President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union speech of his second term to both houses of Congress and the American people on Tuesday, February 24th. The speech that presidents give shortly after a January inauguration is not technically a State of the Union speech, but rather an address to Congress.
The State of the Union address is a constitutional requirement established by Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the U.S.
Constitution. It mandates that the President periodically inform Congress about the condition of the nation and recommend measures necessary for its improvement. The exact verbiage is: “He 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.”
The tradition has its roots in the practice of English monarchs delivering speeches to Parliament and has evolved over time. During most of the country’s first century, the president primarily submitted only a written report to Congress. Woodrow Wilson began the practice of delivering the address in person in 1913 as way to rally support for his agenda. But the phrase “State of the Union” was not used until 1934 by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The address serves as a platform for presidents to communicate significant information about the nation’s status and agenda to the Congress. Presidents typically introduce and highlight a number of budget and policy proposals in these speeches.
