






































Microsoft Word - journal commonwealth 2007 FINAL 0307.doc


 

  

 

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 policy options 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 anonymous 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 Research Liaison, which advises LORL. 

 
Copies of COMMONWEALTH are sent to all PPSA members—

individual, departmental, and institutional. Mailing to PPSA members is 
generously assisted by the School of Pubic 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 102 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. For subscription and membership rates, see the 
separate announcements in this issue. 



 

  

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 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and the 
member institutions of the Association of Independent Colleges and 
Universities of Pennsylvania). 

 
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 seven. 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 
worker’s 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 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 



 

 

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) stationery, the 
current faculty members in the department who are to receive PPSA 
membership along with their academic rank. 



 

 

PENNSYLVANIA POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION 
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP and 
LIBRARY SUBSCRIPTION FORM 

 
To Individual 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 1. 

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. 
 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 

 
NAME _______________________________________________________ 
 
AFFILIATION__________________________________________________ 
 
ADDRESS_____________________________________________________ 
 
CITY, STATE, ZIP_______________________________________________ 
 
Check enclosed in the sum of $ ____________. 



Published
JOINTLY by

THE PENNSYLVANIA 
POLITICAL SCIENCE 
ASSOCIATION

AND

THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE 
FOR RESEARCH LIAISON

PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES

COMMONWEALTH

 of political
    science

M
A

R
C

H
 2007 • C

O
M

M
O

N
W

EA
LT

H
: a

 jo
u

r
n

a
l o

f po
lit

ic
a

l sc
ien

c
e • ppsa

/lo
r

l

MARCH 2007 • VOLUME 13

The Pennsylvania Political 

Science Association (PPSA) 

was founded in 1939 to 

further scholarship

within the discipline.

The Legislative Office for 

Research Liaison (LORL) 

was founded in 1976 by 

the Pennsylvania House of 

Representatives to provide 

research linkage to the 

academic community.

a journal


