[LukeL]

I was going to say the same thing. The Constitution also just says that the POTUS will update Congress as to the State of the Union. It does not specify when or how often. shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.

Article II Section 3 Clause 1. This could be once per congressional term, once per presidential term, or once per month.

[cyclotic]

I believe that this also implies strongly that Congress must accept the SOTU, whether by reading it or being in the House to hear the speech. These congresscritters who deem themselves too good to attend are in malfeasance of duty.

There are very few enumerated duties of a Congress member. Since they don’t want to do a proper budget, the least they can do sit for a hour and listen to a speech.