Home The Constitution Part V Article 100

Art. 100 Part V: The Union

Voting in Houses, Power of Houses to Act Notwithstanding Vacancies and Quorum

Exact text — Constitution of India

(1) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, all questions at any sitting of either House... shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and voting, other than the Speaker or person acting as Chairman or Speaker... (3) Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the quorum to constitute a meeting of a House of Parliament shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of the House.

In Plain English

What this Article actually means

This Article sets the default voting rule (simple majority of members present and voting, excluding the presiding officer, who generally only votes to break a tie) and the quorum requirement — surprisingly low at just one-tenth of total membership needed for a House to validly conduct business, unless Parliament changes this by law.

Why This Matters To You

How it shows up in everyday life

This is why Parliament can validly conduct business even when many MPs are absent — the quorum threshold is deliberately set quite low (one-tenth), reflecting a practical recognition that requiring near-full attendance for every routine sitting would be impractical.

Read alongside this one

Art. 99 — Oath or Affirmation by Members

Frequently Asked

Quick answers about Article 100

Does the presiding officer (Speaker/Chairman) normally vote on matters before the House?

Generally no, except to cast a tie-breaking vote — the presiding officer's role is primarily to preside impartially over proceedings, not to participate in ordinary voting.

← PreviousArticle 99: Oath or Affirmation by Members Next →Article 101: Vacation of Seats

The text above reproduces Article 100 of the Constitution of India as amended to date, for general educational reference. It is public-domain legislative text, but we recommend cross-checking the authoritative version at legislative.gov.in or india.gov.in before relying on it for a legal matter. The explanation, examples and FAQs are general information, not legal advice — consult a qualified advocate for guidance on your specific situation.