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 is the State of the Union given?

2.  What will President Obama use his 2012 State of the Union address to do?

3.  a) What will be the main theme of President Obama's State of the Union address?
b)  What are the main issues he will focus on in his address?

4.  Why are President Obama's campaign aides attempting to make the theme of the upcoming presidential election a choice about the role of government and the future of the middle class?

5. In his speech, President Obama will say he "wants to return to the values that define America, where hard work pays off and where responsibility -- not recklessness -- is rewarded."  Ask a parent whether he/she thinks the policies of President Obama's Democratic party, the policies of the Republican party, the policies of both, or neither support this idea, and to explain his/her answer.

6.  In a president's last year in office, he is often referred to as a "lame duck" because it is believed that he will be ineffective in carrying out any current or new policies.  Do you think President Obama will be effective in carrying out the proposals he lays out in his last State of the Union speech?  Explain your 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 2012 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 2012 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 Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels's response?