One classic way to get perspective on the most recent election is to drop it into the full sweep of congressional elections across all of American history. A focus on partisan control of the House, on partisan control of national government, and on the difference in these between mid-term and presidential years provides a way to isolate elements of distinction for the mid-term of 2010. While this hardly provides a means of foretelling the future, it does suggest some key structural elements that help distinguish the most recent elections from even their immediate predecessors.

The Forum
A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics
Ed. by Shafer, Byron / DiSalvo, Daniel
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Where Are We in History? 2010 in the Longest Run
Pär Jason Engle / Byron Shafer
1University of Wisconsin - Madison
1University of Wisconsin - Madison
Citation Information: The Forum. Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages –, ISSN (Online) 1540-8884, DOI: 10.2202/1540-8884.1413, January 2011
Publication History:
- Published Online:
- 2011-01-10
Keywords: midterm elections; congressional elections; divided government


















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