In the nation's capital, President Trump is set to give a big speech in front of Congress. This isn't your typical State of the Union address, though. It's called a "joint address to Congress, " and it's a tradition that started way back with President Reagan.

You might be wondering, why the change in name? Well, the U. S. Constitution says the president has to update Congress and suggest policies, but it doesn't say exactly when. Usually, presidents give this speech in January or February, looking back at the past year and talking about plans for the next one. Back in the day, it was called “the President’s Annual Message to Congress. ” Then, in 1934, President Roosevelt started calling it the “Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union. ”  This is a big deal, because it's the president's chance to set the agenda for the year.

So, why isn't Trump's speech called the State of the Union this time? Because it's his first speech of his second term. Reagan did the same thing back in 1981, calling his speech “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the Program for Economic Recovery. ” Presidents Bush and Clinton followed suit in their first years, with speeches titled “Administration Goals. ” In 2001, President George W. Bush’s speech was his “Budget Message. ”

These first-year speeches are just as important as the State of the Union addresses that come later. And just like with the State of the Union, the opposing party gets to respond with a speech of their own. This year, that honor goes to Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.

The speech is a big event, broadcast live on TV. It's a chance for the president to talk about what's important to them and what they want to achieve. But it's also a chance for the opposing party to have their say. It's all about the balance of power and the give-and-take of politics.

THE UNION

Why Is Trump's Speech Different This Time?

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