Inside the Tradition of the State of the Union

Tonight, the president delivers the annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, a tradition dating back to George Washington in 1790.

Required by the Constitution, the speech allows the president to outline the administration’s agenda, legislative priorities, and vision for the year ahead.

The House chamber fills with lawmakers, Supreme Court justices, Cabinet officials, and military leaders, while one Cabinet member stays away as the “designated survivor” to ensure continuity of government.

The first lady hosts special guests in the gallery, whose stories are often highlighted to illustrate policy goals. Republicans and Democrats sit on opposite sides of the chamber, with the speaker and vice president seated behind the president.

The address typically lasts about an hour, followed by the official opposition response. Millions of Americans tune in to hear the president’s message on the economy, foreign policy, national security, and more. It is a night of tradition, pageantry, and political significance—a uniquely American institution.