Response

I've always wondered about the response to the State of the Union address (and other responses when ever the president speaks). It has always seemed unfair and over-shadowing. Seems to me that the SOTU address should be the President's opportunity to set his agenda. The immediate response (which is not a response, but rather their own State of the President address) detracts from the president's opportunity. Doesn't the opposition have endless opportunity to respond in other methods? Anyway, here is the history.

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Practice began in 1966 when the television networks provided the Republican party with a half-hour slot.
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Television. It's not a law as I suspected.

And I found this interesting (emphisis mine).

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In 2004, the Democrats delivered their response in Spanish, delivered by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. ^[5] After President George W. Bush's 2006 State of the Union address, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine delivered the Democratic Party's response in English ^[3] while Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a response in Spanish ^[6]. Virginia Senator Jim Webb, whose son is stationed in Iraq, made the 2007 response ^[7] . Rep. Xavier Becerra of California delivered the Spanish version. ^[8]