Nancy Pelosi urges Democrats to give ‘civics lesson’ in protecting democracy

Speaker tells colleagues Joe Biden beat Donald Trump ‘decisively’ in 2020 election

Nancy Pelosi urges Democrats to give ‘civics lesson’ in protecting democracy (Getty Images)

Nancy Pelosi told Democrats they will give a “civics lesson” in protecting US democracy when Congress meets to certify Joe Biden’s election win.

The House Speaker told her colleagues in a letter that Mr Biden had beaten Donald Trump “decisively” with his “resounding victory" in November.

“Tomorrow is a day of enormous historic significance, as the United States Congress meets for a Joint session to count the results of the 2020 election - which president-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris won, decisively,” she wrote in the letter on Tuesday.

“When the Congress meets tomorrow, this resounding victory will be recognised, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be officially declared the next president and vice president of the United States.”

Donald Trump has refused to concede the race to Mr Biden despite the outgoing president’s false claims of voter fraud being repeatedly debunked and rejected by state election officials and judges.

But a group of 13 GOP senators, lead by Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, say they will refuse to certify the electoral college results during Wednesday’s joint session of Congress.

They have been joined as many as 140 Republican House members, who also say they will oppose the traditionally ceremonial act.

“On the floor of the House, we will have a civics lesson about protecting the integrity of our democracy,” added Ms Pelosi.

“Tomorrow is about guaranteeing trust in our democratic system. As Members of Congress, we all have a responsibility to uphold the principle: the people are sovereign and that they hold the power to choose their leaders through the ballot box.

"I am confident that Democrats will honour this responsibility, with unity, patriotism and dignity. For The People.”

It is unlikely that the opposition to certification will make any difference as the Republicans do not have majority support in both houses.

Vice President Mike Pence has also reportedly told Mr Trump that he does not have the power to change the election result in his favour, as demanded by the president.