President Barack Obama delivers his second State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday to lay out his policy priorities for the coming year.
President Barack Obama winks while speaking to both houses of Congress during his first State of the Union address Photo: AFP
Here are a few facts about the State of the Union message:
*The president is required by the U.S. Constitution (Article 1, Section 3)
to "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."
* In the message, the president typically reports on issues of concern, both domestic and foreign, lays out a legislative agenda and presents his vision for the country's future.
* The speech is delivered before a joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives chamber. The two officials next in line for succession – the vice president and House speaker – sit behind the president during the address.
*The country's first president, George Washington, delivered one of the shortest State of the Union messages – it was only 833 words and would have been taken him between four to seven minutes to complete.
*Bill Clinton delivered the longest speech, in 2000, coming in at 89 minutes, although the longest word length was Harry Truman's in 1946, which was more than 25,000 words.
* In his 1823 message written to Congress, James Monroe warned European powers against intervention in the affairs of North and South America. The policy became known as the "Monroe Doctrine."
* As the U.S. Civil War raged, Abraham Lincoln delivered a State of the Union message in 1862 expressing his desire to free America's slaves.
* Franklin Roosevelt listed his "four essential human freedoms" in his 1941 address. He said everyone "anywhere in the world" should have freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God in his own way, freedom from want and freedom from fear.
* Woodrow Wilson revived the practice of delivering the State of the Union address in person in 1913. Presidents had been sending written reports to Congress for more than 100 years.
* Since 1999, every president has worn a tie that is some combination of red, white or blue. Mr Obama wore red with white stripes last year.
* The first to be broadcast on the radio was delivered by Calvin Coolidge in 1923. Harry Truman's 1947 address was the first to be televised. Lyndon Johnson moved the address from midday to prime time in 1965, to reach a wider audience.
* Ronald Reagan began a new presidential tradition in 1982 when he honoured a guest during the State of the Union address. Reagan acknowledged Lenny Skutnit, who two weeks earlier rescued a woman from the icy Potomac River after the crash of an Air Florida flight. Skutnit was seated next to First Lady Nancy Reagan at the address.
* The only time the address has been postponed was in 1986. Ronald Reagan was scheduled to deliver the address on January 28, the same day the space shuttle Challenger exploded. It was delayed until February 4.
* A member of the president's cabinet is named "designated survivor" and does not attend. That person remains in an undisclosed location in order to assume the presidency in the event a catastrophe disables the nation's top leaders gathered in the House chamber.
*Bill Clinton delivered the longest speech, in 2000, coming in at 89 minutes, although the longest word length was Harry Truman's in 1946, which was more than 25,000 words.
* In his 1823 message written to Congress, James Monroe warned European powers against intervention in the affairs of North and South America. The policy became known as the "Monroe Doctrine."
* As the U.S. Civil War raged, Abraham Lincoln delivered a State of the Union message in 1862 expressing his desire to free America's slaves.
* Franklin Roosevelt listed his "four essential human freedoms" in his 1941 address. He said everyone "anywhere in the world" should have freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God in his own way, freedom from want and freedom from fear.
* Woodrow Wilson revived the practice of delivering the State of the Union address in person in 1913. Presidents had been sending written reports to Congress for more than 100 years.
* Since 1999, every president has worn a tie that is some combination of red, white or blue. Mr Obama wore red with white stripes last year.
* The first to be broadcast on the radio was delivered by Calvin Coolidge in 1923. Harry Truman's 1947 address was the first to be televised. Lyndon Johnson moved the address from midday to prime time in 1965, to reach a wider audience.
* Ronald Reagan began a new presidential tradition in 1982 when he honoured a guest during the State of the Union address. Reagan acknowledged Lenny Skutnit, who two weeks earlier rescued a woman from the icy Potomac River after the crash of an Air Florida flight. Skutnit was seated next to First Lady Nancy Reagan at the address.
* The only time the address has been postponed was in 1986. Ronald Reagan was scheduled to deliver the address on January 28, the same day the space shuttle Challenger exploded. It was delayed until February 4.
* A member of the president's cabinet is named "designated survivor" and does not attend. That person remains in an undisclosed location in order to assume the presidency in the event a catastrophe disables the nation's top leaders gathered in the House chamber.
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