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A Comparison of the U.S
and C.S.
Constitutions
U.S. PREAMBLE
We the People of
the United
States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the
general
Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America.
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C.S. PREAMBLE
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 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.
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Article
I (U.S.)
Section 1. All
legislative
Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United
States,
which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
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Article
I (C.S.)
Section 1. All
legislative
powers herein delegated shall be vested in a Congress of the Confederate
States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of
Representatives.
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Section 2.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 have the
Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of
the State Legislature.
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Section 2.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 a citizen of the Confederate States, shall be
allowed
to vote for any officer, civil or political, State or Federal.
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No Person shall be
a Representative
who shall not have attained to the Age of Twenty five Years, and been
seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when
elected, be
an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
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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 been seven years a Citizen
of the Confederate States, and who shall not, when elected, be
an inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
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Representatives
and direct
Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be
included
within this Union, 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 other Persons The actual Enumeration shall be made within
three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United
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 thirty
Thousand,
but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such
enumeration
shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse
three,
Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one,
Connecticut
five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one,
Maryland
six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and
Georgia
three.
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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 with
in 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.
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When vacancies
happen in the
Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall
issue
Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
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When vacancies
happen in the
representation from any State, the Executive authority thereof shall
issue
writs of election to fill such vacancies.
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The House of
Representatives
shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole
Power
of Impeachment.
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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.
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Section 3. The
Senate of the
United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen
by
the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one
Vote.
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Section 3. 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.
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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.
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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.
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No Person shall be
a Senator
who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine
Years
a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an
Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
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No Person shall be
a Senator
who shall not have attained to 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.
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The Vice President
of the United
States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless
they
be equally divided.
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The Vice President
of the Confederate States shall be President of the Senate, but
shall have no vote, unless they
be equally divided.
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The Senate shall
chuse 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
United
States.
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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.
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The Senate shall
have the sole
Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they
shall
be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is
tried,
the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted
without
the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
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The Senate shall
have the sole
power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they
shall
be on 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.
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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 United
States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and
subject to Indictment, Trial,Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
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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.
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Section 4.The
Times, Places
and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall
be
prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress
may
at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the
Places
of chusing Senators.
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Section 4.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.
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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.
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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.
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Section 5. 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.
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Section 5. 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.
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Each House may
determine the
Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour,
and,
with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
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Each House may
determine the
rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour,
and,
with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member.
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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. 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.
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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. 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.
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Section 6. The
Senators and
Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be
ascertained
by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United 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.
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Section 6.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.
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No Senator or
Representative
shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any
civil
Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been
created,
or the Emoluments where of shall have been encreased during such time;
and
no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member
of either House during his Continuance in Office.
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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 officers
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.
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Section 7. All
Bills for raising
Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate
may
propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
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Section 7. All
Bills for raising
revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate
may
propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
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Every Bill which
shall have
passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it
become
a Law, be presented to the President of the United 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.
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Every bill which
shall have
passed both Houses, shall before it becomes law, be presented
to the
President of the Confederate States; if he approves, 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 law. But
in
all 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 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.
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Every Order,
Resolution, or
Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of
Representatives
may be necessary (exception a question of Adjournment) shall be
presented
to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take
Effect,
shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be
repassed
by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to
the
Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
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Every order,
resolution, or
vote to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary
(exception
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 by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of both
Houses,
according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.
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Section 8. The
Congress shall
have Power
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Section 8.The
Congress shall
have power--
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To lay and collect
Taxes, Duties,
Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common
Defense
and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and
Excises
shall be uniform throughout the United States;
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To lay and collect
taxes, duties,
imposts and excises, for revenue necessary to pay the debts,
provide
for the common defense, and carry on the Government of the
Confederate
States; but no bounties shall be granted from the Treasury; for 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:
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To borrow Money on
the credit
of the United States;
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To borrow money on
the credit
of the Confederate States;
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To regulate
Commerce with foreign
Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.
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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.
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