State of the Union message
noun U.S. Government.
an annual message to Congress in which the president reports on the state of the nation and outlines a legislative program: required by the Constitution (Article II, Section 3). Abbreviation: SOTU
Also called
State of the Union address.
Cultural definitions for state of the union address
State of the Union address
An annual message delivered to Congress by the president of the United States, in which he describes the condition of the country, outlines the nation's most serious problems, and proposes his annual program of legislation.
notes for State of the Union address
The name of the address comes from a provision in the
Constitution that 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.”