The U.S. House of Representatives has proceeded to officially call on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office, despite Pence's statement hours earlier saying he would not do so. 

The non-binding resolution was approved late Tuesday night, U.S. time, in a vote of 223-to-205, according to U.S. media. 

Ahead of the vote, Pence's office had sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, refusing the move. In the letter he said, with just eight days left in Trump’s term, he does not believe invoking the 25th Amendment is in the best interest of the nation or consistent with the Constitution. Instead, he urged the House leader to work with his office "to lower the temperature and unite our country" ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration next week. 

The Democratic Party earlier had said that if Pence does not take action within 24 hours of the resolution passing, they will move forward with impeaching the president on the charge of inciting an insurrection.

The 25th Amendment allows the vice president the power to convene and mobilize key Cabinet officials to declare that the president is unable to successfully discharge the duties of his office. The vice president would then step in and assume the role of acting president.