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COMMONWEALTH: A Journal of Political Science is a peer-reviewed journal
that publishes original research in all subfields of political science along with
interdisciplinary articles. Open to a variety of approaches and methodologies,
COMMONWEALTH seeks manuscripts that are based on theoretical perspectives
(empirical or normative) as well as those that employ an historical approach.
COMMONWEALTH solicits manuscripts for a general issue and one or more policy
options issues. An important part of the journal’s mission is to encourage research on
topics of Pennsylvania and regional importance (northeastern and mid-Atlantic
United States). Manuscripts on state and local government, politics, and policy are
especially desired. Book reviews are generally limited to essays on recently
published works with a Pennsylvania or regional focus. The journal’s special policy
issues are devoted exclusively to dispassionate academic discourse on state and
regional public policy issues and options.

COMMONWEALTH was founded by the Pennsylvania Political Science
Association (PPSA) in 1987. In 2004, the Legislative Office for Research Liaison
(LORL) of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives agreed to jointly publish and
expand the journal. The journal’s editorial staff, Editorial Review Board, and
referees maintain the highest peer-review and publication standards. Public policy
research emanating from academic fields other than political science is processed by
the University Committee for Legislative Liaison, which advises LORL.

Copies of COMMONWEALTH are sent to all PPSA members — individual,
departmental, and institutional. For PPSA membership rates, see the separate
announcements in this issue. Mailing to PPSA members is generously assisted by the
School of Public Affairs of Penn State-Harrisburg. LORL provides copies to
members of both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, to key legislative
staff, and to the presidents of each of the Pennsylvania colleges and universities that
belong to the LORL Academic Network. In addition, LORL provides copies to the
National Conference of State Legislatures, the Council of State Governments, the
National Governors’ Association, various other national associations of state and
local officials, and to all Pennsylvania state depository libraries. Back issues of
COMMONWEALTH are available online at www.house.state.pa.us/CJPS. Hard
copies in limited quantities may be obtained by contacting LORL.

SPEAKER’S JOURNAL

The SPEAKER’S JOURNAL is a series of essays important to the future of the
citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Published by the Office of the
Speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, in cooperation with LORL,
topics addressed include Access to Higher Education, How to Save for College
Education, the Importance of Libraries, Autism, Geospatial Policy, and Early
Childhood Education. Past issues will soon be available online.

http://www.house.state.pa. us/CJPS


Legislative Office for Research Liaison
Pennsylvania House of Representatives

With initial funding from the National Science Foundation, the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives established the Legislative Office for
Research Liaison (LORL) in 1976 as the General Assembly’s science and
technology staff. LORL continues as a nonpartisan research office that enables
legislators, committees, and staff to access the expertise of faculty in the LORL
University Network, which includes most of Pennsylvania’s institutions of
higher education (Drexel University, Lincoln University, The Pennsylvania
State University, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, the
University of Pittsburgh, the 14 universities in the State System of Higher
Education, and the member institutions of the Pennsylvania Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities).

The universities in the LORL Network fund the services of two faculty
members each year to serve as University Visiting Scholars in Harrisburg
throughout the legislative session. The Visiting Scholars and one to three
undergraduate or graduate student interns complement LORL’s full-time staff of
six. LORL handles more than 1,000 legislative inquiries annually, from both the
House and Senate, including about 200 a year that require university assistance.
Inquiry topics vary widely, ranging from agriculture to workers compensation.
In addition, the LORL Committee has commissioned major academic studies on
topics such as telemedicine and state medical licensure, land-use policy, school
curriculum reform, workforce development, and the policy implications of
genetic research. LORL and its Network have also sponsored a range of policy
workshops, seminars, and major conferences for legislators and staff. LORL
agreed to join with the PPSA to publish COMMONWEALTH: A Journal of
Political Science in 2004.

The Pennsylvania Political Science Association

Founded in 1939, the Pennsylvania Political Science Association (PPSA) is
the nation’s oldest state political science association. Its mission has always
been to promote scholarship, research, and the exchange of ideas within the
Pennsylvania community of political scientists. PPSA draws its membership
principally from the political science and public administration faculties of
Pennsylvania’s public and private colleges and universities but also includes
government professionals and faculty members from surrounding states.

PPSA’s annual conference includes dozens of panelists covering a wide
variety of subject areas. While university faculty comprise the vast majority of
participants, legislators, legislative staff, executive officials, and undergraduates
also have been participants. The PPSA began publishing COMMONWEALTH: A

Journal of Political Science in 1987.



Guidelines for Submitting Manuscripts

Manuscripts from all fields of political science are welcome, especially those on
Pennsylvania or regional research (northeastern or mid-Atlantic United States) in the
areas of state and local government, politics, or public policy. State and regional
policy research may originate from any relevant academic discipline. Manuscripts
should be submitted in Microsoft Word format. The preferred length is 15–30
double-spaced pages, including notes, references, tables, and appendices. Citations
should follow the American Political Science Association’s Style Manual for
Political Science. For guidance, authors should consult previous issues of
COMMONWEALTH, the American Political Science Review, or the editor. Tables
should be created with the MS-WORD tools, not created manually, and they should
be placed in the body of the manuscript, not at the end. Content notes should be used
sparingly, and they should be contained in endnotes rather than footnotes.
Appendices should be placed after the content notes. A list of references should be
placed last. The author’s name and affiliation should appear only on a separate cover
page. An abstract of no more than 200 words should accompany the manuscript.
Submit three paper copies (not disks or e-mail attachments) to:

Dr. Gerard J. Fitzpatrick
Department of Politics

Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA 19426

Telephone: (610) 489-4111, ext. 2200
E-mail: gfitzpatrick@ursinus.edu

Guidelines for Submitting Articles for Special Policy Issues

Guidelines for special policy issues of COMMONWEALTH may vary by
issue. Generally, the request for papers that is issued for each special issue
provides guidelines for that issue. Inquiries concerning active requests for
papers as well as proposals for special policy issue topics may be submitted to:

Dr. Michael R. King
Legislative Office for Research Liaison

House Box 202218
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Telephone: (717) 787-8948
E-mail: mking@legis.state.pa.us

Guidelines for Submitting Book Reviews

COMMONWEALTH will consider proposals for book reviews of texts
currently in print, with an emphasis on Pennsylvania or the mid-Atlantic and
northeast region, in any subfield of political science or political history. Reviews
should not be undertaken until the book review editor has accepted a proposal.
Submit proposals to:

Dr. Thomas J. Baldino
Department of Political Science

Wilkes College
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766

Telephone: (570) 408-4474
E-mail: tbaldin@wilkes.edu

mailto:gfitzpatrick@ursinus.edu
mailto:mking@legis.state.pa.us
mailto:tbaldin@wilkes.edu


PENNSYLVANIA POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
DEPARTMENTAL MEMBERSHIP FORM

For a reasonable charge, on a single form, an entire department may
join the PPSA. PPSA membership provides each member of a department
listed on the application form the full benefits received by individual
members. These include:

 personal copies of COMMONWEALTH.

 the Pennsylvania Political Scientist, the expanded PPSA Newsletter.

 advance “Call for Papers” to the annual meeting of the PPSA.

The departmental membership fee is based on the type of degree
granted in political science by the member’s institution and by the term of
membership.

1 Year 3 Years

* Doctoral degree institutions $100 $200
* Masters degree institutions $75 $150
* Baccalaureate degree institutions $50 $50
* Associate degree institutions $25 $25

To enroll prior to the annual meeting, mail by April 1 to:

Dr. Thomas Brogan
PPSA Treasurer
Department of Political Science
Albright College
P.O. Box 15234
Reading, PA 19612-5234

CHAIRPERSON’S NAME _________________________________________

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP _______________________________________________

Check enclosed for the sum of $ ______________

Please list alphabetically, on departmental (or university) stationary, the current
faculty members in the department who are to receive PPSA membership along
with their academic rank.

Libraries desiring copies of the Journal do not need a subscription or PPSA
membership. Contact LORL for more information.



PENNSYLVANIA POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP and 
LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION FORM 

To Illdividual Members: Please remember, when joining the 
Pennsylvania Political Science Association that membership includes a 
one-year sUbscription to COMMONWEALTH: A Journal of Political 
Science. 

Individuals unable to attend the annual meeting in any given year but 
wishing to maintain an individual membership (and thus to receive the 
next issue of COMMONWEALTH, the Pennsylvania Political Scientist, 
and all other mailings), should complete and mail the form below, 
postmarked before April I. 

Note: If an individual's department holds a departmental 
membership, then the individual simultaneously becomes a member and 
need not personally enroll or pay additional dues to receive the benefits of 
membership. In addition, as long as a department maintains its 
departmental membership, it is not necessary for the members of that 
department to renew their individual memberships each year. If your 
department has not yet joined the PPSA, the PPSA encourages you to 
share the Departmental Membership Form in this issue with your 
chairperson. 

NAME 

Annual Membership Rates: 
• Individuals: $10 
• Students: $5 
• Institutional and Library: $12 
(add $2.00 for postage to foreign countries) 

Mail to: Dr. Thomas Brogan 
PPSA Treasurer 
Department of Political Science 
Albright College 
P.O. Box 15234 
Reading, PA 19612-5234 

AFFILIATION ________________ _ 

ADDRESS ______________________________________ _ 

CITY, STATE, ZIP _______________________________ _ 

Check enclosed in the sum of$ ____ _ 


