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Name ____________________________________
Date__________ Period ______
AP GOV’T/US CIVICS & GOV’T/AM HISTORY III CLASSES
2017 ADDRESS TO THE JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28th @ 9 PM
Directions: As you watch President Donald Trump’s first Address to the Joint Session of
Congress, take notes on each of the following: (2 pts. each)

Tone and Style: The feelings evoked by the speaker, the audience and the language.
Use of anecdotes or images, visuals, sound, silences, intonation.

Issues: Specific policy proposals, priorities, examples of the past year's successes and
the coming year's goals.

Audience Reaction: Interaction with the audience, positive or negative feedback,
rapport.
While viewing the Address to the Joint Session of Congress, think about the following
focus questions and answer them in complete sentences. (3 pts. each)
1. What is the significance of the Address? What role does it play in the political process? Civic
process?
2. What is the President’s agenda in his Address to the Joint Session of Congress? What is his
objective in delivering the Address?
3. What issues did he bring up to the Congress? List these issues. How will his administration
address them?
4. How much of his speech dealt with domestic (at home) policies? What messages did he
send with regard to domestic policy?
5. How much of his speech dealt with foreign policy (overseas)? What messages did he send
with regard to foreign policy?
6. Were there "special guests" in the audience? Who were they and where were they seated?
7. What were some of your own observations with regard visual and physical responses of the
Vice President, the Speaker of the House, various members of Congress and guests during the
Address to the Joint Session of Congress?
8. Make some predictions about what specific steps Congress, the Administration, interest
groups and citizens will take in the coming year in response to the Address to the Joint Session
of Congress.
9. In your opinion, what impression did the Address to the Joint Session of Congress leave on
you? Did you like it, dislike it, have no opinion, etc. Explain your rationale.
10. Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, rate this Address to the Joint Session of Congress based on
delivery, content, message, audience interaction, and substance. _____ Explain your rationale.