Why does the president of the United States give a State of the Union Address?
The U.S. Constitution requires the president to present an annual report, popularly known as the State of the Union Address, to a joint session of Congress—that is, a meeting attended by all representatives and senators. The first and second presidents, George Washington (1732–1799) and John Adams (1735–1826), delivered their messages in person. Thereafter presidents sent the State of the Union as a written message, which was read in Congress, until Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) delivered his messages to Congress in person. In January 1918 he presented the Fourteen Points, his outline of a peace program for Europe once World War I (1914–18) had ended. Since Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) took office in 1933, all U.S. presidents have made formal addresses to Congress in person. Further…
