President Barack Obama’s 2012 State of the Union Address

Released on January 24, 2012

The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh is pleased to announce that President Barack Obama will deliver his third State of the Union Address on Wednesday morning, January 25, 2012 at 9:00 am (Cambodia time) before a joint session of Congress.  Local media and the public, who wish to view the live broadcast of the address, can watch CNN International or visit the U.S. Embassy website for a live streaming at http://cambodia.usembassy.gov/streamvideo.html

The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress.  The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the President to outline his legislative agenda (for which he needs the cooperation of Congress) and his national priorities.  The practice arises from a command given to the President in the Constitution of the United States.  By tradition, the President makes this report annually.  While not required to deliver a speech, every president since President Woodrow Wilson has made the State of the Union report a speech delivered before a joint session of Congress.  Before that time, most presidents delivered the State of the Union as a written report.