Before Viewing the State of the Union Address on C-SPAN
Have students research the history of the State of the Union address. Refer to C-SPAN's Capitol Questions for a short history of the State of the Union (from 2001). Use the following questions as starting points for the discussion:
- Must the president deliver the address in person? (No)
- Where in the Constitution is the State of the Union mentioned? (Article II, Section 3)
- What was the practice of delivering the State of the Union in the 19th century? This clip from C-SPAN's American Presidents: Life Portraits on Andrew Jackson discusses the tradition set by Thomas Jefferson.
- Who was the first modern president to deliver the State of the Union in person? (Wilson, 1913)
- Who delivered the first televised State of the Union? (Truman, 1947)
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While Viewing the State of the Union Address on C-SPAN
Directions: Watch the State of the Union LIVE, on videotape or choose a past speech from C-SPAN's State of the Union Archive. Take notes on each of the following:
- Tone and Style The feelings evoked by the speaker, the audience and the language. Use of anecdotes or images, visuals, sound, silences, intonation.
- Issues Specific policy proposals, priorities, examples of the past year's successes and the coming year's goals.
- Audience Reaction Interaction with the audience, positive or
negative feedback, rapport.
While Viewing the State of the Union use the following focus questions in guiding students through the viewing.
1. What is President Bush's agenda in his State of the Union Address? What is his objective in delivering the Address?
2. What issues did he bring up to the Congress? List these issues. How will his administration address them?
3. How much of his speech dealt with domestic policies? What messages did he send with regard to domestic policy?
4. How much of his speech dealt with foreign policy? What messages did he send with regard to foreign policy?
After Viewing the State of the Union Address on C-SPAN
Discussion
1. What is the significance of the State of the Union? What role does it play in the political process? Civic process?
2. What was the response from Congress/citizens? Watch the Democratic response, airing after the State of the Union, and listen to viewer calls on C-SPAN. Read news accounts in the press or online. To what degree did your own observations match those of others?
3. Watch the following excerpt, which includes the controversial from the State of the Union in 2004. What is your reaction? What has changed in President Bush's policies and his rhetoric over the last year?
4. How was 2005's State of the Union viewed, being that it was President Bush's first address to Congress in his 2nd term? Which former Democratic presidential candidates were present during the address? What did you notice about their appearances? Who were the "special guests" in the audience? Where were they seated?
Extended
Activities
Make some predictions about what
specific steps Congress, the Administration, interest groups and
citizens will take in the coming year in response to the State of
the Union.
Write and present your own State of the Union Address, showing what you think are the major issues facing the nation today, and your plans to address these problems.
IN THE COMMUNITY
