Amendments to Constitution. ARTICLE V. 1. The Congress, by a vote of two-thirds, may, at any time, alter or amend this Constitution. ARTICLE VI. laws of the Confede land. The Constitution, 1. This Constitution, and the laws of the Confederacy which shall racy and treaties, the be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be supreme law of the made, under the authority of the Confederacy, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. All matters between the States for ming rates of the United 2. The Government hereby instituted shall take immediate steps for this Government, and the settlement of all matters between the States forming it, and their their late confede- other late confederates of the United States in relation to the public States, to be settled. property and public debt at the time of their withdrawal from them; these States hereby declaring it to be their wish and earnest desire to adjust everything pertaining to the common property, common liability and common obligations of that union, upon the principles of right, justice, equity, and good faith. Seat of Government. Oath of members of Congress, and of ex 3. Until otherwise provided by the Congress, the city of Montgomery in the State of Alabama, shall be the seat of Government. 4. The members of the Congress and all executive and judicial offiecutive and judicial cers of the Confederacy shall be bound by oath or affirmation to supNo religious test port this Constitution; but no religious test shall be required as a qualrequired as qualifica- ification to any office or public trust under this Confederacy. officers. tion for office. Done in the Congress, by the unanimous consent of all the said South Carolina.-R. Barnwell Rhett, R. W. Barnwell, James Ches- Georgia.-R. Toombs, Francis S. Bartow, Martin J. Crawford, E. A. Florida.-Jackson Morton, Jas. B. Owens, J. Patton Anderson. Mississippi.-W. P. Harris, Alex. M. Clayton, W. S. Wilson, James By a vote of the Congress, on the second day of March, in the year 1861, the Deputies from the State of Texas were authorized to sign the Provisional Constitution above written. Attest, J. J. HOOPER, Texas.-Thomas M. Waul, Williamson S. Oldham, John Gregg, John AMENDMENT TO THE PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES. An Ordinance of the Convention of the Congress of the Confederate States. May 21, 1861. Amendment to 2nd of 1st & 3rd art. of Be it ordained by the Congress of the Confederate States of America, That the second paragraph of the first section of the third Article of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, be so amend- Provisional Constitued in the first line of said paragraph, as to read, "Each state shall, until otherwise enacted by law, constitute a district;" and in the sixth line, after the word "judge," add "or judges." APPROVED May 21, 1861. tion. CONSTITUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. Purposes for whic the Constitution was lished. We, the people of the Confederate States, each State acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent ordained and estabfederal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity-invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God-do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Confederate States of America. ARTICLE I. SECTION 1. vested in Congress. All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested in a Congress Legislative power of the Confederate States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. SECTION 2. House of Repre sentatives; when 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States; and the chosen; qualification electors in each State shall be citizens of the Confederate States, and of electors. have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature; but no person of foreign birth, not a citizen of the Confederate States, shall be allowed to vote for any officer, civil or political, State or Federal. 2. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, and be a citizen of the Confederate States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen, Qualifications Representative. of How Representa-tives and direct taxes 3. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States, which may be included within this Confederacy, accord- are apportioned. ing to their respective numbers, which shall be determined, by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all slaves. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after Census to be taken the first meeting of the Congress of the Confederate States, and within every ten years. every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by Ratio of representlaw direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for ation limited. every fifty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be madé, the State of South Carolina shall be entitled to choose six; the State of Georgia ten; the State of Alabama nine; the State of Florida two; the State of Missis-sippi seven; the State of Louisiana six; and the State of Texas six. Vacancies in the 4. When vancancies happen in the representation from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such representation; how filled. er of impeachment. vacancies. House chooses its 5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and officers, and has pow- other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment; except that any judicial or other Federal officer, resident and acting solely within the limits of any State, may be impeached by a vote of twothirds of both branches of the Legislature thereof. Benate; how composed. Senators; how chosen. Senators divided into three classes. ators vacated. SECTION 3. 1. The Senate of the Confederate States shall be composed of two 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 one vote. 2. Immediately after they shall be assembled, in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three When seats of Sen- classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year; of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year; and of the third class at the expiration of the Executive of a sixth year; so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and cy during recess of if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess 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. State may fill vacan- Qualifications Senators. of Vice President is President of Senate; division. 3. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of thirty years, and be a citizen of the Confederate States; and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of the State for which he shall be chosen. 4. The Vice President of the Confederate States shall be President votes only on equal of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. 5. The Senate shall choose their other officers; and also a President officers. When it may pro tempore in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall choose President pro exercise the office of President of the Confederate States. Senate chooses its tempore. Senate has sole 6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. power to try impeach- When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. Chief Justice pre- When the President of the Confederate States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. sides when President is tried. Extent of judgment on impeachment. 7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office Party convicted of honor, trust or profit, under the Confederate States; but the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law. subject to indictment at law. SECTION 4. Time, place, and manner of electing sentatives; how prescribed. 1. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Senators and Repre- Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof, subject to the provisions of this Constitution; but the Congress may, at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the times and places of choosing Senators. How often and when Congress to meet. 2. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year; and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall, by law, appoint a different day. |