Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD Symptoms and Diagnosis Print Diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder By Owen Kelly, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 24, 2019 Tetra Images / Getty Images More in OCD Symptoms and Diagnosis Causes Treatment Types Living With OCD Related Conditions Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is accepted as an illness with biological roots, it cant be diagnosed using a blood sample, X-ray or other medical tests. A mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or family doctor or nurse with special training will usually make a diagnosis of OCD using their medical judgment and experience. Many healthcare professionals use a tool called a structured clinical interview to see if your symptoms are consistent with OCD. Structured clinical interviews contain standardized questions to ensure that each patient is interviewed in the same way. These questions usually ask about the nature, severity, and duration of symptoms. You may also be asked about your mood or other symptoms to make sure there arent other psychological problems that need to be addressed. Although it can be embarrassing to reveal the details of your obsessions and compulsions, it will help the healthcare professional make the proper diagnosis and provide you with the best possible treatment.? Do I Have OCD? OCD is an anxiety disorder where you experience debilitating obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are thoughts, images, or ideas which wont go away, are unwanted, and which cause major distress. If you have OCD, it is common to have one or more obsession linked to repeated doubts, a need for order, contamination by germs, aggressive or disturbing ideas, as well as sexual and religious images. Compulsions are behaviors that you feel you have to carry out over and over again to relieve your anxiety. If you have OCD, it is common to have compulsions, mental acts or rituals around cleaning, counting, checking, requesting or demanding reassurance, and ensuring order and symmetry. However, just as feeling sad or blue on occasion is normal and does not mean that you have clinical depression, it is important to remember that having a strange thought or repeating something a couple of times does not necessarily mean that you have OCD. Diagnosis Only a mental health care professional like a psychiatrist, psychologist or some family doctors should diagnosis a complex illness like OCD. Resources like websites, online chat rooms or message boards, or family members can be a great starting point. But they are no substitute for a one-on-one meeting with a trained healthcare professional. OCD Discussion Guide Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctors appointment. Download PDF Health care professionals have several factors in mind when making a diagnosis of OCD. The obsessions and compulsions caused by OCD set off debilitating anxiety and are time-consuming. If you have OCD, you will usually spend more than an hour a day thinking about your obsession, or carrying out your compulsion or ritual. For example, people with OCD often miss work or appointments because of compulsions. Living With OCD If you have OCD, the obsessions and/or compulsions arent just annoying. They cause major disruptions at work, school and in your relationships. If you have untreated OCD, it is often difficult to maintain a job, intimate relationship or even friendships. OCD and Relationships If you have OCD, you usually recognize the irrationality or excessiveness of your obsessions or compulsions. In contrast, people with other mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, often believe that their strange or unusual thoughts are perfectly normal. Even though it can be easy to admit the irrationality of an obsession or compulsion in the safety of a professionals office, you may feel intense anxiety when experiencing your obsession (such as contamination with dirt), and you cannot carry out your compulsion (such folding laundry just the right way). The symptoms of OCD often resemble other forms of mental illness, including generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, Tourette Syndrome, and hypochondria. It is important to make sure that your symptoms are consistent with OCD and not another mental illness  so that you get the kind of help you need. OCD Spectrum Disorders

Brazil Consumption - 1092 Words

Brazil – Consumption Analysis General Analysis The consumption and GDP data being considered for Brazil relates to the period 1996-2005. [1]The Consumption and National Income in Brazil during this period have risen in the same proportion approximately. The National Income and Consumption have been on a constant rise in the decade being analysed. The National Income of Brazil has grown at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.08%, while the Consumption of Brazil has grown at a CAGR of 2.98%. [pic] Consumption Function On the basis of regression carried out between National Income and Consumption of Brazil, the consumption function can be written as Consumption = Constant + MPC * National Income Consumption†¦show more content†¦A clear example of how both these parts of consumption work in tandem to bring about business cycle instability is the US economy when Alan Greenspan, Former Chairman, US Federal Reserve, was reducing interest rates. The constant consumption was affected by the reduction in interest rates and therefore people took more and more loan and the contractual expenditure in form of EMI payment and other forms of payment increased. Now expenditure for one is income for another. Therefore, as a result of reduced interest rates, business prospered as the US economy converted from savings economy into a consumption economy. Because the business prospered, the disposable income of individuals increased and therefore people consumed more, because the expenditure dependant on income increases with income. Now, with increased income, the APC falls and savings of people increases. Therefore, people started investing the saved money in real estate and th e demand for real estate increased leading to a bubble. Once, the bubble was created and Alan Greenspan retired, paving way for Ben Bernanke, Chairman, US Federal Reserve, started increasing interest rates, the disposable income reduced, leading to a reduction in the , but the fixed expenditure could not reduce, thus leading to expenditure commitments. Therefore, both the parts of consumption play an important part in business cycle instability. Appendix Data Sheet |Country or AreaShow MoreRelatedBusiness Case Study : Nova, The Producer Of Nova1508 Words   |  7 Pagesprospective target markets in South America – Brazil and Chile. According to the Central Intelligence Agency’s â€Å"World Factbook,† Brazil is a large country in South America, with a land area slightly smaller than the United States, making it the sixth largest country in the world. The population of Brazil is concentrated along the Atlantic Coast, with much of the population residing in the major cities of Sao Paolo, Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is the fifth most populous nation in the worldRead MoreA Real Problem: Brazils Currency Depreciation and Inflation1263 Words   |  6 Pages1. Introduction A decade ago, an American’s experience in Brazil may have included a trip to a soccer game, a visit to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer, and a many cups of the country’s famous coffee. For those that could afford it, this seemed like a desirable vacation destination. Again, with the exchange rate in 2003 at 3.5 reais to the dollar, this was a vacation only for those that could afford it. One might assume that this high exchange rate comes with a high standard of living and aRead MoreSituation Analysis : Industrial Players Essay1381 Words   |  6 Pagesleaders. Matte Leao from Coca-cola and Lipton tea from AmBev are the direct competitors. Industry revenue, size and growth: Brazil is a politically stable country with booming economy which makes it perfect for foreign investment or joint venture. Brazilian population comprises of 67% middle class population with $12,100 per capita income of 202 million people with a consumption rate of 1.2 kg ppa makes it a huge potential market. Market size for tea was USD 28.7 billion with growth rate of 13%. MarketRead MoreThe Brazilian National Standards Organization975 Words   |  4 PagesCorruption in Brazil reduces the financial resources that the government makes available to food service units (FSUs) and the general public. Before going into its implication, let’s start by defining what food safety is. Then, we will look at the legislations put in place by the government to regulate food distribution in order to protect the population. 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Coffee prices had hit 40 year lows in 2001 and had remained low since, resulting in real hardship for many farmers. A variety of alternative solutions had been suggested. (Gomez-Ibanez amp; Quinlan, 2004) The International Coffee Organization was advocating increasing demand through programs promoting coffee consumption; the Inter-AmericanRead MoreDeforestation of The Amazon Rainforest1136 Words   |  5 Pagesdiversity in the world. It recycles rainfall from coastal regions to the continental interior, providing water for Brazil’s inland agriculture. Big industries like Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, and Cargill have established industrial soy plantations in Brazil that are taking over large plots of lan d in the Amazon rainforest (Food for Thought). Soy has been popularized in the past decade as a healthy protein substitute for the restricted diets of vegetarians and vegans. In the past 40 years, soybean productionRead MoreAnalysis Of Brazil s The Flag Of Brazil Essay1471 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Ã¯ » ¿1 Analysis of Brazil Introduction Brazil is a republic in South America comprising about half the area and half the population of South America. It was a colony of Portuguese from 1500 Century and became independent in 1822 and eventually a republic in 1889. Known for its warm and tropical year around climate, the country is an ideal place to come and visit all year round. Country Flag The flag of Brazil was officially adopted November 1889 by Raimundo Teixeira Mendes. It was to be depicted asRead MoreThe Keurig Green Mountain Coffee Company954 Words   |  4 Pagesbrewing systems alone. Keurig Company has recently began expanding their business in international markets. I will be evaluating Brazil as a possible country for growth. I will then discuss the potential success and failures of the Keurig product entering the Brazilian market. This will be followed by an argument on whether Keurig should or should not pursue expanding into Brazil. Keurig is a subsidiary of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Company. The Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Company provides organicRead MoreOne Of The Reasons By Brazil’S Economy Is An Important1349 Words   |  6 PagesAmericas. Because imports and exports are a significant component of Brazil’s GDP, at 27%, trade represents a key factor in Brazil’s economy (Brazil Economy: Facts, Population, GDP, Inflation, Business, Trade, Corruption, n.d.). Although the government interference and a system that is characterized as inefficient and a challenge for market entry, Brazil continues to work toward an improving economic and social environment for its people. In the decade between 2003 and 2014, they made tremendous

A Religious View on Same-sex Marriage Essay - 1867 Words

A Religious View on Same-sex Marriage The United States is a country built on a number of ideals and institutions. The moral structure of many Americans today was developed by our ancestors and the founders of this nation through the institutions that were a part of their lives. Family, religion, marriage, equality, and justice are just a few examples of the important components that provide a moral basis for our country. If any of these elements were to become too mutated, the effects on society could be devastating. Right now in the United States, one of these building blocks of society is being threatened by the possibility of a negative transformation. The building block of marriage as the sacred†¦show more content†¦According to a Pew Poll, most religious communities believe same-sex marriage and even homosexuality in general are morally wrong and do not follow their religious beliefs (Waldman, 2003). There is no major religion in the world that has ever altered the definition of marriage to include s ame-sex couples (Barlow, 2003). In general, it can be said that many religious people have strong views on same-sex marriage, declaring it wrong because of their religious beliefs. There are two main reasons why many religious groups are against same-sex marriage. The first argument is that people who are gay are not able to procreate. They do not have the correct corresponding body parts to make children (Waldman, 2003). Anyone who has taken sex education knows that humans can not reproduce without a male’s sperm and a female’s egg. Roman Catholics believe God created marriage as a lifetime union between one woman and one man with the purpose of having a loving relationship and for procreating, caring for, and teaching children (Charron Skylstad, 1996). Sex that does not occur with the intent of procreation is not approved by many faiths. In Judaism, for example, there is an important Bible passage that supports this idea. The story of Onan is about Onan sleeping with his dead brother’s wife. In order to prevent having children, Onan does not ejaculate inside of his brother’s wife. Instead he ejaculated on the ground. B ecauseShow MoreRelatedPro Gay Marriage Essay807 Words   |  4 Pagesrecognise gay marriage with full equality. The most common argument for people being against gay marriage is that it’s â€Å"not natural† for two people of the same sex to have a marriage. Opponents of gay marriage make out that the natural world that we live in created marriage however this is wrong as us the humans did. How can you argue that gay marriage is not natural when nature has very little to do with the matter itself? In addition to this, opponents that argue that gay marriage isnt naturalRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Has Changed Over Time1599 Words   |  7 PagesSame Sex Marriage For the past 3 decades the views surrounding marriage has undergone a great deal of change (Lennox, 2015, p. 1101). This shift is due to the continual discussion of gay marriage. The interplay of religion and politics has led for much controversy. In the United States, the use of Christian and Jewish biblical texts are the main sources drawn upon for opposition, but have also been used as a supportive means of equality. Beyond the religious there are also psychological and physicalRead MoreEssay on Marriage Equailty for the LGBT Community1554 Words   |  7 Pagescommunity, as it pertains to human rights, equality, and particularly, marriage equality. 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Joseph Chamie- the previous director- and Barry Mirkin-the previous Population Policy Section Chief- of the UN’s Population Division aim to present up-to-date statistics and information on the same-sex marriage debate in â€Å"Same-Sex Marriage: A New Social Phenomenon.† They mention that same-sex marriage is a â€Å"recent phenomenon† that will possibly stick around for years in many countries because societal, religiousRead MoreThe Rights Of Same Sex Couples1514 Words   |  7 PagesThe rights of same-sex couples is a big controversy currently, and although there are still many in opposition, the number of supporters increases regularly. Not only do most opposing take a religious standpoint, but they also claim is have a negative effect on â€Å"real marriage† and that same-sex households cannot provide the necessary parenting needed to properly raise a child. Not only do most advocates feel that some o f the opposing arguments make no sense, but also that others are based off ofRead MoreGay Marriage Should Not Be Denied Service1457 Words   |  6 Pagesthemselves as Christian businesses and refuse to cater to gay marriages. They do this based on their belief that gay marriage is wrong, and against their faith, and because of this they can’t provide their services or they would be supporting it. In Indiana, a small town pizzeria was asked what their position was on the Religious Restoration Freedom act, and stated that they were a Christian establishment and could not cater to gay marriages. However they would serve gay people and couples in their storeRead MoreSame Sex Marriage Is The Legal Union Essay1562 Words   |  7 PagesAdvertise ï‡ º ï‡ ¼ ï‡ ½  ©2015 StudyMode.com Home Same-sex marriage Same Sex Marriage Same Sex Marriage Civil union, Homosexuality, Marriage By kwhite89 Mar 16, 2015 1510 Words 56 Views More info ï„” PDF View Text View Page 6 of 6 Read MoreEssay about Religion and Gay Rights1124 Words   |  5 Pagesopinions. But in the last 20 years this topic has jumped to the top of the religious/political controversy list. This topic is important to all Americans because so many different groups have a stakeholder position in this issue. Adoption agencies, health services, insurance companies and the wedding industry just to name a few. Many believe legalizing marriage for same-sex couples would not only change the meaning of marriage, but change society all together. On the matter of religion, homosexualityRead MoreThe Same Sex Marriage Debate1331 Words   |  6 PagesA Paper to End The Same-Sex Marriage Debate The topic of same-sex marriage has been heavily debated for the past decade. Discussions continue whether a marriage is between two people who are in love and agree to spend the rest of their lives together regardless of their sex or if it is reserved for only heterosexuals. Since the beginning of The Gay Rights Movement in the early nineteenth century, groundbreaking developments have come to the surface, presenting strong arguments on both sides of thisRead MoreSame-Sex Marriage Essay1536 Words   |  7 PagesPeople can define marriage in numerous ways. By definition, to marry means to join together. So, a marriage would constitute as a joining together of two individuals into a legal union, which means being joined as one. Some of the many purposes of marriage would include: family, companionship, financial benefits, commitment, and love. Starting a family is an important part of getting married, as well as the commitment to love just the one person for the rest of their lives. Financially, married couples

The Ethical Imperative †Contrarieties Free Essays

The Ethical Imperative – Contrarieties â€Å"A global ethic is only practicable as a personal commitment,† says the author, Dalla Costa. He explains that for businesspeople, this does not mean valuing profit less, but instead valuing people more. Throughout the article, the author shows that business reflects who we are as a society and the beliefs that we live by as individuals. We will write a custom essay sample on The Ethical Imperative – Contrarieties or any similar topic only for you Order Now He uses several examples of organizations that have been hurt by unethical behavior to support his statement. Business leaders must assess their values and make appropriate changes since they operate in a global economy where market forces have left the human aspect weaker and the profit element skyrocketed. Dalla Costa attempts to convince businesses to pursue moral and ethical policies. He addresses the principle of right and wrong but emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior to long-term survival and profit. The article dissects the different characteristics attributed to those optimistic and pessimistic. It describes the institutional pessimism of business, and explains how it is a product of fear – the fear of making mistake and of trying something new. The author argues that today’s universal interdependence requires a global ethic – concern for the consumers, workers, and the environment of the overall community. He also discusses the pressures that lead to unethical behavior by individuals and organizations. He develops on five core fallacies that ground the pessimists’ antipathy and prevent correction. In the article, Dalla Costa outlines the process for incorporating ethical principles to the direct benefit of customers, shareholders, employees and profits. The author makes clear why corporate ethics must be a fundamental component of any firm. As managers and consumers, many people are concerned about issues like discrimination in the workplace, and are struggling to integrate their beliefs into their jobs. The Ethical Imperative links these personal values to business performance. ’Costly though they may be, ethics are not an expenditure but an investment’’ (Dalla Costa, 1998). This article can be related to any business. [From Tesco’s point of view] as trust is essential among network actors, we believe to be optimistic is the best way to achieve ethical practices and reach trust between the firm and the market. Since industry, employer, and peer pressure are important factors influencing employees’ decisions, and since they do what they think is expected from them, we will work on modifying our business culture to build ethic and trust. Teams will be built to assess unethical issues, gather feedbacks and comments. This will in turn create a positive feedback loop. Also, Tesco will co-create supply chain transparency by 1. Demanding full transparency from its suppliers, 2. Working together with Tesco-Motorola-Food suppliers-Customers, and 3. Allowing customers to be true to their respective code of ethics. How to cite The Ethical Imperative – Contrarieties, Essay examples

Tahitians And The Nootka Essays - Tahitians, Tahiti,

Tahitians And The Nootka To Compare these two groups, the Tahitians and the Nootka one must consider that there are considerable similarities but there are certain differences which allow them to be set apart. The Tahitians set themselves apart as evolved and fit the model for intensive farmers, since they are blessed with the rich soil and adequate rain fall. The Nootka too, are somewhat in the scope but they are still categorized as hunter-gatherers. This can be explained in many different ways, the Tahitians climate allows for them to wear less clothing, as it is quite tropical. The Nootka have to go through a chilly North America climate though there is still warm air from Japan. The Nootka land provides them with big game and this can give them warmth in colder days. This account for some of their hunter instinct. The Tahitians are more focused on cultivating their land which, as opposed to that the Nootka. They both cultivate their land to accommodate their needs and fish intensively as a mean of subsistence. Their similarities run way deeper than just these habits based upon the ecological model of culture it will simplify the and also the differences. The most obvious difference is in the language and population density of them two. The Tahitians numbered about 100,000 whereas the Nootka are only around 6000 or a little more. As far as nutrition goes the diet is similar in fish, the Tahitians though are excellent farmers and can cultivate the land very well. The Nootka because of their ecological surroundings are able to hunt game as well as fishing and their unmatched ability to store food makes them a successful hunter gatherer society. Technologically, the two share similarities in that they both are good woodwork. They use wood tools do to the lack of metal. Their tools are complex but limited. Stone, shells, bones and wood make up the materials used for tools, the other materials available are the grass, the branches of the coconut trees for example. Their tools include harpoons and series of hooks and line for fishing. For construction stone drills, wedges and adzes, however the Nootka have hunting weaponry such as bow and arrow, spears and traps for hunting game. They both posses the skill of carpentry, they build houses and make boats and also paper with great skill and workmanship. The Tahitians provide separate housing for the chief and their homes are made by the top carpenters whereas the housing scheme of the Nootka. The Nootka families reside together and the chief occupies a rear corner. The household of the Nootka is the fundamental social and political unit of the society. The Nootka have different housing settlements for winter and summer. In the summer they are closer to the sea where in the winter the housing is closely packed and is in a sheltered cave. The Tahitians do not have the change of climate problem so they are more or less spread out around the land. When it come to cooking and eating the Tahitians men cook for themselves and the women for themselves. The Nootka women usually cook for the family but for elaborate feasts the men do the cooking. Boiling of fish and the cooking of meat except for sell fish, which are eaten raw are some of the similarities of them two. The Tahitians use an earth oven, the Nootka usually bail their fish over an open fire. They both cover the food in leaves to cook it farther. The Nootka use a lot of oil as subsistence for their cooking. The Tahitians eat two meals a day one at anytime in the morning and a heavy dinner at night, which is very ceremonious. For clothing, the Tahitians wear very little, for men a loincloth and a skirt for women made of tape cloth. On special occasions feather cloth are used as well a body art. The Nootka have a similar clothing system, for pleasant weather they may even go naked but for winter they may even use a cone-shaped hat. For special occasion they may wear cloth that are very elaborate as well as animal skin. The Tahitians take a lot of pride in bathing and perfuming the

Free Essays on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Man With A Dream

Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who lived in a time where people were discriminated against for the color of their skin and for any other problem that white Christian men could find with them. King must have learned at an early age that most whites did not accept him and he had to grow up with the pain of being discriminated against for something that he could do nothing to change. This inspired him to give speeches and to try and break down the walls separating blacks and whites and he is probably the most well known name of anyone in the Civil Rights Movement. King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. His parents were Alberta Williams King and Martin Luther King, Sr. His father was a reverend and his grandfather on his mother’s side was a minister at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. When King was older he followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a reverend and serving as a pastor but at a different church, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. King was a very well educated man; he attended Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia where he earned his B.A. he also received a B.D. degree from Croser Theological Seminary, Chester, Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. degree from Boston University. (ulib.iupui.edu/libinfo/mlkjr.html) Doctor King began his pastoral work at Dexter Avenue Baptist church in 1954. He was inspired to join the fight for civil rights after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the front of a bus for a white person. In 1955 King was elected president of the newly formed Montgomery Improvement Association, which was formed to fight civil rights abuses and to try and have action taken to protect the rights of blacks. King was made a national hero when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Rosa Parks and said that the Montgomery bus policy was illegal. (ulib.iupui.edu/libinfo/mlkjr.html) Now that King was a nationally known figure he now had the power to spread his me... Free Essays on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Man With A Dream Free Essays on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A Man With A Dream Martin Luther King Jr. was a man who lived in a time where people were discriminated against for the color of their skin and for any other problem that white Christian men could find with them. King must have learned at an early age that most whites did not accept him and he had to grow up with the pain of being discriminated against for something that he could do nothing to change. This inspired him to give speeches and to try and break down the walls separating blacks and whites and he is probably the most well known name of anyone in the Civil Rights Movement. King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. His parents were Alberta Williams King and Martin Luther King, Sr. His father was a reverend and his grandfather on his mother’s side was a minister at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. When King was older he followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a reverend and serving as a pastor but at a different church, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. King was a very well educated man; he attended Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia where he earned his B.A. he also received a B.D. degree from Croser Theological Seminary, Chester, Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. degree from Boston University. (ulib.iupui.edu/libinfo/mlkjr.html) Doctor King began his pastoral work at Dexter Avenue Baptist church in 1954. He was inspired to join the fight for civil rights after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the front of a bus for a white person. In 1955 King was elected president of the newly formed Montgomery Improvement Association, which was formed to fight civil rights abuses and to try and have action taken to protect the rights of blacks. King was made a national hero when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Rosa Parks and said that the Montgomery bus policy was illegal. (ulib.iupui.edu/libinfo/mlkjr.html) Now that King was a nationally known figure he now had the power to spread his me...

Prime Minister of Canada - Role and Duties

Prime Minister of Canada - Role and Duties The prime minister is the head of government in Canada. The Canadian prime minister is usually the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons in a general election. The prime minister may lead a majority government or a minority government. Although the role of prime minister in Canada is not defined by any law or constitutional document, it is the most powerful role in Canadian politics. Head of Government The prime minister of Canada is head of the executive branch of the Canadian federal government. The Canadian prime minister provides leadership and direction to the government with the support of a cabinet, which the prime minister chooses, the prime ministers office (PMO) of political staff, and the privy council office (PCO) of non-partisan public servants who provide a focal point for the Canadian public service. Cabinet Chair The cabinet is a key decision-making forum in the Canadian government. The Canadian prime minister decides on the size of the cabinet and selects cabinet ministers- usually members of parliament and sometimes a senator- and assigns their department responsibilities and portfolios. In selecting the members of the cabinet, the prime minister tries to balance Canadian regional interests, ensures an appropriate mix of anglophones and francophones, and makes sure that women and ethnic minorities are represented. The prime minister chairs cabinet meetings and controls the agenda. Party Leader Since the source of power of the prime minister in Canada is as leader of a federal political party, the prime minister must always be sensitive to the national and regional executives of their party as well as to the grassroots supporters of the party. As party leader, the prime minister must be able to explain party policies and programs  and be able to put them into action. In elections in Canada, voters increasingly define the policies of a political party by their perceptions of the party leader, so the prime minister must continuously attempt to appeal to a large number of voters. Political appointments- such as senators, judges, ambassadors, commission members and crown corporation executives- are often used by Canadian prime ministers to reward the party faithful. Role in Parliament The prime minister and cabinet members have seats in Parliament (with occasional exceptions) and lead and direct Parliaments activities and its legislative agenda. The prime minister in Canada must retain the confidence of the majority of the members in the House of Commons or resign and seek a dissolution of Parliament to have the conflict resolved by an election. Due to time constraints, the prime minister participates in only the most important debates in the House of Commons, such as the debate on the Speech from the Throne and debates on contentious legislation. However, the prime minister does defend the government and its policies in the daily Question Period in the House of Commons. The Canadian prime minister must also fulfill their responsibilities as a member of Parliament in representing the constituents in their riding, or electoral district.