General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIf this year is Trumps first state of the union
then what was speech last year I thought that was also a state of union
writerJT
(190 posts)Not sure how far back it goes in history, but thats just what presidents do in their first year.
same thing but now he has a year under his belt so that is why a state of the union, and a shitty year it was
BigmanPigman
(51,672 posts)and 4,000 big macs. Meanwhile those of us who were sane at one point are drinking vodka and eating pie for breakfast before we throw it all up watching the latest news nightmare.
Journeyman
(15,044 posts)The Constitution only requires the President to give Congress information on the State of the Union "from time to time."
And absolutely nothing requires him to actually present the report himself. In fact, though Washington and Adams delivered their report in an appearance before Congress, Jefferson decided against it and instead submitted his in written form. It was his belief that a speech, in addition to being inconvenient, takes longer than simply reading and robs legislators of the opportunity to think about it before responding. (A novel thought: Think before you speak.) Jefferson also strongly objected to the impression that the practice of appearing before Congress was too akin to the British monarch's practice of addressing each new Parliament with a list of policy mandates, rather than "recommendations" between equals.
And so it was for well over 100 years, until Wilson revived the speech format in 1913. Since then, all State of the Union reports have been delivered before Congress, with the exception of Carter, who gave his final report in written form.
3catwoman3
(24,133 posts)...tomorrow night - his first and his last. May they be one and the same.
Demtexan
(1,588 posts)I hope this will be his last.
fierywoman
(7,707 posts)Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)Unless he gives the next one from behind bars.