The constitution of the united states defined and carefully annotated. 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. Full text of constitution of the confederate states of. Given such a close resemblance between the two documents, and the abun. The confederate states of americas supreme law was the constitution of the confederate states of america csa adopted on march 11, 1861, and in effect through the conclusion of the american civil war. The confederate states constitution, formally the constitution of the confederate states of america, was the supreme law of the confederate states, as adopted on march 11, 1861, and in effect from february 22, 1862, through the conclusion of the american civil war. Constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861 idca. Confederate states of america author of constitution of. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site. 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 tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterityinvoking the favor and guidance of almighty goddo ordain and establish this. Supremacy of the constitution and good governance in nigeria benedict d. Unlike the united states constitution, the confederate constitution gave the president the ability to subject a bill to a line item veto, a power also held by some state governors.
The constitution for the confederate states of america was the supreme law of the confederate states of america. See also whats at your library, or elsewhere broader terms. Together with the constitution for the provisional government, and the permanent constitution of the confederate states, and the treaties concluded by the. Original constitution of the confederate states of america. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading constitution of the confederate states of america. Constitution of the confederacy american civil war. One had to swallow the entire document, slavery and all, swooning over a single sixyear term for president or any other socalled improvement. Us constitutionliteral print government publishing office. Confederate states of america records a finding aid to the collection in the library of congress manuscript division, library of congress washington, d. Constitution of the confederate states the gift of history. But for a brief time, a third constitution controlled the lives of about 9 million people. The government established by this constitution is the successor of the provisional government of the confederate states of america, and all laws passed by the latter shall continue in force until the same shall be repealed or modified. The house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen.
Ewemie and ainabor augutine e abstract the dynamics of nigerias history has imposed on it a succession of leaders who ruled in such a way that sharply showed absence of good governance in nigerias developmental efforts. But from the states perspective, after ratification by state officers, its the. Constitution of the confederate states of america kindle edition by provisional government. The congress of delegates from the seceding southern states convened at montgomery, alabama, on february 4, 1861. What did the constitution of the confederate states of. Zscout370 grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law. Constitution as a guide and most of them had been heavily involved in the government before the separation of the states. Confederate states of america is the author of constitution of the confederate states of america 3. Letters of marque and reprisal are documents that authorize private vessels to attack enemy shipping. Page xiii constitution of the united states of america1787. It is now in the museum of the confederacy in richmond. Surprisingly the confederate constitution upheld the federal governments right to. In all such territory the institution of negro slavery, as it now exists in the confederate states, shall be recognized and protected be congress and by the territorial government. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a.
The constitution of the confederate states of america. 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. Confederacy, name commonly given to the confederate states of america 186165, the government established by the southern states of the united states after their secession from the union. 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 posterityinvoking the favor and guidance of almighty goddo ordain and establish this constitution for the confederate states of america. On march 11, 1861, delegates from the newly formed confederate states of america agreed on their own constitution. Constitution of the united states of america analysis and interpretation 2014 interim ed.
The house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several. In framing the constitution of the confederate states, the authors adopted, with numerous elisions and additions, the language of the constitution of the united states, and followed the same order of arrangement of articles and sections. Confederate states of america constitution for the provisional government 1861 we, the deputies of the sovereign and independent states of south carolina, georgia, florida, alabama, mississippi, and louisiana, invoking the favor of almighty god, do hereby, in behalf of these states, ordain and establish this constitution for the provisional. Constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861. The confederacy also operated under a provisional constitution from february 8, 1861, to february 22, 1862.
He sold the manuscript copy of the permanent constitution to mrs. My interest it less in reprinting the confederate states constitution csc than in illustrating the differences between it and the us constitution usc. President of the confederate states of america wikipedia. Slavery in the confederate constitution abbeville institute. Constitution of the state of texas 1861 tarlton law library. The document consists of five vellum sheets pasted together and rolled, signed by howell cobb, president of the congress and delegates from alabama, florida, georgia, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, and texas. He understood that the constitution created a republican form of government which, by definition, recognized the supremacy of the states in all powers not relegated by the constitution to the central government. The permanent constitution provided for a president of the confederate states of america, elected to serve a sixyear term but without the possibility of reelection. A view of the constitution of the united states of america. The constitution of the confederate states of america was implemented on march 11, 1861, although it was formally effective from february 18, 1862 with jefferson davis of mississippi as the president and alexander h.
Legislation confederate states of america the statutes at large of the provisional government of the confederate states of america, from the institution of the government, february 8, 1861, to its termination, february 18, 1862. The following is the complete text of the constitution of the confederate states of america, as adopted on march 11, 1861. What the confederate states constitution says about. The statutes at large of the provisional government of the confederate states of america, from the institution of the government, february 8, 1861, to its termination, february 18, 1862, inclusive. Analysis and interpretation 7 and important had been the judicial interpretation of the constitution in the interim that a very much larger volume was the result. Constitution of the united states known as the articles of confederation. There are many nominal differences, including limited the president and vice president to a single sixy. Constitution of the confederate states of america kindle. The writers of this document, of course, had the u. Transcribed excerpt from the constitution of the confederate states of america. A third constitution that briefly controlled part of. From citizens perspective, this constitution is a onesided political covenant, since citizens dont sign it. It was completed on march 11, 1861, with its adoption by the constitutional convention in montgomery, alabama, and was later ratified by.
We, the deputies of the sovereign and independent states of south carolina, georgia, florida, alabama, mississippi, and louisiana, invoking the favor of almighty god, do hereby, in behalf of these states, ordain and establish this constitution for the provisional government of the same. Points wherin the confederate constitution surpassed the. The house of representatives agreed to a con ference report on june 30, 1965, and the senate agreed to the conference report on july 6, 1965. Article iii constitution of the state of texas 1861. For studies of the confederate states of america, this is a good read.
Constitution of the provisional government of the confederate states of america. This work has been released into the public domain by its author, zscout370. No such prohibition exists in the 1787 constitution. The executive power shall be vested in a president of the confederate states of america. What was the confederate states of america constitution. The confederate constitution was largely the same as the united states constitution, with several notable changes.
That all persons who were citizens of the state of texas on the second day of march, eighteen hundred and sixtyone. It incorporated much of the united states constitution, even integrating the first twelve amendments first ten known as the bill of rights. The collection consists of the original signed manuscript of the permanent constitution of the confederate states of america, adopted on march 11, 1861. If the day ever came when slavery was eliminated voluntarily throughout the united states of america, not one word of the united states constitution would need to be changed, whereas slavery could never lawfully be abolished. The constitution of the united states the signing of the constitution took place on september 17, 1787, at the pennsylvania state house now called independence hall in philadelphia.
The constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861. In what ways did the constitution of 1861 reflect the interest in joining the confederate states of america. Confederate states of america constitution, ms 1512. Unlike the confederate states constitution, the united states constitution freely permitted states to abolish slavery. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Confederate states of america part three some notes on the postal legislation postal rates postal uses and earliest known dates of use of the stamps of the general issue by stanley b. He, together with the vice president, shall hold his office for one year, or until this provisional government shall be superseded by a permanent government, whichsoever shall first occur. In some countries this may not be legally possible. The university of georgia purchased the constitution from the derenne family in 1939. Confederate states of america collection selected special. The constitution of the united states of america with explanatory notes. Read first, second, and third times and engrossed, and unanimously adopted. We, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a permanent federal government. Constitution of the confederate states of america 1861, by confederate states of america html at yale constitution of the provisional government of the confederate states of america montgomery, al.
The constitution of the united states of america us department of. Article ii constitution of the state of texas 1861. The powers of the government of the state of texas, shall be divided into three distinct departments, and each of them be confided to a separate body of magistracyto wit. The permanent confederate states constitution made him commanderinchief of the army and navy, and of the militia of the confederated states when called into service of the confederate states. Pdf the constitution of the confederate states of america, 1861. The csa, prior to the constitutions passage, operated under a provisional constitution from february 8, 1861 to march 11, 1861. Which constitution governing texas was a fundamental departure from traditional texas beliefs and values.
Constitution of the confederate states of america the u. Sets of selected primary sources on specific topics, available as easytoprint pdfs. According to the preamble of the confederate states of americas csa constitution, what power will states in the confederacy have. They quickly adopted a provisional constitution, and in less than a month, devised and approved a permanent constitution, which was adopted march 11, 1861. He was also empowered to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the confederate states. The confederate states constitution, formally the constitution of the confederate states of america.
Preamble we the people of the united states, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic. All legislative powers herein del egated shall be vested in a congress of the confederate states, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives. One of 100 copies ordered to be printed of the final draft of the confederate constitution, this copy was printed for the use of the committee on. Full text of constitution of the confederate states of america see other formats state convention. If america existed today under the confederate constitution, no one would be questioning the constitut. We all know about the articles of confederation, the first constitution of the united states, and the constitution as we know it today. The constitution of the confederate states of america, the ordinances of the texas convention, and an address to the people of texas. On the following pages is the complete, current united states constitution, with annotations that i hope youll find useful. Confederate states of america constitution for the provisional government. We, the people of the confederate states, each state acting in its sovereign.
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