Tonight President Barack Obama will speak before Congress and the nation in his second State of the Union Address. He will use the speech to outline his legislative and national agenda for 2011. President Obama will be continuing a constitutional assignment bestowed on all presidents "He Shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration measures he shall judge necessary and expedient"
Ever since George Washington gave the first address on January 8, 1790, all presidents have delivered an annual State of the Union address. Although the constitution does not give an exact time frame in which the president must deliver the address it simply states "He shall from time to time". Not all presidents have delivered their address in person. Thomas Jefferson, believing the address was to similar to the British Speech from the Thrown, instead sent a written address to congress to be read by a clerk. All Presidents followed this protocol until Woodrow Wilson spoke before a Joint session of Congress in 1913. Since then all presidents, with a few exceptions, have given the State of the Union address in person.
DESIGNATED SURVIVOR
During each state of the union address all government officials gather in the United States Capitol building for the speech. To ensure there would be a commander-in-chief in the event of an attack on the Capitol building killing or incapacitating most leaders of the government, a member of the Presidential line of succession is sent to an undisclosed, secure location for the duration of the state of the union address. In recent years, members of congress have been asked to relocate to undisclosed locations for the speech to ensure the continuation of the legislative branch in the event of an attack.
The State of the union address is a great time for the President to rally his political base in anticipation for the new year. It is one of the longest, grandest, speech's given by the President, and is any speech writers greatest challenge. It requires over a month of painstaking, tough planning, with writers struggling with what can be included in a speech supposed to review the past year and to create a vision for the next. To President Obama, good luck!
The importance of the State of Union address can not be understated. You did a great job of describing not only the historical significance of the address, but the delegate balance in the current delivery that the speech has between a report on progress and call to arms for the sitting president.
ReplyDeleteObama faces a less friendly Congress tonight then he did last year. While I am sure he will deliver a compelling and moving speech, his ability to actually execute an agenda is not as unilateral as it was last year. I will interested to see if he tempers his rhetoric to align with his audience.
Kyle, did you read that Pat Tiberi (who represents the 12th District - including Bexley) was the "Designated Survivor" on Tuesday night? I wonder how they decide how to pick this person? Seems like both an honor and a great responsibility!
ReplyDeleteI thought the President did a great job in his speech. I especially liked how he encouraged members of Congress (who might oppose the new health care law) to help make it better, but emphasized how many people need this legislation.
I didn't realize that a State of the Union address was only delivered in person since 1913. You mentioned that there are only a few exceptions where this wasn't done. Did you find in your reading what circumstances lead to a President not delivering the State of the Union personally?
Great post!