Here's the text of the American Confederation Constitution:
We the People of the American Confederation, in Order to form a shining new State, establish Justice, provide for the common defence, insure domestic Tranquility, promote the general Welfare, maintain Freedom, and increase the power and prestige of the Confederation, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the American Confederation.
Article I
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in the Senate of the American Confederation, which shall consist of the House of Representatives and the House of Delegates.
Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several Territories, and the Electors in each Territory shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the Territory Legislature.
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 American Confederation.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several Territories which may be included within this Confederation, 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 fourths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Senate of the American Confederation, 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 Territory shall have at Least one Representative;
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any Territory, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3. The House of Delegates shall be composed of two Delegates from each Territory, chosen by the Legislature or Executive Authority thereof, as per each Territory’s own Constitution, to serve until recalled; and each Delegate shall have one Vote.
No Person shall be a Delegate who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the American Confederation.
The House of Delegates shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
The House of Delegates 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 American Confederation is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
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.
Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Representatives, shall be prescribed in each Territory by the Legislature thereof; but the Senate may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.
The Senate 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 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.
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.
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 Senate, 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 6. The Delegates and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the American Confederation. 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.
No Senator shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the American Confederation, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time: and no Person holding any Office under the American Confederation, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the House of Delegates may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the House of Delegates, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the American Confederation; 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 Senate by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the House of Delegates and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the American Confederation; 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 House of Delegates and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8. The Senate shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the American Confederation; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the American Confederation;
To borrow Money on the credit of the American Confederation;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, with the Indian Tribes, and within the Territory of the American Confederation if necessary for national interest;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the American Confederation;
To provide a uniform law for Migration into the American Confederation;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the American Confederation;
To establish such National Projects as shall be deemed necessary for the continued wealth and well-being of American Confederation and its people;
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 and by establishing Prizes and Endowments for the purpose of advancing the same;
To promote useful Industries by granting subsidies or making loans;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To provide for the Education of American Children;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support the Army of the American Confederation and such specialized forces as shall be necessary within it;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Confederation, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions and to grant command thereof to Appointed Officers;
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 American Confederation as well as all forces controlled directly by the Confederate Government;
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 American Confederation, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9. The Importation of slaves into those Territories condoning slavery shall not be prohibited by the Senate prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any Territory.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one Territory over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one Territory, be obliged to enter, clear or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
Section 10. No Territory shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No Territory shall, without the Consent of the Senate, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any Territory on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the American Confederation; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Control of the Senate.
No Territory shall, without the Consent of Senate, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another Territory, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay, in which case the Territory is permitted to raise a Militia and take other actions deemed fit by the Territorial Legislature, unless countermanded by the Senate of the American Confederation
Article II
Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the American Confederation. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected by Popular Vote of all Free Citizens of American Confederation.
No Person shall be the President or Vice President who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fifteen Years a Citizen of the American Confederation.
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Senate may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the American Confederation.
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the American Confederation, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the American Confederation."
Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the American Confederation, and of any members of Militias called into the service of the American Confederation; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the American Confederation, except in Cases of Impeachment.
The President shall be Chief Diplomat of the American Confederation. He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the House of Delegates, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Delegates present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Delegates, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Senate may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section 3. The President shall be the Chief Legislator of the American Confederation. He shall have Power to suggest bills to the Senate, with the intention of being made into law.
Section 4. He shall from time to time give to the Senate Information of the State of the Confederation, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 5. The President shall have the power to delegate any of his duties to the Vice President or to rescind same.
Section 5. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article III
Section 1. The judicial Power of the American Confederation, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the American Confederation shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more Territories;--between the government of a Territory and Private Citizens;-- and between the government of a Territory or Citizen of the American Confederation, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which the government of a Territory shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Senate shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury.
Section 3. Treason against the American Confederation, shall consist only in levying War against it, or in adhering to its Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Senate shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article IV
Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each Territory to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other Territory, except as countermanded by Laws of American Confederation. And the Senate may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2. The Citizens of each Territory shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens of the American Confederation.
No Person held to Service or Labour in one Territory, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.
Section 3. The representation of any Territories within the American Confederation shall be decided by the joint will of the Senate of the American Confederation and the population of the affected Territories and such Representation as they choose to send before the Senate. The decisions of the Senate must comply with the abovestated Sections concerning the Houses of Representatives and Delegates.
Section 4. The American Confederation shall guarantee to every Territory in this Confederation a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article V
The Senate, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several Territories, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Senate; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no Territory, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Article VI
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the American Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the American Confederation which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the American Confederation, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every Territory shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or Laws of any Territory to the Contrary notwithstanding.
The Delegates and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several Territorial Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the American Confederation and of its Territories, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the American Confederation.
Article VII
Section 1. There shall be a wall of separation between Church and State; The Government of the American Confederation may take no action to encourage or abridge any faith or religion, except to limit religious practices that are harmful or unlawful for reasons independent of religious faith.
Section 2. Full freedom of speech and press shall be maintained; the Government of the American Confederation may take no action to limit the freedom of expression.
Section 3. The Government of the American Confederation may take no action to abridge the freedoms to peaceably assemble, or to petition the government for redress of grievances, or to protest the actions of the government in a peaceful manner.
Section 4. The Government of the American Confederation may take no action to establish a national language, or to prevent any language from being spoken or written within its borders.
Section 5. 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 no 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.
Section 6. The 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.
Section 7. 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 of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall 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.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the 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.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
Section 8. The right of the vote shall not be abridged; franchise cannot be denied based on religion, race, previous condition of servitude, or nationality prior to becoming a citizen of the American Confederation. Excessive property requirements shall not be imposed, and franchise may not be tied to a specific type of property.
It ends up being essentially the same in most respects as the OTL Constitution, since there would be similar problems, and presumably similar solutions. But there are a few important differences: notably, the power to provide subsidies and undertake projects (i.e., internal improvements), and unlike the United States, the American Confederation is treated as a single unit with regional sub-units rather than a collection of halfway-independent states. This will eventually become important.