what is the purpose of the State of the Union Address?

It's a political thing.

Nothing more.

Those scumbags have made it into something so they can raise their approval ratings, rather than to actually deliver the state our country is in.

It amazes me the level of ignorance you see in some of these answers.

It's required by the United States Constitution to make these reports to Congress. So for the last 220 years it has been called the State of the Union. It's not something Obama dreamed up for ratings. It's just since the advent of television it has become televised the last 50 years or so.

Well, if you took the time to watch it you would have heard your President explain why it happens within the first two minutes of starting. In fact, I think he opened with why it happens.

Next time you get homework perhaps it would be better if you actually did it rather then ask questions online.