,
11 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
⚡️What should you know about the State of the Union address?⚡️/1 
It comes from the Constitution: 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.” Article II, Section 3
From 1801 to 1912, it was delivered as a paper letter, and read aloud by a clerk to the Congress. The president didn't give a State of The Union Speech regularly until 1933.
The State of the Union remarks are a great historical snapshot of what issues the American government was dealing with each year, and what priorities each President tried to set for Congress.
Curious about those old state of the union addresses? Read some! presidency.ucsb.edu/sou.php
Should you watch the speech today? Here are the pros and cons:
Pros: You can hear the president's own words, unfiltered by pundits and headline writers
Pros? There is entertainment value in the spectacle of a State of the Union Address
Cons: If you're interested in the content, you can get that by reading it afterwards, and skip the drama and pundit chatter
Cons: Remember that the president's "state of the union address" is a political document, presents information as the president wants it consumed, and that it is only a wish-list. Congress would have to act to achieve most of the proposals listed.
Remember, whether you like the president, don't like the president, or don't care, these speeches do describe the president's agenda, and his party's agenda. Knowing what's in that speech helps make you a more informed citizen!
