What is Article 67 of Indian Constitution – Defination & Meaning

Article 67: Term of office of Vice-President The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
📅 Part V – The Union
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Article Number

67

part

Part V – The Union

Status

Active

Bare Acts Text

Article 67: Term of office of Vice-President

  • The Vice-President shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office:
  • Provided that—
    • (a) a Vice-President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office;
    • (b) a Vice-President may be removed from his office by a resolution of the Council of States passed by a majority of all the then members of the Council and agreed to by the House of the People; but no resolution for the purpose of this clause shall be moved unless at least fourteen days’ notice has been given of the intention to move the resolution;
    • (c) a Vice-President shall, notwithstanding the expiration of his term, continue to hold office until his successor enters upon his office.
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Full Definition & Explanation

Article 67 of the Indian Constitution outlines the term of office for the Vice-President of India. According to this article, the Vice-President serves a term of five years starting from the day they assume office. This means that once a person is elected to this position, they will hold it for five years unless they resign, are removed, or their term ends without a successor ready to take over. This provision ensures clarity on the duration of service for such a high-ranking official, which affects the administration of the country directly. The article also includes specific provisions regarding how a Vice-President can resign or be removed. A Vice-President can resign by writing a letter to the President. This resignation process makes it easier for the Vice-President to step down if necessary. Also, a Vice-President can be removed by a majority vote in the Council of States, which is the Rajya Sabha, and must also be approved by the House of the People, known as the Lok Sabha. This process ensures that the Vice-President cannot be removed without major legislative support, providing a layer of protection for the office. Finally, even if the term of the Vice-President expires, they will continue to hold the office until their successor takes over. This ensures that there is no gap in leadership and that the functions of the Vice-President can continue smoothly, which is key for maintaining stability in the executive branch of the government. The clear stipulations in Article 67 help uphold the democratic framework and ensure that the government operates without interruption.

Historical Context

Article 67 was included in the Constitution when it was adopted in 1950. The Constituent Assembly debated the powers and responsibilities of the Vice-President extensively, aiming to create a balance of authority within the executive branch. The framers sought to ensure that while the Vice-President supports the President, there are clear procedural rules regarding their tenure and removal. This article has remained unchanged since its inception, reflecting its importance in maintaining a structured political system. There have been no amendments altering this provision, signifying its foundational role in the Indian political framework.

Key Features

– The Vice-President serves a five-year term from assuming office.
– A Vice-President can resign by notifying the President in writing.
– Removal requires a majority resolution in both houses of Parliament.
– Fourteen days’ notice is mandatory before moving a removal resolution.
– The Vice-President continues in office until a successor is appointed.

Importance & Impact

– Clarifies that the Vice-President’s term lasts five years from assuming office.
– Establishes a clear and straightforward resignation process for the Vice-President.
– Ensures that legislative support is always required for removing a Vice-President from office.
– Prevents any gaps in leadership by allowing continuation until a successor is appointed.
– Promotes stability within the executive branch of the Indian government through clear rules.

Sample UPSC Question

Consider the following statements regarding Article 67 of the Indian Constitution: 1) It allows the Vice-President to serve for a term of five years. 2) A Vice-President can resign by writing to the Prime Minister. 3) The Vice-President can be removed by a simple majority in the Lok Sabha. 4) The Vice-President continues in office until a successor is appointed. Which of these statements are correct? A) 1 and 2 B) 3 and 4 C) 1 and 4 D) 2 and 3.

Answer

The correct answer is C. Article 67 specifies that the Vice-President serves a five-year term and continues until a successor is appointed. Option 1 is correct as it aligns with the article’s provisions. Options 2 and 3 are incorrect as the resignation must be addressed to the President, and removal requires majority support from both houses of Parliament.

Key Takeaways

✓ Vice-President holds office for five years from the start.
✓ Resignation is done by a written notice to the President.
✓ Removal requires majority approval from both houses of Parliament.
✓ No gap in leadership occurs until a successor is appointed.
✓ Legislative support is necessary for removal of the Vice-President.

FAQs

Article 67 of the Indian Constitution outlines the term of office for the Vice-President of India. According to this article, the Vice-President serves a term of five years starting from the day they assume office. This means that once a person is elected to this position, they will hold it for five years unless they resign, are removed, or their term ends without a successor ready to take over.

This resignation process makes it easier for the Vice-President to step down if necessary. Also, a Vice-President can be removed by a majority vote in the Council of States, which is the Rajya Sabha, and must also be approved by the House of the People, known as the Lok Sabha. This process ensures that the Vice-President cannot be removed without major legislative support, providing a layer of protection for the office.

Finally, even if the term of the Vice-President expires, they will continue to hold the office until their successor takes over. This ensures that there is no gap in leadership and that the functions of the Vice-President can continue smoothly, which is key for maintaining stability in the executive branch of the government. The clear stipulations in Article 67 help uphold the democratic framework and ensure that the government operates without interruption.

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Pramod is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of StudyHub. He holds a Master's degree and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Geology, alongside more than 7+ years spent building and verifying competitive exam content for Indian aspirants. He leads StudyHub's editorial process across Indian Polity, the Constitution, Indian Economy, History, Geography, Science, and the platform's other subject areas — checking every article against primary sources (bare act text and Gazette notifications for constitutional topics, government and Economic Survey data for economy content, standard reference material elsewhere) and flagging it for re-verification whenever a relevant amendment, policy, or data update makes an earlier version outdated.
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