Biden changed the nature of the State of the Union address. He's not the first to do so.

In the aftermath of President Joe Biden's State of the Union address, we can put to rest the idea that this speech has anything to do with governance or constitutional clauses. Biden's speech wasn't crafted to lay anything before Congress “necessary or expedient” as the Constitution requires of a State of the Union. It wasn’t designed to sway the minds of his fellow Americans either. It was an emboldened call to rally his fellow Democrats and their activist organizational base to win in November.

This is not a criticism of Biden. His party needed to see and feel some energy if it is to defeat the increasingly authoritarian opposition nominee. That he chose the State of the Union address to do so is a natural outgrowth of changes to that speech that have occurred over time.

Thomas Jefferson ended the practice of giving the State of the Union address in person before Congress because he believed the ceremony smacked of monarchy and too closely resembled the King’s Speech from the Throne and an infringement on the separation of powers. Jefferson and his successors sent written addresses. Woodrow Wilson restored the in-person practice in 1913 as he believed a strong party leader as president could overcome what he viewed as a defect of our constitutional design — its checks and balances. Wilson’s dominance of Democratic Party politics and Congress produced a significant legislative agenda, leading credence to his view.

President Lyndon Johnson brought the speech to prime time to be delivered directly to the American people on television. With rhetoric now preeminent, applause lines took over; partisans provided standing ovations, and the opposition grimaced strategically. President Ronald Reagan gave it some theatrical spectacle by introducing references to honored guests, American heroes, and just plain regular citizens. Presidents' and members' guestlists are now broadcast to convey a message. The event became a forum for storytelling woven among the laundry list of legislative priorities. Heckling, similar to what we might find in the British parliament, has now become a norm, and members of Congress show up in campaign paraphernalia or try to broadcast a message via sartorial choices.

What truly mattered in Biden's speech was not the idea that the president was asking Congress to act on certain matters. Our Congress has been so dysfunctional for so long no one really expects legislative priorities to be the dominant story coming out of the address.

Biden spoke directly to his party’s core values, and to the aspirations of the public officials and activist base that he needs this fall. For Democrats who have grown increasingly disillusioned, Biden's words were a reaffirmation of their shared commitments. They heard in his voice a reflection of their own hopes and frustrations. They heard the energy and commitment they’d started to doubt. In the days since they have responded with fervor and enthusiasm.

That is all very good for the president. But for the idea of the State of the Union as an opportunity to engage in a substantive conversation on a legislative agenda for America? Not so much.

Like Wilson, LBJ, and Reagan, Biden has fundamentally changed the nature of this address. He didn’t do it alone — this trend has been building for some time.

The measure of success of future State of the Union addresses will not be found in its ability to lay out a legislative agenda or even in moving rapid-fire opinion polls but in the ways it fuels and moves the actions and mobilization of a party base. If Biden’s words inspire a new wave of engagement, if they galvanize an organizational movement to support his reelection, then the speech will have accomplished its purpose.

This model will be used by future presidents whether it is successful or not. What it leaves in the dustbin of history is an important constitutional clause meant to take governing seriously.

Peter Ubertaccio of Marstons Mills is vice president of Stonehill College and professor of political science.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Biden fundamentally changed nature of State of the Union address