Editing State of the Union (section)

===Protocol of entry into the House chamber===
By approximately 8:30&nbsp;p.m. on the night of the address, the members of the House have gathered in their seats for the joint session.<ref name="CRH414-2010">{{cite journal |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2010-01-27/pdf/CREC-2010-01-27-pt1-PgH414-6.pdf#page=1 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2010-01-27/pdf/CREC-2010-01-27-pt1-PgH414-6.pdf#page=1 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |format=PDF |title=Joint Session of Congress Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 228 to Receive a Message from the President |journal=Congressional Record |date=January 27, 2010 |page=H414}}</ref> Then, the deputy [[Serjeant-at-arms|sergeant at arms]] addresses the speaker and loudly announces the vice president and members of the Senate, who enter and take the seats assigned for them.<ref name="CRH414-2010" />

The speaker, and then the vice president, specify the members of the House and Senate, respectively, who will escort the president into the House chamber.<ref name="CRH414-2010" /> The deputy sergeant at arms addresses the speaker again and loudly announces, in order, the [[dean of the Diplomatic Corps]], the [[Chief Justice of the United States|chief justice of the United States]] and the [[Associate Justice|associate justice]]s, and the Cabinet, each of whom enters and takes their seats when called.<ref name="CRH414-2010" /> The justices take the seats nearest to the speaker's rostrum and adjacent to the sections reserved for the [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] and the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<ref name="CNN2008" />

[[File:Livingood Obama State of the Union 2011.jpg|thumb|The sergeants at arms [[Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives|of the House]] (left) and [[Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate|of the Senate]] (right) wait at the doorway to the House chamber before President [[Barack Obama]] enters to deliver the [[2011 State of the Union Address]].]]

Just after 9:00&nbsp;pm, as the president reaches the door to the chamber,<ref name="CRH415-2010">{{cite journal |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2010-01-27/pdf/CREC-2010-01-27-pt1-PgH414-6.pdf#page=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2010-01-27/pdf/CREC-2010-01-27-pt1-PgH414-6.pdf#page=3 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |format=PDF |title=Joint Session of Congress Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 228 to Receive a Message from the President |journal=Congressional Record |date=January 27, 2010 |page=H415}}</ref> the [[Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives|House sergeant at arms]] stands just inside the doors, faces the speaker, and waits until the president is ready to enter the chamber.<ref name="CNN2008">{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0801/28/se.01.html |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909114045/https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/se/date/2008-01-28/segment/01 |url-status=live |first1=Wolf |last1=Blitzer |author-link1=Wolf Blitzer |first2=Suzanne |last2=Malveaux |author-link2=Suzanne Malveaux |first3=Jim |last3=Acosta |author-link3=Jim Acosta |first4=Jessica |last4=Yellin |author-link4=Jessica Yellin |first5=John |last5=King |author-link5=John King (journalist) |first6=Gloria |last6=Borger |author-link6=Gloria Borger |first7=Jeffrey |last7=Toobin |author-link7=Jeffrey Toobin |first8=Ed |last8=Henry |author-link8=Ed Henry |first9=Dana |last9=Bash |author-link9=Dana Bash |first10=William |last10=Schneider |publisher=CNN |type=Transcript |title=President Delivers State of the Union Address |date=January 28, 2008}}</ref> When the president is ready, the sergeant at arms announces the entrance, loudly stating the phrase: "Mister/Madam Speaker, the president of the United States!"<ref name="CRH415-2010" />

As applause and cheering begin, the president slowly walks toward the speaker's [[Podium|rostrum]], followed by members of the congressional escort committee.<ref name="CRH415-2010" /> The president's approach is slowed by pausing to shake hands, hug, kiss, and autograph copies of the speech for members of Congress.<ref name="CNN2008" /> After taking a place at the [[Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives|clerk]]'s desk,<ref name="CRH415-2010" /> the president hands two envelopes containing copies of the speech to the speaker and vice president.<ref name="ABC Dukakis 2014-01-28">{{cite news |last=Dukakis |first=Alexandra |title=The 7 Strangest State of the Union Rituals |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=January 28, 2014 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/01/the-7-strangest-state-of-the-union-rituals |archive-date=September 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909115155/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/01/the-7-strangest-state-of-the-union-rituals |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2024}}</ref>

After continuing applause from the attendees has diminished, the speaker introduces the president to the representatives and senators, typically stating: "Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the President of the United States."<ref name="CNN2008" /><ref name="CRH415-2010" /> This leads to a further round of applause and, eventually, the beginning of the address by the president.<ref name="CRH415-2010" /> The speaker may opt not to introduce the president, as was demonstrated in [[2019 State of the Union Address|2019]] and [[2024 State of the Union Address|2024]].