AP Government Name:

V.O. Key - Theory of Critical Elections

Elections can be analyzed as falling into one of four types: critical, maintaining, deviating and reinstating. The most prevalent type is a maintaining election. This is an election in which the pattern of partisan attachments prevailing in preceding elections is maintained. A critical election is one in which a long-term realignment of the electorate occurs and is reflected in basic changes in political attitudes. This is reflected in the political process by a change from one party controlling the national government to control by the other. When a temporary shift occurs, this is a deviating election. This typically occurs when a popular figure from the party out of power is elected president but there is not an overall change in political attitude (liberalism v. conservatism). A reinstating election takes place after one or more deviating elections. A reinstating election marks the return to power of the temporarily displaced controlling party.

Characteristics of each type of election:

Critical Election

  1. Electoral involvement is high.
  2. Sharp alterations in preexisting alignment of political parties culminating in a different political party becoming the majority.
  3. New and durable voting coalitions are formed.
  4. Basic change in political attitudes occurs (liberal v. conservative).

Maintaining Election

  1. Most prevalent type of election
  2. Continuity - no major political upheavals
  3. Status quo prevails

Deviating Election

  1. A temporary shift occurs within the electorate
  2. Popular candidates usually cause this shift
  3. Basic party loyalties are not changed
  4. There can be more than one deviating election in a row

Reinstating Election

  1. Return to normal voting patterns
  2. Occurs after one or more deviating elections

List Groups Members (max of 3):

For each election listed below, identify the type of election that it was. If the type is not "maintaining," list characteristics which lead you to the conclusion you made as to the type of election it was.

1932 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1936 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1940 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1944 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1948 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1952 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic


1956 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1960 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1964 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1968 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1972 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1976 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1980 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1984 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1988 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1992 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

1996 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

2000 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

2004 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic

2008 Type of Election

  1. Characteristic
  2. Characteristic
  3. Characteristic