Wednesday, December 25, 2019

A Socially Acceptable Form Of Schizophrenia - 1055 Words

Writer E. L. Doctorow defines writing as â€Å"a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia†. Doctorow believes writing can be about anything, no matter how arbitrary, and still be acceptable. J.D. Salinger writes The Catcher in the Rye to tell about Holden Caulfield s misadventures in a 1950’s New York. After Holden, the narrator and protagonist, is expelled from yet another boarding school, he hides it from his parents. Mental illness plagues Holden’s life, and at the end of the book, he ends up in a mental hospital in California. Holden Caulfield could be diagnosed with schizophrenia because in The Catcher in the Rye, he exhibits signs of the illness, such as frequent delusions, disorganised thinking, and negative symptoms, all of which†¦show more content†¦Schizophrenia is difficult to diagnose because â€Å"some of the early symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are common for typical development during teen years† and many symptoms are simil ar to other mental illnesses, such as split personality and depression. (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). Schizophrenia is often misdiagnosed as depression because symptoms include â€Å"[difficulties] feeling and expressing positive emotions†¦ [and difficulties] experiencing pleasure when engaged in activities or around people† (â€Å"Mental Health†). People with the mental illness are not experiencing sadness, persay, but rather a lack of emotion, especially enthusiasm (Mental Health Information). However, depression and suicidal thoughts are often present with or as a result of schizophrenia, but is not the foremost disorder. Contrary to popular beliefs among scientists, schizophrenia is not a split personality; â€Å"the word â€Å"schizophrenia† does mean â€Å"split-mind†, but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking† (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). The unbalance of emotions and thinking lea ds to some combination of delusions-- distorted beliefs that contradict those of real life-- and hallucinations-- auditory or visual things that are not real (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). The many symptoms of this mental illness are life-altering; delusions

A Socially Acceptable Form Of Schizophrenia - 1055 Words

Writer E. L. Doctorow defines writing as â€Å"a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia†. Doctorow believes writing can be about anything, no matter how arbitrary, and still be acceptable. J.D. Salinger writes The Catcher in the Rye to tell about Holden Caulfield s misadventures in a 1950’s New York. After Holden, the narrator and protagonist, is expelled from yet another boarding school, he hides it from his parents. Mental illness plagues Holden’s life, and at the end of the book, he ends up in a mental hospital in California. Holden Caulfield could be diagnosed with schizophrenia because in The Catcher in the Rye, he exhibits signs of the illness, such as frequent delusions, disorganised thinking, and negative symptoms, all of which†¦show more content†¦Schizophrenia is difficult to diagnose because â€Å"some of the early symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are common for typical development during teen years† and many symptoms are simil ar to other mental illnesses, such as split personality and depression. (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). Schizophrenia is often misdiagnosed as depression because symptoms include â€Å"[difficulties] feeling and expressing positive emotions†¦ [and difficulties] experiencing pleasure when engaged in activities or around people† (â€Å"Mental Health†). People with the mental illness are not experiencing sadness, persay, but rather a lack of emotion, especially enthusiasm (Mental Health Information). However, depression and suicidal thoughts are often present with or as a result of schizophrenia, but is not the foremost disorder. Contrary to popular beliefs among scientists, schizophrenia is not a split personality; â€Å"the word â€Å"schizophrenia† does mean â€Å"split-mind†, but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking† (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). The unbalance of emotions and thinking lea ds to some combination of delusions-- distorted beliefs that contradict those of real life-- and hallucinations-- auditory or visual things that are not real (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). The many symptoms of this mental illness are life-altering; delusions

A Socially Acceptable Form Of Schizophrenia - 1055 Words

Writer E. L. Doctorow defines writing as â€Å"a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia†. Doctorow believes writing can be about anything, no matter how arbitrary, and still be acceptable. J.D. Salinger writes The Catcher in the Rye to tell about Holden Caulfield s misadventures in a 1950’s New York. After Holden, the narrator and protagonist, is expelled from yet another boarding school, he hides it from his parents. Mental illness plagues Holden’s life, and at the end of the book, he ends up in a mental hospital in California. Holden Caulfield could be diagnosed with schizophrenia because in The Catcher in the Rye, he exhibits signs of the illness, such as frequent delusions, disorganised thinking, and negative symptoms, all of which†¦show more content†¦Schizophrenia is difficult to diagnose because â€Å"some of the early symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are common for typical development during teen years† and many symptoms are simil ar to other mental illnesses, such as split personality and depression. (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). Schizophrenia is often misdiagnosed as depression because symptoms include â€Å"[difficulties] feeling and expressing positive emotions†¦ [and difficulties] experiencing pleasure when engaged in activities or around people† (â€Å"Mental Health†). People with the mental illness are not experiencing sadness, persay, but rather a lack of emotion, especially enthusiasm (Mental Health Information). However, depression and suicidal thoughts are often present with or as a result of schizophrenia, but is not the foremost disorder. Contrary to popular beliefs among scientists, schizophrenia is not a split personality; â€Å"the word â€Å"schizophrenia† does mean â€Å"split-mind†, but it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking† (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). The unbalance of emotions and thinking lea ds to some combination of delusions-- distorted beliefs that contradict those of real life-- and hallucinations-- auditory or visual things that are not real (â€Å"Diseases and Conditions†). The many symptoms of this mental illness are life-altering; delusions

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Book Report on the Catcher in the Rye - 814 Words

[Research Paper Title] The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides guidelines for documentation style. This template is based on commonly used guidelines from the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th edition) and the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing (2nd edition). For more information about MLA style and publications, go to the MLA website at: www.mla.org. Catcher in the Rye starts off with Holden Caufield, the main character, alone at the top of Thomsen Hill above Pencey Prep. Holden has gotten kicked out of Pencey along with numerous other schools. Laziness is the reason of Holdens lack of success in school like many teenage boys. He goes back to his dorm and starts reading the book Out of Africa when his doofus roommate Robert Ackley walks in. His description to meet is just that awkwardly tall kid, like myself but with poor hygiene. Holdens roommate, Stradlater comes in and tells them about a date he is going on with none other than Holdens old fling named Jane Gallagher. Stradlater has a carefree attitude for her calling her by the wrong name multiple times. Stradlater also asks Holden to write an English composition for him since that is the only class Holden is not failing. Holden reluctantly agrees and that is when we get our first taste of why he is such an angry kid. He writes about his little brother named Allie who died a f ew years before of Leukemia. He specifically wrote about his baseball glove that he wrote poems on so heShow MoreRelatedIs Salingers The Catcher in the Rye a Trigger for Murder?767 Words   |  3 Pagesmotives linked to the Catcher in the Rye, ever since it was published, in 1951 by Jerome David Salinger. Many schools have since banned the book due to the inappropriate language, and the volger behavior that is pushed throughout the book. These schools have also stopped reading The Catcher in the Rye because of the fact that it has been the trigger of many attempted murders and assassinations, turning innocent people into cold blooded killers. The Catcher in the Rye is a book which deeply sided withRead MoreJD Salinger Research Paper1671 Words   |  7 Pages Jerome David Salinger, also known as J. D. Salinger, is a fascinating author best known for his novel, Catcher in the Rye. Although Salinger only published one novel, he wrote several short stories for magazines like The New Y orker and Story. A large number of these stories went on to be compiled into books such as Nine Stories, Franny and Zooey, and Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction. Despite the fact Salinger has not published any stories in over 45 years, his reputationRead MoreThe Catcher In The Rye by J. D. Salinger and Looking For Alaska by John Green1729 Words   |  7 Pagesmultiple reports suggest that the Silent Generation was the happiest generation in American history. The Catcher In The Rye and Looking For Alaska, two American novels about young adulthood, provide an insight on the commonalities and differences between these two generations and their unique American experiences. The two novels written by J.D. Salinger and John Green, respectively, were written fifty-four years apart, but their similarities are nonpareil. In fact, Green cites The Catcher In The RyeRead MoreHarry Potter And The Novel The Rye 1546 Words   |  7 Pagescomplexity and Rowlingâ₠¬â„¢s willingness to take on difficult and contemporary issues such as racism, genocide, classism, and difference – makes Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone uniquely valuable. While both books can be regarded as controversial due to the moral fibre of them, Catcher in the Rye, captures an adolescent protagonist wavering between childhood and adulthood. Holden Caulfield, a confused teenager, explores how adult life appears complex and incomprehensible to teenagers on the brink ofRead More Post-Traumatic Stress In Relation To Holden Caulfield Essay1179 Words   |  5 Pages‘normal’ life. An estimated 5.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or approximately 3.6 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD (Narrow, Rae, Regier). This purpose of this report is to prove whether or not Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D. Salingers’s book The Catcher In The Rye, is depressed. What Is A Depressive Disorder? Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person conducts him/herself, and the way he/she think. Depression may includeRead MorePost-Traumatic Stress in Relation to Holden Caulfield1181 Words   |  5 Pageslife. An estimated 5.2 million American adults ages 18 to 54, or approximately 3.6 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD (Narrow, Rae, Regier). This purpose of this report is to prove whether or not Holden Caulfield, the main character of J.D. Salingers s book The Catcher In The Rye, is depressed. What Is A Depressive Disorder? Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how a person conducts him/herself, and the way he/she think. DepressionRead MoreThe Play Macbeth : Naked Ambition, And The Oral Documentary, Kevin s Sentence By Bob1629 Words   |  7 PagesIn my report I will analyse and investigate characters facing adversity throughout their life or at some point and relating them to our society we live in at this time period. The four texts I have used were Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Gandhi: Naked Ambition, a biography written by Jad Adams, The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D Salinger and the oral documentary, Kevin’s Sentence by Bob Carty. Across these texts the main theme of ‘facing adversity’ was portrayed through characters, language and howRead MoreA Negative View Of Mental Illness1781 Words   |  8 Pagespeople think of be negative? What makes people think this way? Society has a negative view of mental illness because of media portrayal, th e attitudes of individuals, and skepticism, and the novel, The Catcher in the Rye, makes a connection to these views of the world. In the novel The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, the main character Holden Caulfield is clearly disturbed in some way or another. The opening paragraph begins to paint a clear picture of Holden’s unique and descriptiveRead MoreA Pessimistic Adolescent Is Not What Most Consider A Reliable Narrator1295 Words   |  6 PagesA pessimistic adolescent is not what most consider a reliable narrator, but author J.D. Salinger challenges this commonly held thought with his coming-of-age novel The Catcher in the Rye. The reader is introduced to Holden Caulfield, a secondary school junior that is outcasted and aimless upon expulsion from yet another preparatory school in a post-World War II world. Salinger weaves a myriad of comparisons of genuinity and disingenuousness into his work, each explored through a facet of Caulfield’sRead MoreLanguage Catcher in the Rye4730 Words   |  19 PagesThe American Dialect Society The Language of The Catcher in the Rye Author(s): Donald P. Costello Source: American Speech, Vol. 34, No. 3 (Oct., 1959), pp. 172-181 Published by: Duke University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/454038 . Accessed: 30/01/2011 11:19 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTORs Terms and Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTORs Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part

Monday, December 9, 2019

American Involvement In The Cuban Revolution Essay Example For Students

American Involvement In The Cuban Revolution Essay The revolution in Cuba was not a result of economic deprivation, nor becauseof high expectations in the economy, it was the political factors andexpectations which evoked the civilians to revolt. The Cuban economy wasmoving forward at the time before the rebellion but the dominant influenceof the sugar industry made the economy assymetrical and encouraged nodynamic industrial sector. Because of the dependance on sugar, theunemployment rate ranged between 16 and 20% rising and falling with sugarprices, ebbing and flowing as the season changed. The rural wage levelswere incredibly unsteady and unpredictable; the standard of living was low. Dependance on the sugar industry did not retard the economy of Cuba, justthe wages of its workers. It was the leaders of the nation who reapedprofit from this dependance, and it was the leaders of the nation whoinsisted on keeping the nation the way it was. By the mid 1950s, however,the middle class had expanded to 33% of the population. Democracy, as weknow it, broke down: the large middle class did not assert democraticleadership, there was no social militancy in the working class ranks, andthe people found order preferable to disarray. Batista could no longerlegitimize his regime . Failure in the elections of 1954 showed thediscontent of the people, and failure in communications with the UnitedStates illustrated its discontent. Finally, opposing forces confrontedBatistas power: there were street protests, confrontations with thepolice, assault, sabotage, and urban violence. This began the revolutionin Cuba. America, with its stubborn ideas and misjudgements of character, forcedCastro to turn to the Soviets for alliance and aid. When Castro visitedthe United States in April, 1959, there were different respectedindividuals holding different views of him and his future actions. Nixonbelieved Castro to be naive, some others thought him a welcome change fromBatista, still others called him an immature but effective leader, withouta well formed view of how to lead a revolutionary movement and not overlyconcerned with abstract of philosophical matters (p. 55). Why, then, didthe United States impress nit-picky ideals like there should not becommunists in the Army or in labor, or Cubas approach to the Batistatrials is totally unacceptable, too casual, too nonchalant on thisforming leader? Castro was like an inexperienced murderer with a gun inhis hand: any rustle in the background could set off his nervous triggerfinger causing death, destruction, and liaisons with the U.S.S.R. WhenAmerica expre ssed dislike of the trial procedures Castro was holding, ofcourse he (Castro) would try to prove he was able to run his country byhimself and snub the U.S. ambassador. The United States had so muchinvested in Cuba that it was stupid to think that Cuba could not retaliatewhen the U.S. cut off sugar imports. America was just too sure of itselfthinking it could get away with criticism and acts like that when animmature leader was in control. Cuba was not totally dependant on theUnited States and proved itself so. If Cuba could not find help andsupport in America, it sought elsewhere for those who smiled on its actionsand ideals. Castro found friends in Russia; the United States made thisso. Succeeding and failing have alot to do with judgement. For the UnitedStates, the revolution was a failure because the result was a communistnation in the Carribean. For the revolutionarie s in Cuba, the revolutionaccomplished many of their goals: capitalism was abolished and socialisminstalled eroding class distinctions and eliminating private property, theworking conditions improved, womens rights improved, labor unions wererecogniz ed, the military became more modern and advanced, political orderwas restored, the status of the country improved from dependant toindependant, and many more. For the people of Cuba, therefore, therevolution can be viewed as a success (if communism ca n be seen asacceptable), but for America, the result was a failure. .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 , .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .postImageUrl , .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 , .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:hover , .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:visited , .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:active { border:0!important; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:active , .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9 .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u94c85377e868adea5eb95dcf317311a9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Culture, Nature Freedom: Treating Juvenile Offenders. EssayLatin America is one of the poorest and underdeveloped sections of theworld. Because of this fact, it is difficult for its nations to compete andthrive in the world market with modern nations as they struggle toindustrialize and improve their status. Capitalism, as a basis for aneconomy, means that each man has to struggle to make a living, that eachman may fail and starve, and that each man may get a lucky break andthrive. We saw this struggle of the lower classes clearly in Mexico duringtheir industrialization. With communism, a man may not become of greaterstatus than he is born with, but then again that status is no better thanhis neighbors; this man is, however, guaranteed a certain amount of land,for example, and a certain home and a certain salary. To the poor, thosethreatened by the extreme of starving, this idea is very appitizing. To anation undergoing change, where there are many poor and these poor co uldget hurt by the industrialization, communism is appealing in every way. The United States has to learn that it is not in total control. Wecannot go around condemning countries which hold procedures different thanour own. The developing count ries in Latin America must struggle througheconomically and politically hard times to reach their own maturity; thismeans experimentating with different styles of government to find out whichis best for the specific country. If America wants democrac y to reignover the Carribean, Central, and South America, it should make the ideaappealing, show these countries that it can work. America should supportstrong democratic leaders, encourage capitalistic moves they (thecountries) make, and advise the nations when they need or ask for it. Mexico is an example where democracy worked, in Cuba, it didnt. Forcewill get us nowhere in preventing the spread of communism, either willcutting off relations with countries who are still debating U. S. A. or U. S. S. R. America has too many interests in Latin America to force itinto alliance with the Soviets. If America is supportive and acts like afriendnot a dictatorthese nations will develop naturally and see thatdemocracy is the best for them.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Reason for Cohabitation Essay Example

Reason for Cohabitation Essay Non Marital Relationship live in partner Cohabitation is an arrangement whereby two people decide to live together on a long-term or permanent basis in an emotionally and/or sexually intimate relationship. The term is most frequently applied to couples who are not married Reason for Cohabitation Today, cohabitation is a common pattern among people in the Western world. People may live together for a number of reasons. These may include wanting to test compatibility or to establish financial security before marrying. It may also be because they are unable to legally marry, due to reasons such as same-sex, some interracial or interreligious marriages are not legal or permitted. Other reasons include living as a way for polygamists or polyamorists to avoid breaking the law, or as a way to avoid the higher income taxes paid by some two-income married couples (in the United States), negative effects on pension payments (among older people), or philosophical opposition to the institution of marriage (that is, seeing little difference between the commitment to live together and the commitment to marriage). Some individuals also may choose cohabitation because they see their relationships as being private and personal matters, and not to be controlled by political, religious or patriarchal institutions. Some couples prefer cohabitation because it does not legally commit them for an extended period, and because it is easier to establish and dissolve without the legal costs often associated with a divorce. In some jurisdictions cohabitation can be viewed legally as common-law marriages, either after the duration of a specified period, or the birth of the couples child, or if the couple consider and behave accordingly as husband and wife. This helps provide the surviving partner a legal basis for inheriting the deceaseds belongings in the event of the death of their cohabiting partner. ) We will write a custom essay sample on Reason for Cohabitation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Reason for Cohabitation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Reason for Cohabitation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In Saskatchewan, Canada, a married person may cohabit with other married or single persons and become the spouses of all of them under the Saskatchewan Family Property Act. Consent of the subsequent spouse is not required. Although Canada has a federal criminal code law prohibiting polygamy, which includes nyone who authorizes more than one conjugal union at a time, Saskatchewan judicial authorities that unilaterally authorize multiple conjugal unions have not yet been charged under this federal law. Opposition In the Western world, a man and a woman who lived together without being married were once socially shunned and persecuted and, in some cases, prosecuted by law. In some jurisdictions, cohabitation was illegal until relatively recently. Other jurisdictions have created a Common-law marriage status when two people of the opposite sex live together for a prescribed period of time. Most jurisdictions no longer prosecute this choice. In the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, judicial authorities have used binding authority to sanction married women being the same time spouse of other men due to cohabitation. Consent to be spouses of all persons involved is not required. Therefore, it is likely that future court challenges in Canada will use this Canadian case law to claim married persons may also civilly marry other persons without divorcing first. A scientific survey of over 1,000 married men and women in the United States of America found those who moved in with a lover before engagement or marriage reported significantly lower quality marriages and a greater possibility for splitting up than other couples. About 20 percent of those who cohabited before getting engaged had since suggested divorce compared with only 12 percent of those who only moved in together after getting engaged and 10 percent who did not cohabit prior to marriage. 1] Psychologist Dr Galena Rhoades said: There might be a subset of people who live together before they got engaged who might have decided to get married really based on other things in their relationship because they were already living together and less because they really wanted and had decided they wanted a future together. We think some couples who move in together without a clear commitment to marriage may wind up sliding into marriage partly because they are already cohabiting. [2] Support In some Western nations such as the United States and Britain divorce laws and family law give more rights toward women in terms of property rights, rights to male working labor of resource provision outside of marriage, sole parental and custody rights to children. In essence, as a legal institution, marriage is an obligation from a man to a woman to support her outside of marriage by the contractual obligations of divorce. In the United States, women initiate 2/3 of all divorce. 3] As a result some men choose to avoid what they see as the unequal commitment, responsibility, risk and obligation they would be subject to in the legal contract of marriage. The Mens and Fathers Rights Movement and Mens Rights Activists hold similar views and seek equality in divorce and custody law. Cohabitation (government) Cohabitation in government occurs in semi-presidential systems, such as Frances system, when the President is from a different political party than the majority of the membe rs of parliament. It occurs because such a system forces the president to name a premier (prime minister) that will be acceptable to the majority party within parliament. Thus, cohabitation occurs because of the duality of the executive: an independently elected President and a prime minister who must be acceptable both to this president and to the legislature. Origins Cohabitation was a product of the French Fifth Republic, albeit an unintended one. This constitution brought together a potent presidential position with manifold executive powers and a prime minister, responsible before Parliament. The presidents task was primarily to end deadlock and act decisively to avoid the stagnation prevalent under the French Fourth Republic; the prime minister, similarly, was to direct the work of government, providing a strong leadership to the legislative branch and to help overcome partisan squabbles. Since 1962, French presidents have been elected by popular vote, replacing the electoral college, which was only used once. This change was intended to give Fifth Republic presidents more power than they might have had under the original constitution, while still seen as the symbol and embodiment of the nation, the president also was given a popular mandate. Of course, the majority party of the National Assembly retained power as well, but since the popularly-elected president appointed the prime minister, the former was seen as having the upper hand in any conflict between executive and legislature. Furthermore, the mbalance is further illustrated by the fact that the President of the Fifth Republic can dissolve the Assembly at any time (but not more than once in a year), whereas the legislature has no powers of removal against the president. The sole caveat to this position of presidential pre-eminence was the fact that the presidents selection to the premiership required approval by the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament: because the Assembly can dismiss the government by a vote of no con fidence, it follows that the prime minister must be supported by the Assembly. This was not a problem whilst the legislative majority was aligned with the president, and indeed, de Gaulle, who was responsible for inspiring much of the Constitution, never envisioned that such a conflict could exist; to him the French public would never permit such a situation. But because the president was elected to seven-year terms, and the Assembly to five-year terms, it was almost inevitable that such a situation would someday arise. Political scientists regarded it as a flaw in the constitution that had the potential to bring down the Fifth Republic. The first near miss with cohabitation occurred with the election of Socialist President Francois Mitterrand in 1981. A coalition of the right controlled the Assembly at the time. Almost immediately, Mitterrand exercised his authority to call Assembly elections, and the electorate returned an Assembly with an absolute majority of Socialists, ending the presumed crisis. However, when Assembly elections were held, as required, five years later, the Socialists lost their majority to the right, precipitating the first experiment in cohabitation.