The presidency has both executive and legislative functions within our governmental system. The president is charged with this function by the Constitution. Under the Constitution, the president is responsible for approving laws passed by Congress. The president is prominent in the eyes of the public. The most admired living Americans often presidents or men connected with the presidency through candidacy.
Presidency is clearly the top office in American politics.
Some scholars attribute the perpetuation of the two-party system in the United States to the need to coalesce to win the presidency. Jefferson as party leader, Jackson as spokesman for national major cities, Lincoln as national leader in crisis, and so on.