The television show that President Bartlet and Charlie are watching while the President is in bed with the flu is Passions, an NBC soap opera. The woman on-screen (with the severe bun hairstyle) is Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald, portrayed by Eva Tamargo. The woman she is talking to (who at first we can only see the back of) is Ivy (Winthrop) Crane, portrayed by Kim Johnston Ulrich. (edit) Awards:
Stockard Channing won 2000 Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in this episode in conviction with "The State Dinner"
(edit) It's revealed that Bartlet has MS (edit)

Lord John Marbury: Mr. President, for several centuries, my kingdom has ruled India with a stick and carrot. When we had a particular problem with someone, one solution we would try is to make him a maharajah. That's kind of a regional king. We would pay him off with an annual tribute, and in return, he would be loyal to the crown.
Leo: Lord Marbury, under our Constitution, our President is not empowered to create maharajahs.
Lord John: Yes. Thank you for clearing that up, Leo. Having been educated at Cambridge and the Sorbonne, I am, as you know, exceedingly stupid. (edit) President Bartlet (in bed): You know, I was watching a television program before with a sort of a roving moderator who spoke to a seated panel of young women who are having some sort of problems with their boyfriends, apparently because the boyfriends have all slept with the girlfriend's mothers. Then they brought all the boyfriends out and they fought right there on television.
Toby, tell me: these people don't vote, do they? (edit) Lord John Marbury: It’s the price you pay.
Leo McGarry: For avoiding a war halfway around the world?
Lord John Marbury: For being rich, free and alive all at the same time, and for the criminally negligent behavior of your Congress in not checking the proliferation of nuclear devices. (edit) Bartlet: I came to this hallowed chamber one year ago, and I see we're spelling "hallowed" with a pound sign in the middle...
Sam: We'll fix that.
Bartlet: The pound sign is silent, I assume? (edit) Toby (on whether the era of big government is past): Government can be a place where people come together, and no one gets left behind. (edit) Bartlet: I'm taking pills, C.J.!
C.J.: Are you taking them, or are you just carrying them around?
Bartlet: Carrying them around was a big step for me. (edit) Bartlet: If anything happens... You got a best friend?
Tribby: Yes, sir.
Bartlet: Is he smarter than you?
Tribby: Yes, sir.
Bartlet: Would you trust him with your life?
Tribby: Yes, sir.
Bartlet: That's your Chief of Staff. (edit) Bartlet: We meant "stronger" here, right?
Sam: What's it say?
Bartlet: 'I'm proud to report that our country is stranger than it was a year ago.
Sam: That's a typo.
Bartlet: Could go either way. (edit) Leo: What does he have that he can't tell people?
Abbey: He has the flu.
Leo: Oh, you would not have come back for the flu, Abbey.
Abbey: He's got multiple sclerosis, Leo. (edit) Bartlet: You know, I was watching a television program before with a sort of, uh, roving moderator who spoke to a seated panel of young women who were having some sort of problem with their boyfriends, apparently, because the boyfriends had all slept with the girlfriends' mothers. Then they brought the boyfriends out and they all fought right there on television. Toby, tell me: these people don't vote, do they?
Toby: I wouldn't think so, no, sir. (edit)

CJ Fish Bowl decoration: A podium and two flags (as a reference to the state of the union address.) (edit) Bartlet promises Tribby that next year it will be the Surgeon General who stays away from the State of the Union in case it is attacked. This is a goof as the Surgeon General is not part of the Presidential Line of Succession and as such cannot assume Presidential powers. (edit) Abby tells the President that she doesn't care if Canada invades Michigan. In the 2004-2005 season, the opposite happens; some hunters from Michigan invade Canada, almost causing a Can-Am military showdown. (edit)

The Title: "He shall, from time to time,…"

These are the opening words of the passage in the executive powers section of the Constitution which deals with the State of the Union address. (edit)