Final answer:
The President informs Congress of his or her agenda principally through the State of the Union Address, but also through budget proposals and direct lobbying. The President's agenda draws from various sources, including party ideas and existing legislation, but it is not binding on Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The President communicates his or her agenda to Congress primarily through the State of the Union Address. By constitutional directive, this address is delivered annually before a joint session of Congress. It serves as a crucial occasion for the President to outline policy objectives and legislative priorities. In addition to the State of the Union, the President can exert influence on the legislative process through various means such as proposing a budget, which inherently contains policy positions due to the allocation of resources, and calling Congress into special sessions for urgent issues.
However, the President does not function in isolation. Ideas for the presidential agenda can be sourced from within the political party, existing legislation, or departments within the executive branch. Moreover, the President attempts to garner support for legislative items by lobbying members of Congress, making phone calls to key legislators, or appealing directly to the public, thereby utilizing the "bully pulpit" to sway opinion in favor of his or her policy goals.
Ultimately, while the President cannot introduce bills, he or she can recommend legislation and advocate for the passage of laws that align with the administration's objectives. Consequently, the President's agenda, though influential, is not binding on Congress and only a fraction of proposed initiatives may become law.