As required by the Constitution, specifically Article 2, Section 3, presidents must provide to the assembled houses of Congress information about the affairs of the country. These annual messages also convey the president’s thoughts on the issues of the day as well as recommendations to Congress regarding these important issues. President Monroe delivered this address per the constitutional requirement on December 2, 1817. It was his first report as president. He discussed the business of the government, highlighting how money was spent on the U.S. Navy and how the government interacted with foreign nations. Monroe took care to explain that relations with Great Britian were stable and that negotiations regarding a few points regarding the Treaty of Ghent were proceeding well.