Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution mandates that the President must report on the state of the union, traditionally done through an annual address, but it does not require the President to deliver the address in person. Therefore, a President can technically refuse to deliver an in-person State of the Union address and may choose to send a written message to Congress instead.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Section 3 Clause 1 of the United States Constitution, the President is required to give a State of the Union address. While it does not specify the format of the address, traditionally, this address is delivered annually to a joint session of Congress.
The purpose of the address is for the President to report on the condition of the nation and to present any necessary or expedient measures that Congress may consider. While the Constitution mandates that the President must report on the state of the union, it does not specify that it must be an in-person speech, and previous presidents have fulfilled this obligation through written reports. Thus, a President can technically refuse to give a State of the Union address in person and may opt to send a written message instead.