Year: 1861

4 -tf.5 Eff9 i


we the people of the qsnfederafestate


acting in its sovereign indepen6 u sizzsesef


order to form permanent federal eoFes 3neuts sst


the blessings of liberty ourselves and o1< tzser
y-nyoking the faver and guidance Of Aim stsy ee<


do ordain and establish this Cousfst1foE Idf fie
Confederate States Of America.
| ARTICLE l.


| SECTION l.


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.


/. The House of Representatives shall be composed


of members chosen every second year by the people


of the several >tates and the each State


shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have


the qualifications requisite for the most
| numerous branch of the State Legislature but no


person of foreign BIRTH not citizen of the Confederate
States shall be allowed TO vote Tor any officer, civil
political, State 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 inhabitant of that in
which he shall be chosen.


3. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among the several States, which may be in
cluded within this Conederacy according their
spectye numbers, which shall be determined by ad-
ding TO the whole number free persons including
those bound TO service for a of years and ex
Sluoing INDIANS not taxed tlreehfhs 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 ex
coed for every fifty thousand but each state shall
have least Representative and until such epu
meraton shall be made the State South Carolina
shall be entitled TO choose six-tbe State Of Geo ola
ten-the State of Alabama nine-the State of Florida
two-the State of Mississippi seven-the State of Lou
isana six, and the State of Texas SIX 80
4. When vacancies happen the representation
from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue writs of election to fill such vacancies
s. The House of REPRESENTATIVES shall choose their
speaker and other officers; 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.


SECTION 8.


l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be COM
posed of Senators from each State chosen for six
years by the legislature thereof at 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
equally may be into three classes The of
the Senators of the first class shall be vacated the
expiration OF the second of the second class at
the expiration of the fourth of the third class
at the expiration of the sixth that onethird
may be chosen every second year and if vacancies
happen by resignation, or 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 I'LL
such vacancies.


g. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have
attained the age of thirty years and be citizen of the
Confederate States and who shall not when elected,
be an nhabitant of the State for which he shall be
chosen.


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


g. The Senate shall choose their other officers and
also President pro teore 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
peachments. When nsittng for that purpose, they shall
be oath or affirmation When the President of the
Confederate States is tried the Chief Justice shall pre-
side and person shall be convicted without the
concurrence OF two-thirds of the members present


T. Judgment in cases of Impeachment shall not ex-
tend further than to removal from office and disauai
caton to hold and enjoy any office of honor profit
under the Confederate States but the party
shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject indct-
ment, trial, judgment and punishment according
law.


1. The time, place and manner Of holding elections /
for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed
each State by the legs ture thereof subject
provisions of this Constitution the Congress nav
at any time by law, make alter such regulations,
except as to the times and places of choosing


2 The Congress shall assem- at least Once in every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday in
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint differ
ant day.


SECTION g.


1. 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 do bus
ness but smaller number may adjourn from day to
day, and may be authorized compel the attendance
Of absent members, in such manner and under such
penalties as each House may provide


Each Honss may deternlIIe pro |
ceedngs, punish its members for disorderly behavior
and with the of twothirds of the whole
number, expel member.


8. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed |
ngs and from time to tiuae publish the excepting
such parts may in their Judgment require secrecy
and the yeas and nays Of the members of either
House, question, SHALL at the desire of fifth
Of those present, by entered on the journal
4. Neither House, during the session of Congress,
than three days. any other place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.


SECTION Q.


1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
for their services be ascertained by
law and paid of the treasury of the Confederate
States. They shall, in all cases. except treason, and
their attendance at the session of their respective
Houses and in going to and returning from the same
and for any speech or 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 was elected, be app nted TO any
civil office under the authority of the Confederate
States, which shall have been created, the emolu
whereof shall have been increased during such
time and no person holding any Office under the Con-
faderate States shall he a member Of either Houza
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
House. with the privilege of discussing any
appertaining TO his department


SECTION I.


1. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the
House of Representatives; but the Senate may pro-
pose or concur with amendments other bills.


2. Every bill which shall have passed both Hruses,
President of the Confederate States if he approve he
shall sign il but If he shall with his OBJ
DectlonS TO the House IN Whct shall have originated
who shall enter the objections at large their journ
ais proceed reconsider it. If after such reconsid
GRAFTON, twothirds 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
and if approved by two-thirds of that
House. il shall become law. But in all such cases.
the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas
and nays and the persons voting for and against the
bill shall be entered the journal of each House
spectlvey If any bill shall not be returned by the
President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after
shall have been presented to him. the same shall be
law, in like manner he had signed it, unless the
Congress- by their adjournment, prevent its return in
which case it shall not be law. The President may
approve any appropriation and dsapprove any other
appropriation In the 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, to the House in which the
bill shall have originated, and the proceedings
shall then be had in case of other bills disapproved
by the President.


g. Every order resolution vote, TO which the con-
currence both Houses may be necessary Except
Question of adjournment) shall be presented 10 the
Presdent of the Confederate states: and before the
same shall take effect, shall be approved by him; or
beng disapproved by him, may be passed by two
thirds of both Houses according to the rules and imi
tations prescribed in case of bill.


ss SECTION 8


The Congress shall have power


l. To lay and collect taxes duties, imposts and ex
cises for necessary 10 pay the debts provide
for the common defence, and carry on the govern.
ment of Confederate states, but bountes shall
taxes ON inportations from foreign nations be laid to
promote foster branch of industry; and all du-
ties imposts and excses shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States:'


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


q Te regulate commerce with foreign nations, and
among the several States with the Indian tribes;
but neither this, nor any other Ielause contain
ed the constitution, shall be construed 10 dele
gate power Congress TO appropriate money for
any internal Improvement intended TO facilitate com
mercs; except for the purpose of furnishing lights
beacons and buoys and other aids to navigation upon
the coasts and the improvement of harbors and the
removing of distractions in river navigation IN ali


1nfsa hall ha tai
ton facilitated thereby, may be necessary 70 pay
the costs and expenses thereof: ~