<P> At close of the ceremony, attendees leave on their own accord . The Sergeants at Arms guides the President out of the Chamber . Some politicians stay to shake hands with and congratulate the President on his way out . </P> <P> Customarily, one cabinet member (the designated survivor) does not attend the speech, in order to provide continuity in the line of succession in the event that a catastrophe disables the President, the Vice President, and other succeeding officers gathered in the House chamber . Additionally, since the September 11 attacks in 2001, a few members of Congress have been asked to relocate to undisclosed locations for the duration of the speech to form a rump Congress in the event of a disaster . Since 2003, each chamber of Congress has formally named a separate designated survivor . </P> <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> <P> In the State of the Union the President traditionally outlines the administration's accomplishments over the previous year, as well as the agenda for the coming year, often in upbeat and optimistic terms . Since the 1982 address, it has also become common for the President to honor special guests sitting in the gallery, such as American citizens or visiting heads of state . During that 1982 address, President Ronald Reagan acknowledged Lenny Skutnik for his act of heroism following the crash of Air Florida Flight 90 . Since then, the term "Lenny Skutniks" has been used to refer to individuals invited to sit in the gallery, and then cited by the President, during the State of the Union . </P>

Who is sitting behind the president during the state of the union address