Kamala Harris must certify the outcome of the presidential election, whether she wins or loses.

It will be her sole task to officially declare the election result.

Under the US constitution, a vice president is automatically president of the US Senate and it is the role of the Senate President to officially declare the result of the presidential election.

As the Senate website explains: “The Constitution appoints the Vice President of the United States as President of the Senate. In addition to the office of president, the vice president…officially presides over the receipt and counting of ballots cast in presidential elections. .”

The Wilson Center, which analyzes democratic institutions and good government, states on its website that the Senate president “is charged with counting the electoral votes for president and vice president and announcing the winners.”

This second role of the vice president has led to some heated scenes in the past, with some politicians begging vice presidents not to certify the outcome of presidential elections.

On January 6, 2001, more than a dozen Democratic members of the Congress pleaded the vice president Al Gore not to certify his own defeat in the 2000 presidential election.

They filed more than 20 objections. Gore dismissed each because the opponents were all members of the House of Representatives and needed at least one senator to agree with their objections.

36 days of turmoil followed the November 7, 2000 election, with the Florida outcome hotly contested between Gore and Republican candidate, George W. Bush.

Most of those who opposed Gore’s certification were members of the Congressional Black Caucus and walked out of a joint session of Congress on behalf of what Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee announced were “the millions of Americans who have been deprived of Florida Copyright. incorrect counting of votes”.

While dismissing each of their objections, Gore asked, “Is the point of order signed by a senator?”

“I don’t care if it’s not signed by a senator,” retorted Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters before walking away.

Gore told him, “You will be advised that the rules care,” he said.

Congressman Jesse L. Jackson Jr. told Gore, “It’s a sad day in America when we can’t find a senator to sign these objections.” Los Angeles Times reported at the time.

The conflict and the exit were captured in Michael Moore’s documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, one of the greatest American documentaries of all time.

The importance of the role of the vice president in the certification of elections was also seen when Donald Trump put pressure on his vice president, Mike Pencenot to certify the result of the 2020 election.

Pence believed it was his duty to certify Joe Bidenhis victory.

Trump criticized Biden in a Twitter message on January 6, 2021, as Trump protesters tried to enter Congress to certify the election.

Trump was later charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstructing and attempting to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights in connection with an alleged campaign to pressure state officials to reverse the results of the 2020 election.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and has repeatedly said he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

On July 1, the US supreme court ruled that Trump has immunity from prosecution for his communications with Pence while Pence was acting as vice president.

It also ruled that Trump has “presumptive immunity” from his attempts to stop Pence from certifying the election while Pence was acting as Senate president.