Vice President

This article deals with ‘Vice President of India .’ This is part of our series on ‘Polity’ which is important pillar of GS-2 syllabus . For more articles , you can click here

Introduction

• Modeled on American Vice President (although some differences are there).
• Rank = Second highest officer after President

Election process of Vice President

• Indirect election by specially constituted electoral college by System of Proportional Representation by Means of Single Vote Transferable
• **Electoral college consist of all the members of both Houses of Parliament**

Qualification to become Vice President

• Should hold office for 5 years (that of Raj Sabha  member is 6 years)  from time of entering office(vacancy may be by any cause)
• Can resign any time by addressing resignation letter to President
• Can be re-elected any number of times
• Removal doesn’t require impeachment. Can be removed by resolution passed with Absolute Majority of Rajya Sabha & approved by Lok Sabha( no one removed till date)

Election Dispute

• All doubts can be inquired and decided by Supreme court only whose decision is final
• Can’t be challenged on ground that Electoral College was incomplete
• If election declared void, acts done by him before that are not invalidated

Powers & Functions

As ex officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha

• Act as Speaker of Rajya Sabha and has all powers similar to speaker of Lok Sabha.
• Resemble to Vice president of USA in this respect.

Act as President when office falls vacant

• But can act as President maximum for 6 months & new President must be elected within that period. In USA, if office of President falls vacant, Vice President remains President for remaining tenure of office
• No significant function in his capacity & called ‘Superfluous Highness ‘