SOTU
Government & Politics abbreviation · Political
| Stands for | State of the Union |
|---|---|
| Categories | Government & Politics |
SOTU stands for State of the Union, a political abbreviation.
Annual address by the President to a joint session of Congress, reporting on the condition of the country and proposing legislative priorities. It is usually delivered in late January or February and broadcast nationally, followed by a televised response from the opposition party.
Example: Pundits debated which proposals in the SOTU had any realistic chance of passing.
Usage notes
Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution requires the President to inform Congress about the state of the union "from time to time". Thomas Jefferson replaced the in-person speech with a written message, and Woodrow Wilson revived the address in 1913. One cabinet member, the designated survivor, stays away from the chamber.
Related abbreviations
More political abbreviations
- SB – Senate Bill
- SCOTUS – Supreme Court of the United States
- Sen. – Senator
- SFRC – Senate Foreign Relations Committee
- SG – Solicitor General
- SoS – Secretary of State
- SSCI – Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- STV – Single transferable vote
- Super PAC – Independent expenditure-only political committee
- UC – Unanimous consent
- VBM – Vote by mail
- VP – Vice president