OF the several States and the electors in each
shall be citizens of the Confederate States have
the qualifications requisite for of the most
| numerous branch of the State Legislature but no
person of foreign birth citizen of the Confederate
states, shall be allowed 10 vote for any officer, civil
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 nhabitant of that State
Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor
toned among the several States, which may be



spective numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding 10 the whole number of free persons including
those bound TO service for term of years and ex-
cluding Indians not taxed threeffths 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 subsequent term
of ten years, in such manner they shall, by law
direct. The number of Representatives shall not
ceed one for every fifty thousand but each State shall
have at least Representatives. and until such
meratiOn shall be made the State of South Carolina
shall be entitled TO choose six-the State of Geo ga
ten-the State of Alabama Bine-the State of Florida
two-the State of Mississippi seven-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 wrts of election TO fill such vacancies.


S. 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 impeached by
of two-thirds Of both branches of the legislature
thereof


SECTION 3.


J. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be com
posed of 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
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 the
expiration Of the second year of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth and of the third class
at the expiration OF the sixth year that nethird
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
such vacancies.


attained the age Of thirty years. and be citizen Of tho
Confederate States and who shall bot when eieeted
chosen. - a5f- q s--5


a The Vice President of Confederate States shall
be President of eSenae but shall have vote,
less they shall be equally divided.


s. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro tempore in the absence of the Vice
President, when he shall the Office Of Pres
dent of the Confederate States.


g. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all i'm
peachmenis. When sitting for that purpose they shall
be n oath affirmation. When the President of the
Confederate States tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and no person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of twothrds of the members present.


Z. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not
tend further than 10 removal from Office and disqual
hcation to hold and enjoy office of honor proiJ,
under the Confederate States but party convicted
SHALL nevertheless, be liable and sub eel 10 indct-
ment, trial. Judgment and punishment according 10
law.


SECTION 1.


l. The time place and manner of holding elections
for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
in each State by the legs ture thereof subject
provisions of this Constitution but the Congress may
any time, by law, make alter such regulations,


z. The Congress shall assemble at least In every
year meeting shall be the frat MondsE IN
December, unless they SHAH, by law, appoint diir-
ent day.


1. Each House shall be the Judge of the elections
returns and qualifications OF lis own members, and a
ness but a smaller number may adjourn from day 10
day. and may be authorized 10 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 behavior,
and with the concurrence OF wothirds of the whole
number, eXpei member.
3. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ings, 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, the desire of fifth
of those present, by entered on 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
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.


SECTION 6.
l. The Senator's and Representatives shall receive
for their services to be ascertained by
law and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate
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 and returning from the same
and for any speech or debate in either House, they
shall not be questioned IN any other place.


2. No Senator or Representative shall, during the
time for which he was elected, be appointed TO any
civil office under the authority of the Confederate
States which shall have been created or the emolu
ments whereof shall have been increased during such
time and person holding any Office under the Con-
federate states shall be a 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



apperiaining to his department


l. All bills for raising shall originate In the
House of Representatives; but the Senate may pro-
pose concur with amendments as on other bills.


q Every bill which shall have passed both Houses
shall, before it becomes law, be presented the
President of the Confederate States if he approve he
shall sign il but if he shall return with his OBJ
the House in which il shall have originated,
who shall enter the objections at large their journ
ais proceed reconsider it. IT, after such reconsid
eration thirds of that House shall agree pass
the bill il shall be SENT together with the objections
TO the other House, by which It shall likewise be re
considered and if approved by tvyo-thirds Of that
House. it shall become law. But il all such cases,
the of both Houses,sha be determined by yeas
bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House re-
spectively. any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days (sundays excepted) alter it
shall have been presented 10 him. the same shall be a
law in like if he had signed it, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment prevent its return in
which it shall not be law. The President may
approve any appropriation and dsspprove any other
appropriation the same bill In such he shall,
in signing the BILL designate the appropriations disap.
proved; and shall return copy of such appropria-
tons with his objections, 20 the House in which the
bill shall have originated, and the same proceedings
shall then be had In case OF other bills dsapproved
by the President.


g. Every order resolution or VOTE to which the con-
currence of both HOUSES may be necessary Except on


question Of adjournment shall be presented 10 the
President Of the Confederate States and before the
shall take effect, shall be approved by him;
beng disapproyed by him, may be repassed by two
thirds Of both Houses according the rules and ni-
tstions prescribed in case OF bill.


SECTION 8.


The Congress shall have power


l. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and
cises for necessary pay the debts provide
for the common defence, and carry on the govern
ment OF the Confederate Siates but no bounties shall
be granted from the treasury; nor shall any duties
importatons from foreign nations be laid TO
promote foster any branch OF industry; and all du
ties imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States:


2. To borrow money on the credit of the Confeder-
ate States:


g. To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States and with the Indian tribes
but neither this, nor any other clause contain
ed in the constitution shall be construed 10 dele
gate the power to Congress TO appropriate money for
any internal Improvement intended 70 facilitate COM
merce; except for the purpose OF furnishing lights
beacons and buoys and other aids TO upon