国情咨文的由来

"The President 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." Article 11, Sec. 3, U.S. Constitution 宪法笫二条第三款规定:“总统应随时向国会报告联邦情况,并将他认为必要和适宜的议案提交国会审议”。这“联邦情况”后来有了个专名,世人美其名日“国情咨文”,也就是对于一个国家政治、经济、文化等方面基本情况的报告。