General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUnder the Constitution, the SOTU must be given to Congress and not a rally
Last edited Tue Jan 22, 2019, 07:42 PM - Edit history (1)
The SOTU is a speech to congress and cannot be given at a rally https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-political-rally-second-state-of-the-union
Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution states 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.
Following the first State of the Union addresses delivered in-person to Congress by George Washington and John Adams, presidents delivered these updates in written form for more than 100 years, until 1913 when Woodrow Wilson revived the practice of delivering them in-person.
But the addresses have never been and seemingly cannot be, constitutionally delivered in the form of a political rally.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,309 posts)He can give a speech anywhere he wants, but it won't be -the- State of the Union address, because he can't be sure Congress noticed. He can deliver that "Information of the State of the Union" in writing, as Speaker Pelosi suggested, so long as it is delivered to Congress.
BumRushDaShow
(128,712 posts)that would fulfill the requirement, regardless of whether it is given orally or not.
Amishman
(5,554 posts)He would be trampling tradition but technically following the requirements
hueymahl
(2,470 posts)Clickbait.
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)"America is Great Again," and that would meet the Constitutional requirements. He can have a regular rally on the same night as the planned speech.
Scoopster
(423 posts)...and then he can go have his two hours hate someplace else that isn't Congress, which is what he's gonna do.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,656 posts)There doesn't have to be a speech; the report was delivered in writing until Woodrow Wilson decided to do it by making a speech. It doesn't have to be on January 29 or any other date in particular, or even annually. "From time to time" can mean almost anything. In recent years it's become kind of a partisan rah-rah speech for presidents ("The state of the union is totally awesome because of the great work of me and my party" ), and Trump is certain to push that trend way over the top. But I would argue that we don't need a SOTU speech or any other report because we already know that the state of the union is a total dumpster fire.
joshcryer
(62,269 posts)And the media will cover his rally.
Despite it being unconstitutional gibberish.
The media should boycott it even though they won't because of the ad revenue.
Vinca
(50,249 posts)It's all bullshit anyway. I hope the networks don't cover the thing . . . whatever it is.
Gothmog
(145,046 posts)Any written speech given to Congress will satisfy the requirements of the constitution but a speech given at a rally is technically not a SOTU address
Vinca
(50,249 posts)He has no idea what he's reading off the teleprompter or what any of it means. It's all a bad reality show and there should not be an official SOTU address. Even if it's in the script.
Gothmog
(145,046 posts)The networks and media are not covering trump's rallies. Even fox has stopped covering trump's rallies and so the media should also ignore this event
SQUEE
(1,315 posts)Let him send his letter and not give him a bully pulpit.
Gothmog
(145,046 posts)If trump does a rally, that rally cannot technically be called the SOTU
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)progressoid
(49,961 posts)WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)As long as the SOTU is handed to congress. The rally would just be a rally.
tritsofme
(17,372 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)She just disinvited him from doing it in Congress with every single branch of government in attendance. She said the security required isnt there due to the government shutdown.
Gothmog
(145,046 posts)Voltaire2
(12,980 posts)details. For a long time it was simply a written message from the president to Congress. There is no requirement for a speech to a joint session.
LiberalFighter
(50,825 posts)And not cover the rally.
Maybe somehow get it in his head that if he has a rally it needs to be outside. In the evening would be great and would be much colder. And knowing how he loves to talk it would be extremely long.