Year: 1861

We the people of the Confederate States each State
acting its sovereign and independent character in
order form permanent federal government, esIab
sh justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure
the blessings of liberty ourselves poster
ty-inyOking the Etver and guidance of Almighty Sod
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
Confederate States of America -
ARTICLE l.


SECTION 1.


All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested
in Congress of the Confederate States which shall
consist Of 4 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 State
shall be citizens of the Confederate States and have
the qualifications requisite for electors of the most
numerous branch of the State Legislature but no
person of foreign BIRTH not 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
DOT, when elected, be inhabant of that State in


3. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be appor-
toned among the sever A States, which may be in
cluded within this Coniieracy according 10 their re-
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-
Guiding Indians not taxed, threehfths of all slaves
The actual enumeration shall be made within three
after the first meeting of the Congress of the
SdleS, ana MIInln every subsequent term
OF ten years, in such manner as they shall by law
direct The number of Representatives shall ex
ceed one for every fifty thousand but each State shall
nave at least one Representatives and until such
meratiOn shall be made the State of South Carolina
shall be entitled 10 choose six-the of gia
en-the State of Alabama nine-the State of Florida
two-the State of Mississippi seven-the State of Lou
siana six, and the State of Texas SIX.


1. When vacancies happen in the representation
from State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue wTits of election 10 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
Oher federal officers resident and acting solely
the limits of any State, may be impeached by
vi two-thlrds of both branches of the Legislature
thereof.


H SECTION 3.


l. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be
posed of Senator's from each State chosen for six
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 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 of the third class
the expiration of the sixth year that Onethrd
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 fill
such vacancies.


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


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


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


O. The shall have the sole power to try all i'm
peachments. When sitting for that purpose they shall
be IN oath or 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 ex-
tend further Than to removal from office and disqua-
fcation to hold and enjoy any office of honor profit
under the Confederate States but the party convicted
shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indict-
ment, trial. Judgment and punishment according to
law.


SECTION L.


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


z. The Congress shall assemble at least in every
year and such meeting shall be the first Monday in
December, unless they shall, by law, appoint dler-
ent day.


SECTION s.


L. Each House shall be the judge of the elections
returns and qualifications of its members, and a
majority of each shall constitute quorum do bust
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-
ceedngs punish its members for disOrdery behavior,
and with the concurrence of thirds of the whole
number, eXpel member.


8. Each House shall keep journal of its proceed
ngs, and from time 10 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
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, any other place than that
in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
E-. SECTION 8.


L. The Senators and Representatives shall receive
compensation for their services, to 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 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 the emolu-
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 seat upon the floor of either
House. with the privilege of discussing measures
appertaning TO his department.


SECTION Z.


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


2 Every bill which shall have passed both Hnuses,
shall, before it becomes law, be presented to the
President of the Confederate States if he approve he
shall sign il but if not he shall return it with his OBJ
iections the House in which it shall have originated
who shall enter the objections large their iOurn-
ais and proceed reconsider it. IT. after such reconsid
GRAFTON, twohrds of that House shall agree TO pass
the BILL 1t shall be SENT together with the objections,
10 the other House, by which it shall likewise be
considered, and if approved by two-thirds OF that
House. il shall become law. But in all such cases.
the votes of both Housessha be determined by yeas
and nays and the persons voting for and against
bill shall be entered on the journal of each House
spectvely. 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 it's return
Wilcn case IL shall not be law The President may
approve any appropriation and dsapprove any other
appropriation in the same bill In such he shall,
IN signing the bill, designate the appropriations dsap
proved; and shall return copy of such appropria-
uons with his objections, the House in which the
shall then be had Of other bills disapproved
by the President


g. Every order, resolution VOTE to which the
currence of both Houses may te necessary Except
question of adjournment) shall be presented TO the
President Of the Confederate States and before the
same shall take effect shall be approved by him;
being dsapproved by him, may be re-passed by two
thirds OF both Houses according to the rules and m
tations prescribed in case of bill.


SECTION s


The Congress shall have power


L. To lay and collect Duties imposts, and ex
cses for necessary pay the debts provide
Tor the common defence, and carry the govern
ment of the Confederate States, but bounties shall
be granted from the treasury; shall any duties or
taxes importations from foreign nations be ald 10
promote or foster any branch OF Industry and all du
ties, lmposts and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the Confederate States: