<P> The practice arises from a duty given to the president in the Constitution of the United States: </P> <P> 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 . </P> <P> Although the language of this State of the Union Clause of the Constitution is not specific, since the 1930s, the President makes this report annually in late January or early February . Between 1934 and 2013 the date has been as early as January 3, and as late as February 12 . </P> <P> While not required to deliver a speech, every president since Woodrow Wilson, with the notable exception of Herbert Hoover, has made at least one State of the Union report as a speech delivered before a joint session of Congress . Before that time, most presidents delivered the State of the Union as a written report . </P>

When is the state of the union adress usually given