Answer: Midterm elections provide a check on the president's agenda by giving the public an opportunity to express their opinion and vote on the president's policy initiatives. Voters have the opportunity to vote for candidates who support the president's agenda, or against those who don't. This gives the public a chance to decide if they want to continue the direction the president has taken, or to change direction and elect new representatives who support different policies. The election results can be a strong signal as to whether the public supports the president's agenda or not, and can be a major factor in determining how the president progresses with his plans.