united-states constitutional-law perjury
Perjury in State of the Union message?
<p>The Constitution requires the President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union</a> to report to Congress on the "State of the Union".  The Constitution is vague on the manner of reporting and the frequency:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>He shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State
  of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he
  shall judge necessary and expedient.</p>
  
  <p>— Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In recent times the reporting has been by a speech to the combined House and Senate, with widespread media coverage.</p>

<p>In making this Constitutionally mandated report to Congress, is the President subject to perjury charges if he should lie to Congress? </p>

<p>No.  The federal <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1621" rel="nofollow noreferrer">perjury statute</a> applies only when there has been an oath taken to assert that the false statement was true, or the false statement was otherwise submitted under penalty of perjury.</p>

<p>There is another statute concerning <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1001" rel="nofollow noreferrer">false statements generally</a>, but it is also limited in such a way that it would not apply to the state of the union speech.</p>

<p>No. The only possible penalty is loss of political reputation and influence if there is a public perception that the  President lied, or removal from office if a majority of the US House of Representatives chooses to impeach, and two-thirds of the Senate convicts on such Articles of Impeachment. The latter, while theoretically possible, strikes me as very unlikely indeed. </p>
