4.4.5 - The Vice President of India
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Election of the Vice President
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let's talk about the election process of the Vice President of India. Can anyone tell me how the Vice President is elected?
Isn't it similar to how the President is elected?
Yes, that's correct! However, the difference is that members of State legislatures are not part of the electoral college for the Vice President's election. This means only the elected members of both Houses of Parliament participate.
So it's like a smaller group voting for him?
Exactly, its an exclusive election to ensure that the Vice President has the support of the parliament. Can anyone remember the term length for the Vice President?
Five years, right?
Correct! And now, what happens in terms of their position when the President's office is vacant?
The Vice President takes over until a new President is elected, I think.
Well done! This ensures continuity in leadership.
Role and Responsibilities
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now that we understand how the Vice President is elected, let's dive into their roles. Who knows what the Vice President does, specifically in the Rajya Sabha?
Isn't he or she the Chairman?
Correct! The Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Who can explain what that role involves?
They run the sessions and keep order, right?
Absolutely! Maintaining decorum and ensuring everyone gets a chance to speak is crucial. What happens if there's trouble during a debate?
The Chairman can use their power to maintain order, I think.
Exactly! This is a big responsibility as it helps in the smooth functioning of Parliament.
What if someone wants to remove the Vice President?
Great question! The Vice President can be removed by a resolution that's passed by the Rajya Sabha and must be agreed upon by the Lok Sabha.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
Elected for a five-year term, the Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and can act as President under specific circumstances. Their responsibilities include presiding over the House of Elders and maintaining decorum during debates.
Detailed
The Vice President of India
The Vice President of India is a crucial figure in the Indian parliamentary system, serving a term of five years. They are elected not directly by popular vote but through an electoral college that excludes members of state legislatures. Among their key functions, the Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (the Upper House of Parliament) and can take over the presidential role in cases of vacancy due to death, resignation, or removal of the President until a new President is elected.
The Vice President's ability to preside over the Rajya Sabha includes maintaining order and decorum during sessions, which is vital for the smooth operation of parliamentary proceedings. The processes for removal of the Vice President involve a resolution passed by a majority in the Rajya Sabha, which must also receive approval from the Lok Sabha. This ensures that the Vice President remains accountable to the legislature, reinforcing the principles of parliamentary democracy.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Election and Term of Office
Chapter 1 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The Vice President is elected for five years. His election method is similar to that of the President, the only difference is that members of State legislatures are not part of the electoral college.
Detailed Explanation
The Vice President of India is elected for a term of five years, similar to the President. However, the difference in their electoral process is that while the President is elected by an electoral college that includes members of both houses of Parliament and the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies, the Vice President's electoral college does not include members from State Legislatures. This means that the Vice President's election is determined solely by the votes of the members of the Parliament.
Examples & Analogies
Think of the Vice President like a classroom vice-captain who is elected only by the members of the student council (like the Parliament) and not by all the students in the school (like the State Legislatures). This highlights the distinct roles in how leaders are chosen based on their responsibilities.
Removal from Office
Chapter 2 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The Vice President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Rajya Sabha passed by a majority and agreed to by the Lok Sabha.
Detailed Explanation
The Vice President can be removed from office through a formal process called impeachment. To do this, a resolution must be passed by a majority in the Rajya Sabha, which is the upper house of Parliament. Additionally, this resolution must also receive agreement from the Lok Sabha, the lower house. This dual requirement underscores the importance and gravity of removing such a high-level officeholder, ensuring it reflects the collective will of the legislature.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you want to remove a school principal from their position. You can't just ask them to leave; the school's governing body (like the Rajya Sabha) would need to vote on it, and then the overall student body (like the Lok Sabha) would have to agree. This ensures that the decision to remove a leader is not taken lightly and has broad support.
Role as Ex-Officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
Chapter 3 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The Vice President acts as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and takes over the office of the President when there is a vacancy by reasons of death, resignation, removal by impeachment or otherwise.
Detailed Explanation
In addition to his role as Vice President, he also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, meaning he presides over its sessions. This role is important as it ensures smooth functioning and governance of the upper house of Parliament. Furthermore, if there is any vacancy in the office of the President, such as through death or resignation, the Vice President temporarily takes over this position until a new President is elected. This ensures continuity of governance.
Examples & Analogies
Think of the Vice President as the assistant principal of a school who not only helps with daily operations (like presiding over meetings) but can also step in as principal if the principal has to be away unexpectedly. This ensures that the leadership structure remains intact, providing a sense of stability to the organization.
Temporary President
Chapter 4 of 4
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
The Vice President acts as the President only until a new President is elected. B. D. Jatti acted as President on the death of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed until a new President was elected.
Detailed Explanation
When the Vice President steps in as the acting President due to a vacancy, they only hold the position temporarily. Their role as President continues until a new President is elected. For instance, after the death of President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the Vice President B.D. Jatti took over the presidential duties until a new leader was chosen through the electoral process. This highlights the importance of having provisions in place for leadership continuity.
Examples & Analogies
Consider a situation in a small business where the CEO unexpectedly leaves for health reasons. The next in line, who is currently the COO (Chief Operating Officer)—akin to the Vice President—steps in as the acting CEO until the board finds a permanent replacement. This ensures that the company continues to function smoothly without any disruptions.
Key Concepts
-
Vice President: Holds a significant role as the second-highest office in India.
-
Rajya Sabha: The Upper House of Parliament where the Vice President acts as Chairman.
-
Election Process: The Vice President is elected through an electoral college excluding State legislatures.
-
Ex-officio Functions: The Vice President serves automatically as Chairman solely by virtue of holding the office.
Examples & Applications
The Vice President can serve as President in their absence, ensuring the continuity of executive functions, just as B. D. Jatti did when he took over after the death of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.
In maintaining order during lively discussions, the Vice President might need to call for order to ensure that all members can express their views without disruptions.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
Vice President is here to guide, five years he’ll abide.
Stories
Imagine a vigilant Vice President, always ready to step in for the President, like a trusty sidekick in a superhero duo.
Memory Tools
V-P for the Vice President, V is for five years!
Acronyms
V.E.M.P. - Vice Elects During Emergencies & Maintains Parliament.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Vice President
The second-highest political office in India, serving primarily as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and assuming the presidency in certain circumstances.
- Rajya Sabha
The Upper House of the Parliament of India, where the Vice President serves as the ex-officio Chairman.
- Electoral College
A body that elects the Vice President; it comprises elected members of both Houses of Parliament.
- Exofficio
To hold a position automatically because of another office held.
- Vacancy
A situation where the position of the President is unoccupied due to death, resignation, or removal.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.