State of the Union

State of the Union in the United States

State of the Union in the Legislative Process

An annual message delivered by the President of the United States to Congress. The Constitution requires one such report each year; since 1934, the State of the Union has always been delivered in January. George Washington delivered the first State of the Union to Congress in person in 1790, but Thomas Jefferson hated giving speeches, so he began sending a written message to Congress, to be read aloud by a lowly clerk, in 1801. That practice continued until 1913, when Woodrow Wilson revived the tradition of giving the speech in person.

Concept of State of the Union

In the U.S., in the context of Presidency and Executive Power, State of the Union has the following meaning: Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution states that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” By tradition, the President delivers this “State of the Union” message to Congress annually. In modern times, the speech is a televised spectacle, with grand pomp and circumstance. (Source of this definition of State of the Union : University of Texas)

State of the Union

State of the Union in the United States