May 24, 1861. Government removed to Richmond, Virginia. November 6, 1861. Election of President and Vice-President, for term of six years, commencing February 22, 1862. Jefferson Davis elected as President. Alexander H. Stephens elected as Vice-President. February 22, 1862. Organization under the permanent Constitution. Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President at Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate Provisional Congress held five sessions: First session, Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 4, 1861, to Mar. 16, 1861. July 20, 1861, to Aug. 31, 1861. The Permanent Constitution had two Congresses. FIRST CONGRESS. First session, Feb. 22, 1862, to Apr. 22, 1862. First session, May 2, 1864, to June 15, 1864. There were one hundred members of the lower house of the Provisional Congress. There was no Senate until 1862. The first Senate was complete, two Senators from each State. At its best, Congress numbered twenty-six in the Senate, and one hundred and six in the House. At the first meeting of the Provisional Congress, the delegates from the following States numbered: South Carolina 8, Georgia 10, Alabama 9, Mississippi 7, Louisiana 5, Florida 3. The Texas delegates, numbering 7, took seats at first session, March 2, 1861; Arkansas 5, Virginia 8, and Tennessee 9, in May, 1861; North Carolina 10, in July, 1861; Kentucky 4 and Missouri 7, in December, 1861. Kentucky and Missouri were represented, though as States they never seceded. The Confederates States government lasted four years, one month, and fourteen days. Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware failed to pass an Ordinance of Secession, so declared themselves neutral. All the States represented in both houses of the United States Congress, May 28, 1872. CONSTITUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. We, the People of the Confederate States, each State acting in its Sovereign and Independent character, in order to form a Permanent Federal Government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, 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 I. All legislative powers herein delegated shall be vested in a Congress of the Confederate States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives. SECTION II. 1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the 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. 1 Popular vote for separation 104,019, against 47,288. 2. No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained the age of twentyfive 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. 3. Representatives and Direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States, which may be included within this Confederacy, according 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 the first meeting of the Congress of the Confederate States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every fifty thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, 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 Mississippi seven, the State of Louisiana six, and the State of Texas six. 4. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 5. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and 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 two thirds of both branches of the Legislature thereof. SECTION III. 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 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 sixth year; so that one third may be chosen every second year, and 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. 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 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 pro tempore in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the Confederate States. 6. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on an oath or affirmation. 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. 7. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office 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. SECTION IV. 1. The times, place and manner of holding elections for Senators and 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. 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. SECTION V. 1. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a 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 proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two thirds of the whole number, expel a member. 3. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as 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 one fifth of those present, be entered on the Journal. 4. Neither House, during the session of Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. SECTION VI. 1. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Confederate States. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony 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 emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no person holding any office under the Confederate 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 Executive Departments a seat upon the floor of either House, with the privilege of discussing any measures appertaining to his Department. SECTION VII. 1. All bills for raising the revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as on other bills. 2. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the Confederate States. If he approve, he shall sign it, but if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases, the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return; in which case it shall not be a law. The President may approve any appropriation and disapprove any other appropriation in the same bill. In such case he shall, in signing the bill, designate the appropriations disapproved; and shall return a copy of such appropriations, with his objections, to the House in which the bill shall have originated and the same proceedings shall then be had as in case of other bills disapproved by the President. 3. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary (except on a 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, or being disapproved, shall be repassed by two thirds of both Houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill. SECTION VIII. The Congress shall have power 1. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, for revenue necessary to pay the debts, provide for the common defence and carry on the Government of the Confederate States; but no bounties shall be granted from the treasury; nor shall any duties or taxes on importations from foreign nations be laid to promote or foster any branch of industry; and all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the Confederate States. 2. To borrow money on the credit of the Confederate States. 8. To regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes; but neither this nor any other clause contained in the Constitution, shall ever be construed to delegate the power to Congress to appropriate money for any internal improvement intended to facilitate commerce; except for the purpose of furnishing lights, beacons, and buoys, and other aid to navigation upon the coasts; and the improvement of harbors, and the removing of obstructions in river navigation, in all which cases such duties shall be laid on the navigation facilitated thereby, as may be necessary to pay the costs and expenses thereof. 4. To establish uniform laws of Naturalization and uniform laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the Confederate States; but no law of Congress shall discharge any debt contracted before the passage of the same. 5. To coin money, regulate the value thereof and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures. 6. To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the Confederate States. 7. To establish post-offices and post-routes, but the expenses of the Post-Office Department, after the first day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-three shall be paid out of its own revenues. 8. To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries. 9. To constitute Tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court. 10. To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations. 11. To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and on water. 12. To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money for that use shall be for a longer term than two years. 13. To provide and maintain a navy. 14. To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces. 15. To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Confederate States, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions. 16. To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the Confederate States, reserving to the States, respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. 17. To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may by session of one or more States and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the Confederate States, and to exercise like authority over places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, and arsenals, dockyards and other needful buildings: and 18. To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the Confederate States, or in any Department or Office thereof. SECTION IX. 1. The importation of negroes of the African race, from any foreign country other than the slave-holding States or Territories of the United States of America, is hereby forbidden and Congress is required to pass such laws as shall effectually prevent the same. 2. Congress shall also have power to prohibit the introduction of slaves from any State not a member of, or Territory not belonging to, this Confederacy. 3. The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of Rebellion or Invasion the public safety may require it. 4. No Bill of Attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed. 5. No Capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. 6. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State, except by a vote of two thirds of both Houses. 7. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another. 8. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. 9. Congress shall appropriate no money from the treasury except by a vote of two thirds of both Houses, taken by Yeas and Nays, unless it be asked and estimated for by some one of the Heads of Departments, and submitted to Congress by the President; or for the purpose of paying its own expenses and contingencies or for the payment of claims against the Confederate States, the justice of which shall have been judicially declared by a tribunal for the investigation of claims against the Government, which it is hereby made the duty of Congress to establish. 10. All bills appropriating money shall specify in Federal currency the exact amount of each appropriation and the purposes for which it is made, and Congress shall grant no extra compensation to any public contractor, officer, agent, or servant, after such contract shall have been made or such service rendered. 11. No title of nobility shall be granted by the Confederate States; and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall without the consent of Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State. 12. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 13. A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. 14. No soldier shall in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 15. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. 16. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time or war or public danger, nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb, nor be compelled, in any criminal case, to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law, nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. 17. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation to be confronted with the witnesses against him to have Compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. 18. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by Jury shall be preserved, and no fact so tried by a Jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the Confederacy, than according to the rules of common law. |