The 2008 State of the Union Address in which the President of the United States speaks to the nation in front of Congress will be held Monday night.
President George W. Bush and his three speech writers have been preparing this speech since December. This will be the President's last State of the Union address.
According to Article II, Sec. 3 of the U.S. Constitution, "The President 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."
The State of the Union has been given every year since George Washington delivered the first in 1790. However, for the 112 years following 1801, during Thomas Jefferson's term in office, it was simply written on paper.
President Bush is expected to urge Congress to reauthorize the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, and to pass the economic stimulus plan he has worked out with leaders in the House.
