Year: 1861

we the people of the Confederate States, each Sta


acting in its sovereign and independent character,


order to form permanent federal government, esta


lish justice insure domestic tranquility, and secul


ty--invoking the faver and guidance of Almighty Go
do ordan and establish this Constitution for th
Confederate States Of America


ARTICLE l.


| SECTION 1.


All legislative powers herein delegated shall be
in a Congress of the Confederate States which sha
| consist Of Senate and House of Representatives
| SECTION 9. r
| l. The House of Representatives shall be compose
Of members chosen every second year by the peopi
shall be citizens Of the Confederate States, and hav
the qualifications requisite for electors of the mos
| numerous branch of the State legislature but NJ
person of foreign birth citizen of the Confederate
States shall be allowed to vote for any officer civil
political, State or Federal
| q No person shall be Representative who shall
not have attained the age Of twenty five years. and
bes citizen of the Confederate states who shall
not, when elected be inhabitaut Of that State in
| which he shall be chosen.


g. Representatives Direct Taxes shall be appor-
| toned among the several States, which may be in
cluded within this Confederaey according their
spectve numbers, which shall be determined, by ad-
ding to the whole number of free persons including
those bound TO service for term of years, and
cuding Indians net 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 term
OF ten years, in such manner they shall, by law
direct The number of Representatives shall ex-
cee 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 choose sx-the State of Geo: gia
| ten-the State OF Alabama nine-the State of Florida
two-the State of Mississippi seyeutLe state of lou
isiana six, and the State of Texas SIX
1 l. When vacancies happen in the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall
/ issue wrts of election TO fill 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
oIher federal officers resident and acting solely within
the limits OF any State, Rlay be impeached by
of two-thirds Of both branches OF the Legislature
thereof


SECTION 8.


l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be com
posed OF two Senators from each State chosen for six
by the legislature thereof at 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
as equally may be into three classes. The seats OF
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration of the second year. of the second class
the expiration of the fourth and the third
at the expiration of the sixth year so that Onethrd
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the
cess 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


8. No person shall be Senator who shall not have
attained the Of thirty years. and be citizen
Confederate States and who shall not, when elected
be inhabitant OF the State for which he shall be
chosen.


The Vice President of the Confederate States shall
be President Of theSenate but shall have VOTE
less they shall be equally divided.
8. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President tepore in the absence of the Vice
President when he shall exercise the Office of Presi-
dent of the Confederate States.


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


I. Judgment in cases of impeachment shah not ex-
tend further than to removal from office and disquali-
under the Confederate but the party convicted
shall, nevertheless be liable and subject indct-
ment, trial, judgment and punishment according to
law. t


I. The time, place and manner OF holding elections
for Senator's and Representatives shall be prescribed
in each State by the leg ture thereof subject
provisions of this Constitution the Congress may
at any time by law, make alter such regulations,
The Congress shall assemble least once ia every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday in
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint a differ
snt day. .-..


SECTION s.


l. Each House shall be the judge of the elections
returns and qualifications of its own members, and
majority of each shall constitute quorum do busi-
ness but smaller number may adjourn from day TO
day. and may be authorized to compel the attendance
of absent members, in such manner and under such
penalties as each House may provide
2. Each House may determine the rules of its pro-





and with the concurrence Of twothrds of the whole
number, expel member.
8. Each House shall keep Journal of its proceed
ngs and from time to time publish the excepting
such parts may in their judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays of the members of either
House, on any question, shall, at the desire Of fifth
of those present, by entered on the journal.
a. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
shall, without the consent of the other adjourn
than three days any other place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting


SECTION @.
1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services be ascertaned 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 during
their attendance at the session of their respective
Houses and in going to and returning from the
and for any speech debate 10 either House, they
shall not be questioned IN any other place.
2 No Senator or Representative shall, during the |
time for which he elected, be app inted to any |
civil ONCE 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 law grant to the principal officer in each of the Ex
ecutive Departments upon the floor of either
House, with the privilege os discussing any
TO his department.


SECTION Z. |
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.
2 Every bill which shall have passed both Houses,
shall, before it becomes law, be presented the





shall sign but if not he shall it with his OBJ
jections to the House in which shall have originated
who shall enter the objections ut large their ourn
ais and proceed TO reconsider IT, r. after such reconsd
GRAFTON, twothirds of that House shall agree pass
the BILL it shall be sent together with the objections,
TO the other House, by which il shall likewise be
and if approved by two-thirds of that
House. it shall become law But in all such cases,
the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and nays the persons voting for aud against the
bill shall be entered the journal of each House re-
spectvely. II any bill shall not be returned by the
Aux
shall have been presented to him. the same shall be
law, in like manner if he had signed it, unless the
Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return;
which case it hall not be law The President NAV
approve any ropriation and disapprove any other
,S the same biz In such case he sha
proved and shall return copy of such appropria
tous, with Et objections, the House in which the
bill shall hafe originated and the same proceedings
shall then behad in of other bills disapproyed
by the President.


g. Every order, resolution VOTE to which the con
question of adjournment) shall be presented to the
President Of the Confederate States and before the
same shall take effect, shah be approved by him.
oelng disapproyed by him, may be repassed by two
thirds OF both Houses according the rules and ii
fafions prescribed in case of bills


SECTION s


The Congress shall have power


1. To lay and collect taxes duties imposts and ex-
cse for revenue necessary to pay the debts provide
for the common defence, and carry on the govern
ment of the Confederate States but no bountes shall
taxes on imporatons from foreign nations be laid to
promote or foster any branch Of industry and al du
ties, imposs and exeises shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States:
2 To borrow money on the credit Of the Confeder-
ate States: t.--


g. Te regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States and with the Indian tribes
but neither this, any other clause contain
ed in the constitution shah ever be construed 10 deie
gate the power to Congress to appropriate money iof
any internal Improvement intended 70 facilitate COM
merce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights,
beacous and buoys and other aids navigation upon
the coasts and the Improvement of harbors and the
removing of distractions In river navigation, IN All
which cases. such duties shall be laid on the naviga
ton facilitated thereby, may be necessary TO pay
the and expenses thereof:


T. o establish uniform laws Of Naturalization, and
uniform laws the subject Of bankruptcies, through
laprn