A Hydraulically Fractured Republic: Fracking Regulation in the Age of Environmental Federalism

By Jon Burkart (PO ’24) Before a crowd in Pittsburgh, Joe Biden promised voters: “I am not banning fracking. Let me say that again: I am not banning fracking.” It’s no wonder then, that running-mate Senator Kamala Harris was quick to reiterate Biden’s stance during the October 8th Vice-Presidential debate. The industry that employs nearly 32,000…

Extreme Gerrymandering in Pennsylvania: a Constitutional Crisis

By Jenna Lewinstein (SC ’19) Lost among a myriad of stories revolving around the executive office and Congress, Pennsylvania is in the midst of a constitutional crisis that has major implications on all levels of government. Gerrymandering, the act of manipulating congressional district maps to a partisan advantage through means like “packing and cracking” voters…