36:
724:
is a commonwealth, declaring itself as such in its constitution, which states: "he body politic is formed by a voluntary association of individuals: it is a social compact, by which the whole people covenants with each citizen, and each citizen with the whole people, that all shall be governed by
140:. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth or the common wealth – echoed in the modern synonym "public wealth"), it comes from the old meaning of "
458:" (1505–1795, i.e., before the union). In the contemporary political doctrine of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, "our state is a Republic (or Commonwealth) under the presidency of the King". The Commonwealth introduced a doctrine of
398:. The Commonwealth was designed as a transitional administration in preparation for the country's full achievement of independence, which was achieved in 1946. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was a founding member of the
1353:
Constantine, Michalopoulos, and Tarr David. "The economics of customs unions in the
Commonwealth of Independent States." Post-Soviet Geography and Economics 38, no. 3 (1997): 125-143.
547:
was officially known as the "Commonwealth of
Liberia". It changed its name to the "Republic of Liberia" when it declared independence (and adopted a new constitution) in 1847.
1369:
375:
529:
had limited powers and was formed as a federation of the four
Catalan provinces. A number of Catalan-language institutions were created during its existence.
605:(the successors of the six colonies). So, in an Australian context, the term "Commonwealth" (capitalised), which is often abbreviated to Cth, refers to the
601:, which established the federation. Australia operates under a federal system, in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the
1106:
1201:
755:
493:"De optimo senatore" that presented to English readers many of the ideas present in the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
780:
206:
579:
768:
150:. The term literally meant "common well-being". In the 17th century, the definition of "commonwealth" expanded from its original sense of "
1061:
You find in your reading other terms used to convey the same idea as "democracy" or "republic." The word "commonwealth" is one of them.
784:
596:
361:
810:—formerly the British Commonwealth—is a voluntary association of 56 independent sovereign states, most of which were once part of the
1332:
209:
is sometimes referred to in the
English language as the "French Commonwealth", although the organisation itself never uses the term.
1054:
383:
100:
947:
930:
776:
602:
72:
1184:
841:
835:
594:), but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution. The term was finally incorporated into law in the
426:
411:
202:
189:. Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to name some fraternal associations of states, most notably the
1475:
1452:
439:
in the context of Poland in his "Chronicles of the Kings and
Princes of Poland". The name was used officially for the
1148:
490:
119:
79:
1502:
751:
673:
342:
186:
696:
367:
1435:
538:
1443:
444:
391:
57:
86:
901:
53:
24:
943:
300:
280:. From 1653 to 1659, although still legally known as a Commonwealth, the republic, united with the former
1160:
Peter
Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations
762:
68:
738:
669:
526:
502:
1198:
815:
643:
586:. Its adoption was initially controversial, as it was associated by some with the republicanism of
448:
395:
807:
801:
606:
571:
482:
257:
251:
201:. It is also used in the translation for the organisation made up of formerly Soviet states, the
190:
46:
20:
489:"A commonwealth of good counsaile" was the title of the 1607 English translation of the work of
242:", and variants thereof, to "the commonwealth", a term referring to the Roman state as a whole.
881:
341:
in 1262. It was initially established by a public consisting largely of recent immigrants from
318:
312:
1074:
1023:
205:. Informally, by analogy to the Commonwealth of Nations, the French-influenced post-colonial
1260:
715:
565:
463:
322:
1324:
430:
93:
8:
787:, at least partially in order to retain the initials "D.C." as the state's abbreviation.
700:
459:
296:
281:
169:
The term evolved to become a title to a number of political entities. Three countries –
1507:
1325:"Council Tosses 'New Columbia,' Changes Constitution To 'The State Of Washington D.C.'"
1093:
978:
909:
849:
823:
627:
511:
was an autonomous region of Spain. Its government during that time was given the title
387:
326:
265:
946:
several times between 1991 and 2001, intended to abolish the monarchy and establish a
1144:
1116:
935:
877:
873:
845:
269:
19:
This article is about the generic term. For the intergovernmental organisation, see
1056:
The
Political History of the United States, Or, Popular Sovereignty and Citizenship
731:
uses the "Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania" constitutionally and in its official title.
518:
379:
289:
277:
1170:
1479:
1447:
1205:
692:
587:
349:
273:
904:. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate in
155:
998:
951:
913:
811:
455:
421:
399:
338:
292:. In a British context, it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Commonwealth".
227:
198:
151:
1496:
1120:
963:
889:
721:
688:
440:
433:(Vincent Kadlubo, 1160–1223) used for the first time the original Latin term
1141:
They shall not pass!: the
British battalion at Jarama: the Spanish Civil War
814:. The Commonwealth's membership includes both republics and monarchies. The
1472:
897:
853:
728:
575:
513:
477:
233:
691:
officially designate themselves as "commonwealths". All four were part of
1380:
819:
623:
618:
435:
371:
238:
223:
158:" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a
146:
144:", which is "well-being", and is itself a loose translation of the Latin
137:
264:
military rule in the name of parliamentary supremacy) that replaced the
136:
is a traditional
English term for a political community founded for the
973:
822:, who also reigns as monarch directly in the 15 member states known as
704:
684:
609:, and "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country.
182:
1111:
968:
939:
905:
857:
649:
561:
508:
333:) was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the
194:
170:
163:
35:
893:
734:
711:
653:
473:
295:
In the later 20th century a socialist political party known as the
178:
159:
1375:
737:
has been known as the "Commonwealth of Virginia" since before the
869:
865:
544:
334:
174:
900:, its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between the
885:
861:
779:
also selected "Douglass Commonwealth" as the potential name of
583:
141:
1400:
1462:
419:
is still an alternative translation of the traditional name
1395:
1208:– Civics and Citizenship Education. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
741:, and is referred to as a commonwealth in its constitution.
525:), which is translated into English as "commonwealth". The
468:
346:
1440:
1430:
1302:
16:
Term for a political community founded for the common good
1484:
1385:
1282:"Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | The Keystone State"
1081:
COMMONWEAL, or COMMONWEALTH ... a republic; a democracy.
758:
U.S. territories are called commonwealths. The two are:
272:) from 1649 to 1653 and 1659 to 1660, under the rule of
284:, operated under different institutions (at times as a
236:
writers' works to English have on occasion translated "
1425:
1239:
1218:
707:
in some of their laws and institutions. The four are:
663:
1410:
1107:"Irish join French 'commonwealth' to boost influence"
829:
181:– have the official title "Commonwealth", as do four
1420:
1281:
299:
was active. Previously a similarly named party, the
1463:
Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland's Heritage
1261:"Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts"
345:who had fled the unification of that country under
60:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
570:"Commonwealth" was first proposed as a term for a
1171:"United Nations website listing founding members"
1494:
1092:The organisation is not to be confused with the
896:. Its creation signalled the dissolution of the
848:or confederation consisting of nine of the 15
370:was the administrative body that governed the
207:Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
260:was the official name of the political unit (
1453:Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
769:Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
703:. As such, they share a strong influence of
288:monarchy) and is known by historians as the
795:
597:Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
1143:. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Pub., 2011.
1025:The Monthly Magazine And British Register
120:Learn how and when to remove this message
1322:
1072:
790:
472:(although elections were restricted to
394:government, and was established by the
337:in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the
1495:
880:left the CIS in August 2008 following
480:, who were bound to certain contracts
193:, an organisation primarily of former
1104:
1323:Kurzius, Rachel (October 18, 2016).
1059:. International Publishing Company.
1052:
999:"Origin and meaning of commonwealth"
714:is designated a commonwealth by the
58:adding citations to reliable sources
29:
1392:Commonwealth of Independent States
1376:Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat
931:Republicanism in the United Kingdom
664:Certain U.S. states and territories
405:
13:
1335:from the original on June 29, 2020
842:Commonwealth of Independent States
836:Commonwealth of Independent States
830:Commonwealth of Independent States
725:certain laws for the common good."
718:as the "Commonwealth of Kentucky".
486:from the beginning of the reign).
203:Commonwealth of Independent States
14:
1519:
1360:
1133:
1028:. Vol. 1. pp. 179–180.
1021:
924:
212:
674:Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)
634:since its independence in 1973.
374:from 1935 to 1946, aside from a
34:
1459:Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
1347:
1316:
1295:
1274:
1253:
1232:
1211:
1191:
1177:
1105:Paris, Adam Sage (2024-02-18).
919:
697:Atlantic coast of North America
368:Commonwealth of the Philippines
362:Commonwealth of the Philippines
45:needs additional citations for
1163:
1154:
1098:
1086:
1066:
1046:
1015:
991:
745:
630:, has used the official style
612:
580:1891 constitutional convention
550:
454:It is also often referred as "
427:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
412:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
355:
1:
1426:Commonwealth of Massachusetts
1185:"The Commonwealth of Liberia"
984:
826:since his accession in 2022.
777:Washington, D.C. city council
25:Commonwealth (disambiguation)
1473:The Commonwealth Secretariat
1431:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1076:Barclay's English Dictionary
1038:, is precisely analogous to
944:Commonwealth of Britain Bill
656:has used the official style
591:
555:
496:
491:Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki
7:
1441:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
1079:. Nicholson & Company.
1003:Online Etymology Dictionary
957:
763:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
693:Great Britain's possessions
637:
632:Commonwealth of The Bahamas
619:Commonwealth of the Bahamas
10:
1524:
1386:Royal Commonwealth Society
1094:realms of the Commonwealth
1053:Boyd, James Penny (1888).
928:
856:(a CIS associate member),
833:
799:
739:American Revolutionary War
667:
641:
616:
559:
536:
532:
500:
409:
384:Japan occupied the country
359:
310:
306:
276:and his son and successor
249:
245:
221:
18:
1411:Commonwealth of Australia
1401:CIS Statistical Committee
785:2016 statehood referendum
781:State of Washington, D.C.
678:
670:Commonwealth (U.S. state)
562:Commonwealth of Australia
527:Commonwealth of Catalonia
503:Commonwealth of Catalonia
466:, had its own parliament
392:United States territorial
1436:Commonwealth of Virginia
1421:Commonwealth of Kentucky
1366:Commonwealth of Nations
816:Head of the Commonwealth
689:United States of America
658:Commonwealth of Dominica
644:Commonwealth of Dominica
1503:15th-century neologisms
1396:CIS Executive Committee
1381:Commonwealth Foundation
1073:Barclay, James (1791).
852:, the exceptions being
850:former Soviet Republics
808:Commonwealth of Nations
802:Commonwealth of Nations
796:Commonwealth of Nations
543:Between 1838 and 1847,
539:Commonwealth of Liberia
507:Between 1914 and 1925,
382:from 1942 to 1945 when
301:Commonwealth Land Party
258:Commonwealth of England
252:Commonwealth of England
217:
191:Commonwealth of Nations
21:Commonwealth of Nations
1242:. Mass.Gov. 2013-09-26
574:of the six Australian
330:
319:Icelandic Commonwealth
313:Icelandic Commonwealth
23:. For other uses, see
1199:Australian Federation
716:Kentucky Constitution
566:Australian Government
791:International bodies
464:Warsaw Confederation
456:Nobles' Commonwealth
396:Tydings–McDuffie Act
323:Icelandic Free State
303:, was in existence.
54:improve this article
1372:—UK government site
1263:. Malegislature.gov
950:. It never reached
824:Commonwealth realms
701:American Revolution
460:religious tolerance
297:Common Wealth Party
282:Kingdom of Scotland
1478:2020-11-17 at the
1446:2003-04-06 at the
1204:2015-07-15 at the
705:English common law
628:Commonwealth realm
607:federal government
388:Insular Government
386:. It replaced the
266:Kingdom of England
1485:Commonwealth News
1469:Commonwealth New
1030:Our English word
882:the 2008 invasion
844:(CIS) is a loose
603:state governments
431:Wincenty Kadłubek
270:English Civil War
130:
129:
122:
104:
1515:
1370:The Commonwealth
1354:
1351:
1345:
1344:
1342:
1340:
1320:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1310:
1299:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1289:
1278:
1272:
1271:
1269:
1268:
1257:
1251:
1250:
1248:
1247:
1236:
1230:
1229:
1227:
1226:
1215:
1209:
1195:
1189:
1188:
1181:
1175:
1174:
1167:
1161:
1158:
1152:
1137:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1127:
1102:
1096:
1090:
1084:
1083:
1070:
1064:
1063:
1050:
1044:
1043:
1019:
1013:
1012:
1010:
1009:
995:
948:British republic
902:Soviet Republics
783:, following the
443:union formed by
406:Poland–Lithuania
380:Second World War
232:Translations of
187:U.S. territories
164:democratic state
125:
118:
114:
111:
105:
103:
62:
38:
30:
1523:
1522:
1518:
1517:
1516:
1514:
1513:
1512:
1493:
1492:
1480:Wayback Machine
1448:Wayback Machine
1363:
1358:
1357:
1352:
1348:
1338:
1336:
1321:
1317:
1308:
1306:
1301:
1300:
1296:
1287:
1285:
1280:
1279:
1275:
1266:
1264:
1259:
1258:
1254:
1245:
1243:
1238:
1237:
1233:
1224:
1222:
1217:
1216:
1212:
1206:Wayback Machine
1196:
1192:
1183:
1182:
1178:
1169:
1168:
1164:
1159:
1155:
1138:
1134:
1125:
1123:
1103:
1099:
1091:
1087:
1071:
1067:
1051:
1047:
1020:
1016:
1007:
1005:
997:
996:
992:
987:
960:
933:
927:
922:
838:
832:
804:
798:
793:
748:
681:
676:
668:Main articles:
666:
646:
640:
621:
615:
588:Oliver Cromwell
568:
560:Main articles:
558:
553:
541:
535:
505:
499:
414:
408:
376:period of exile
364:
358:
350:Harald Fairhair
315:
309:
274:Oliver Cromwell
254:
248:
230:
222:Main articles:
220:
215:
126:
115:
109:
106:
63:
61:
51:
39:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1521:
1511:
1510:
1505:
1491:
1490:
1489:
1488:
1487:at YOCOMM NEWS
1482:
1467:
1466:
1465:
1457:
1456:
1455:
1450:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1417:United States
1415:
1414:
1413:
1405:
1404:
1403:
1398:
1390:
1389:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1362:
1361:External links
1359:
1356:
1355:
1346:
1315:
1305:. Virginia.gov
1294:
1273:
1252:
1231:
1221:. Kentucky.gov
1219:"Kentucky.gov"
1210:
1197:Helen Irving.
1190:
1176:
1162:
1153:
1132:
1097:
1085:
1065:
1045:
1014:
989:
988:
986:
983:
982:
981:
976:
971:
966:
959:
956:
952:second reading
926:
925:United Kingdom
923:
921:
918:
914:foreign policy
888:military into
834:Main article:
831:
828:
812:British Empire
800:Main article:
797:
794:
792:
789:
773:
772:
766:
756:unincorporated
747:
744:
743:
742:
732:
726:
719:
680:
677:
665:
662:
642:Main article:
639:
636:
617:Main article:
614:
611:
576:crown colonies
557:
554:
552:
549:
534:
531:
501:Main article:
498:
495:
483:Pacta conventa
422:Rzeczpospolita
410:Main article:
407:
404:
400:United Nations
360:Main article:
357:
354:
339:Norwegian king
311:Main article:
308:
305:
250:Main article:
247:
244:
228:Roman Republic
219:
216:
214:
213:Historical use
211:
199:British Empire
152:public welfare
128:
127:
69:"Commonwealth"
42:
40:
33:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1520:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1500:
1498:
1486:
1483:
1481:
1477:
1474:
1471:
1470:
1468:
1464:
1461:
1460:
1458:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1445:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1418:
1416:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1406:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1393:
1391:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1371:
1368:
1367:
1365:
1364:
1350:
1334:
1330:
1326:
1319:
1304:
1298:
1283:
1277:
1262:
1256:
1241:
1235:
1220:
1214:
1207:
1203:
1200:
1194:
1186:
1180:
1172:
1166:
1157:
1150:
1149:9781849085496
1146:
1142:
1136:
1122:
1118:
1114:
1113:
1108:
1101:
1095:
1089:
1082:
1078:
1077:
1069:
1062:
1058:
1057:
1049:
1042:
1041:
1037:
1033:
1027:
1026:
1022:A, J (1796).
1018:
1004:
1000:
994:
990:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
964:Confederation
962:
961:
955:
953:
949:
945:
941:
937:
932:
917:
915:
911:
907:
903:
899:
895:
891:
890:South Ossetia
887:
883:
879:
875:
871:
867:
863:
859:
855:
851:
847:
843:
837:
827:
825:
821:
817:
813:
809:
803:
788:
786:
782:
778:
775:In 2016, the
770:
767:
764:
761:
760:
759:
757:
753:
740:
736:
733:
730:
727:
723:
722:Massachusetts
720:
717:
713:
710:
709:
708:
706:
702:
699:prior to the
698:
694:
690:
686:
675:
671:
661:
659:
655:
651:
645:
635:
633:
629:
625:
620:
610:
608:
604:
600:
598:
593:
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
567:
563:
548:
546:
540:
530:
528:
524:
520:
516:
515:
510:
504:
494:
492:
487:
485:
484:
479:
478:elected kings
475:
471:
470:
465:
461:
457:
452:
451:(1569–1795).
450:
446:
442:
438:
437:
432:
428:
424:
423:
418:
413:
403:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
363:
353:
351:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
314:
304:
302:
298:
293:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
253:
243:
241:
240:
235:
234:Ancient Roman
229:
225:
210:
208:
204:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
180:
176:
172:
167:
165:
161:
157:
153:
149:
148:
143:
139:
135:
124:
121:
113:
102:
99:
95:
92:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71: –
70:
66:
65:Find sources:
59:
55:
49:
48:
43:This article
41:
37:
32:
31:
26:
22:
1349:
1337:. Retrieved
1328:
1318:
1307:. Retrieved
1297:
1286:. Retrieved
1276:
1265:. Retrieved
1255:
1244:. Retrieved
1234:
1223:. Retrieved
1213:
1193:
1179:
1165:
1156:
1140:
1139:Ben Hughes,
1135:
1124:. Retrieved
1110:
1100:
1088:
1080:
1075:
1068:
1060:
1055:
1048:
1039:
1035:
1032:commonwealth
1031:
1029:
1024:
1017:
1006:. Retrieved
1002:
993:
942:sponsored a
934:
920:Proposed use
898:Soviet Union
854:Turkmenistan
839:
805:
774:
771:, since 1978
765:, since 1952
749:
729:Pennsylvania
682:
660:since 1978.
657:
652:republic of
647:
631:
622:
595:
569:
542:
523:mancomunitat
522:
514:mancomunidad
512:
506:
488:
481:
467:
453:
434:
420:
416:
415:
365:
316:
294:
290:Protectorate
285:
261:
255:
237:
231:
168:
145:
134:commonwealth
133:
131:
116:
107:
97:
90:
83:
76:
64:
52:Please help
47:verification
44:
820:Charles III
746:Territories
624:The Bahamas
613:The Bahamas
551:Current use
436:res publica
372:Philippines
356:Philippines
268:(after the
239:Res publica
224:Res publica
195:territories
183:U.S. states
147:res publica
138:common good
1497:Categories
1407:Countries
1309:2013-10-11
1288:2013-10-11
1267:2013-10-11
1246:2013-10-11
1240:"Mass.Gov"
1225:2013-10-11
1126:2024-02-18
1040:respublica
1036:commonweal
1008:2020-07-20
985:References
974:Federation
929:See also:
695:along the
648:The small
572:federation
537:See also:
441:confederal
331:Þjóðveldið
156:commonweal
80:newspapers
1508:Democracy
1151:(p. 227).
1121:0140-0460
1112:The Times
969:Democracy
940:Tony Benn
906:economics
858:Lithuania
752:organized
650:Caribbean
592:see above
556:Australia
509:Catalonia
497:Catalonia
449:Lithuania
327:Icelandic
171:Australia
110:July 2020
1476:Archived
1444:Archived
1339:June 26,
1333:Archived
1284:. Pa.gov
1202:Archived
958:See also
894:Abkhazia
846:alliance
818:is King
735:Virginia
712:Kentucky
654:Dominica
638:Dominica
474:nobility
417:Republic
286:de facto
262:de facto
185:and two
179:Dominica
160:republic
910:defence
886:Russian
884:of the
878:Georgia
874:Georgia
870:Ukraine
866:Estonia
687:of the
578:at the
545:Liberia
533:Liberia
519:Catalan
462:called
425:of the
378:in the
335:Althing
321:or the
307:Iceland
278:Richard
246:England
197:of the
175:Bahamas
94:scholar
1303:"Home"
1147:
1119:
979:League
936:Labour
912:, and
872:, and
862:Latvia
685:states
679:States
584:Sydney
445:Poland
343:Norway
177:, and
173:, the
154:" or "
142:wealth
96:
89:
82:
75:
67:
1329:DCist
683:Four
101:JSTOR
87:books
1341:2020
1145:ISBN
1117:ISSN
892:and
840:The
806:The
754:but
750:Two
672:and
626:, a
599:1900
564:and
476:and
469:Sejm
447:and
390:, a
366:The
347:King
317:The
256:The
226:and
218:Rome
73:news
1034:or
938:MP
582:in
166:".
162:or
56:by
1499::
1331:.
1327:.
1115:.
1109:.
1001:.
954:.
916:.
908:,
876:.
868:,
864:,
860:,
521::
429:.
402:.
352:.
329::
132:A
1343:.
1312:.
1291:.
1270:.
1249:.
1228:.
1187:.
1173:.
1129:.
1011:.
590:(
517:(
325:(
123:)
117:(
112:)
108:(
98:·
91:·
84:·
77:·
50:.
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.