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COMMONWEALTH:  A Journal of Political Science 

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. 



 

 

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 



 

 

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. 

 




