<P> Both the Speaker and the Vice President sit at the Speaker 's desk , behind the President for the duration of the speech . If either is unavailable , the next highest - ranking member of the respective house substitutes . Once the chamber settles down from the President 's arrival , the Speaker officially presents the President to the joint session of Congress . The President then delivers the speech from the podium at the front of the House Chamber . </P>
who is sitting behind the president during the state of the union address
the Speaker and the Vice President