Key Highlights
- The Vice President is constitutionally mandated and stands as the second highest office after the President.
- He or she serves as the ex‑officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, ensuring orderly conduct of its proceedings.
- In the President’s absence, the Vice President assumes the presidential duties until a new President is elected.
- The election is conducted by an Electoral College of both Houses using the single transferable vote system.
- The office lasts five years, renewable indefinitely, and vacancies must be filled within six months.
Detailed Insights
Article 63 establishes the existence of the Vice President, making the post compulsory under the Constitution.
Article 64 designates the Vice President as the ex‑officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, where he or she presides over meetings and maintains decorum.
Article 65 empowers the Vice President to act as President in cases of resignation, death, or incapacity of the incumbent, thereby ensuring continuity of executive authority.
Article 66 outlines the election procedure: an Electoral College comprising members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elects the Vice President by secret ballot through the single transferable vote system.
Article 67 fixes the term of office at five years, with no restriction on the number of re‑elections, while Article 68 mandates that any vacancy must be filled within six months, and the new officeholder serves a full five‑year term.
Article 69 requires the Vice President to take an oath before the President, pledging faithful discharge of duties and protection of the Constitution.
Article 70 allows Parliament to assign additional duties to the Vice President as deemed necessary.
Article 71 provides that any dispute regarding the election of the Vice President shall be adjudicated by the Supreme Court of India.
Key Concepts
- Vice President: The second highest constitutional office, acting as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and as President in the latter’s absence.
- Rajya Sabha: The upper house of Parliament, whose meetings are presided over by the Vice President.
- Electoral College: The body of elected members from both Houses that elects the Vice President.
- Single Transferable Vote: A preferential voting system used to elect the Vice President by secret ballot.
- Oath of Office: The solemn pledge taken by the Vice President before the President to uphold constitutional duties.