NOTE to students:  Read the information under “Background” below before answering the questions. 

1.  a) What is the State of the Union address?
b)  When and where is the State of the Union given?

2.  List the three contentious issues President Obama is expected to address in his 2014 State of the Union.

3.  a) How is President Obama expected to address the problems with the Obamacare law?
b)  What do you think of White House press secretary Jay Carney's comments on ABC's This Week?

4.  a) What is "fast-track" authority?
b)  Who is opposed to President Obama's free trade agreements and fast-track authority?  Why?

5.  a) How does President Obama's view on Iran's nuclear program differ from that of Congress (most Republicans and some Democrats)?
b)  Ask a parent if he/she agrees with President Obama's policy and what they would like to hear him say on Iran during his SOTU.

6. a) Which of the following issues do you think are most important for President Obama to focus on in his State of the Union?  Explain your answer.  

• the economy/jobs/unemployment
• foreign policy (what to do about Iran, Syria, Sudan...)
• terrorism
• Afghanistan
• the NSA surveillance program
• same-sex marriage
• legalizing marijuana for recreational use
• the problems with ObamaCare
• education
• other

6. b) Ask a parent what issues he/she thinks President Obama should focus on in his State of the Union, and to explain his/her answer.

CHALLENGE — Watch the State of the Union address and answer the following questions:

1.  Tone is the attitude a speaker takes towards a subject. What was the tone of President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union address?

2. What was the overall theme of the president’s speech?

3.  a) What general statement did President Obama make about the economy in his address to the nation?
b) What is your reaction to this encouraging statement?
c) Ask a parent the same question.

4. List some of the things the President promised to do to improve the economy.

5.  What new initiatives did President Obama propose in his State of the Union?

6.  Which issues did the President bypass altogether, or just mention briefly?

7.  a) Do you think the President is focusing on the correct issues? Explain your answer.
b) Ask a parent the same question.

8.  What issue presented by President Obama was the most important to you?  Did any aspect of the speech disappoint you?  Explain your answers.  (For the text and video of the 2014 State of the Union address, click here.)

9. a) Do you think the President is focusing on the correct issues? Explain your answer.
b) Ask a parent the same question.

10. Watch/read the Republican response to the President’s State of the Union at c-span.org. What do you think of Washington Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ response?