As I do most years around this time, I shall present the following quote from the U.S. Constitution:

He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.
-Article II, section 3

Tonight is this year’s State of the Union Address, during which the President addresses Congress, discussing priorities, accomplishments, and recommendations for the coming year in government. It’s varied a bit in timing and venue over the couse of history (though Washington gave a short speech, Jefferson sent a note, which was the practice until Wilson revived the address in ’31), but for the last half-century or so, it’s been fairly consistent as a speech given to a joint session of Congress on an evening in late January.

Especially since the advent of national media, it’s also been directed toward the American people as well, and involves quite a bit of political theater and pomp. It’s one of those times where the President gets to be particularly “Presidential”, and an opportunity for direct national communication few have…um…wasted.

As I also do most years, I present my favorite set of rules for The State of the Union Drinking Game. In part, I do this because in my short time as a public school Social Studies teacher, this sort of prurient and slightly scandalous angle on American government caught the attention of students in a way few other things did. The State of the Union also works well for this sort of thing because there are so many traditional hallmarks that one can easily make a game of it (which for public school teachers is usually, for propriety’s sake,”BINGO”, but unofficially, everyone knows better), which has the pleasant benefit of making people pay attention, and maybe actually learn something.

Because I’m all about education, after all…<hic>

So, enjoy responsibly, and maybe learn a little something as you take part in this long-standing American tradition.

Cheers!