Why is it necessary for presidents to act as party leaders in order to accomplish their policy goals?
◦ They must do so to gain public support for their policy goals and to win reelection.
◦ The frequency of congressional elections places the president's policy objectives in jeopardy, necessitating strong party leadership.
◦ The political parties lack an enumeration of policies that each party wishes to enact; without presidential leadership, the parties are rudderless.
◦ Members of Congress from the president's party cannot always be counted on to support the president's agenda.