47:
735:
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
151:. 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 "
469:" (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
409:. 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
386:
1364:
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.
558:
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.
1380:
766:
791:
217:
540:
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.
779:
616:(the successors of the six colonies). So, in an Australian context, the term "Commonwealth" (capitalised), which is often abbreviated to Cth, refers to the
612:, which established the federation. Australia operates under a federal system, in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the
1117:
372:
795:
607:
1212:
504:"De optimo senatore" that presented to English readers many of the ideas present in the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
394:
590:
161:. The term literally meant "common well-being". In the 17th century, the definition of "commonwealth" expanded from its original sense of "
958:
941:
787:
613:
1072:
You find in your reading other terms used to convey the same idea as "democracy" or "republic." The word "commonwealth" is one of them.
437:
422:
852:
846:
821:—formerly the British Commonwealth—is a voluntary association of 56 independent sovereign states, most of which were once part of the
213:
1343:
501:
220:
is sometimes referred to in the
English language as the "French Commonwealth", although the organisation itself never uses the term.
1159:
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1513:
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402:
68:
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64:
35:
83:
1195:
954:
311:
605:), but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution. The term was finally incorporated into law in the
200:. Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to name some fraternal associations of states, most notably the
1486:
1463:
773:
450:
in the context of Poland in his "Chronicles of the Kings and
Princes of Poland". The name was used officially for the
90:
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406:
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97:
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57:
31:
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291:. From 1653 to 1659, although still legally known as a Commonwealth, the republic, united with the former
1171:
Peter
Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations
79:
726:
576:
474:
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333:
1209:
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597:. Its adoption was initially controversial, as it was associated by some with the republicanism of
470:
307:
292:
1518:
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989:
920:
860:
834:
638:
549:
398:
337:
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212:. It is also used in the translation for the organisation made up of formerly Soviet states, the
500:"A commonwealth of good counsaile" was the title of the 1607 English translation of the work of
253:", and variants thereof, to "the commonwealth", a term referring to the Roman state as a whole.
352:
in 1262. It was initially established by a public consisting largely of recent immigrants from
1155:
1127:
1085:
1034:
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888:
884:
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280:
216:. Informally, by analogy to the Commonwealth of Nations, the French-influenced post-colonial
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300:
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360:
284:
104:
798:, at least partially in order to retain the initials "D.C." as the state's abbreviation.
180:
The term evolved to become a title to a number of political entities. Three countries –
1336:"Council Tosses 'New Columbia,' Changes Constitution To 'The State Of Washington D.C.'"
962:
924:
822:
522:
was an autonomous region of Spain. Its government during that time was given the title
466:
432:
410:
349:
238:
209:
162:
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several times between 1991 and 2001, intended to abolish the monarchy and establish a
1507:
974:
900:
732:
699:
451:
30:
This article is about the generic term. For the intergovernmental organisation, see
1067:
The
Political History of the United States, Or, Popular Sovereignty and Citizenship
908:
864:
742:
uses the "Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania" constitutionally and in its official title.
739:
586:
524:
488:
244:
1181:
915:. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate in
830:
634:
629:
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382:
249:
234:
166:
157:
148:
46:
1009:
303:. In a British context, it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Commonwealth".
984:
715:
695:
193:
1131:
444:(Vincent Kadlubo, 1160–1223) used for the first time the original Latin term
1152:
They shall not pass!: the
British battalion at Jarama: the Spanish Civil War
1122:
979:
950:
916:
868:
825:. The Commonwealth's membership includes both republics and monarchies. The
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572:
519:
205:
181:
174:
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17:
702:
officially designate themselves as "commonwealths". All four were part of
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904:
745:
722:
664:
484:
189:
170:
169:" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a
155:", which is "well-being", and is itself a loose translation of the Latin
275:
military rule in the name of parliamentary supremacy) that replaced the
147:
is a traditional
English term for a political community founded for the
880:
876:
833:, who also reigns as monarch directly in the 15 member states known as
620:, and "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country.
555:
345:
185:
896:
872:
594:
344:) was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the
152:
306:
In the later 20th century a socialist political party known as the
1386:
748:
has been known as the "Commonwealth of Virginia" since before the
479:
357:
911:, its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between the
790:
also selected "Douglass Commonwealth" as the potential name of
1411:
40:
1473:
430:
is still an alternative translation of the traditional name
1406:
1219:– Civics and Citizenship Education. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
752:, and is referred to as a commonwealth in its constitution.
536:), which is translated into English as "commonwealth". The
1451:
1441:
1313:
27:
Term for a political community founded for the common good
1495:
1396:
1293:"Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | The Keystone State"
1092:
COMMONWEAL, or COMMONWEALTH ... a republic; a democracy.
769:
U.S. territories are called commonwealths. The two are:
283:) from 1649 to 1653 and 1659 to 1660, under the rule of
295:, operated under different institutions (at times as a
247:
writers' works to English have on occasion translated "
1436:
1250:
1229:
718:
in some of their laws and institutions. The four are:
1421:
1118:"Irish join French 'commonwealth' to boost influence"
192:– have the official title "Commonwealth", as do four
1431:
1292:
310:
was active. Previously a similarly named party, the
1474:
Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland's Heritage
1272:"Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts"
356:who had fled the unification of that country under
71:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
581:"Commonwealth" was first proposed as a term for a
1182:"United Nations website listing founding members"
1103:The organisation is not to be confused with the
907:. Its creation signalled the dissolution of the
859:or confederation consisting of nine of the 15
381:was the administrative body that governed the
218:Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
271:was the official name of the political unit (
8:
1464:Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
780:Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
714:. As such, they share a strong influence of
299:monarchy) and is known by historians as the
608:Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act
1154:. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Pub., 2011.
1036:The Monthly Magazine And British Register
131:Learn how and when to remove this message
1001:
483:(although elections were restricted to
405:government, and was established by the
348:in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the
891:left the CIS in August 2008 following
491:, who were bound to certain contracts
204:, an organisation primarily of former
7:
1334:Kurzius, Rachel (October 18, 2016).
1070:. International Publishing Company.
1010:"Origin and meaning of commonwealth"
725:is designated a commonwealth by the
69:adding citations to reliable sources
1403:Commonwealth of Independent States
1387:Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat
942:Republicanism in the United Kingdom
675:Certain U.S. states and territories
1346:from the original on June 29, 2020
853:Commonwealth of Independent States
847:Commonwealth of Independent States
841:Commonwealth of Independent States
736:certain laws for the common good."
729:as the "Commonwealth of Kentucky".
497:from the beginning of the reign).
214:Commonwealth of Independent States
25:
1039:. Vol. 1. pp. 179–180.
685:Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)
645:since its independence in 1973.
385:from 1935 to 1946, aside from a
45:
1470:Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
1116:Paris, Adam Sage (2024-02-18).
708:Atlantic coast of North America
379:Commonwealth of the Philippines
373:Commonwealth of the Philippines
56:needs additional citations for
641:, has used the official style
591:1891 constitutional convention
465:It is also often referred as "
438:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
423:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1:
1437:Commonwealth of Massachusetts
1196:"The Commonwealth of Liberia"
837:since his accession in 2022.
788:Washington, D.C. city council
36:Commonwealth (disambiguation)
1484:The Commonwealth Secretariat
1442:Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1087:Barclay's English Dictionary
1049:, is precisely analogous to
955:Commonwealth of Britain Bill
667:has used the official style
602:
502:Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki
1452:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
1090:. Nicholson & Company.
1014:Online Etymology Dictionary
774:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
704:Great Britain's possessions
643:Commonwealth of The Bahamas
630:Commonwealth of the Bahamas
1535:
1397:Royal Commonwealth Society
1105:realms of the Commonwealth
1064:Boyd, James Penny (1888).
939:
867:(a CIS associate member),
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750:American Revolutionary War
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627:
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420:
395:Japan occupied the country
370:
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287:and his son and successor
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29:
1422:Commonwealth of Australia
1412:CIS Statistical Committee
796:2016 statehood referendum
792:State of Washington, D.C.
681:Commonwealth (U.S. state)
573:Commonwealth of Australia
538:Commonwealth of Catalonia
514:Commonwealth of Catalonia
477:, had its own parliament
403:United States territorial
1447:Commonwealth of Virginia
1432:Commonwealth of Kentucky
1377:Commonwealth of Nations
827:Head of the Commonwealth
700:United States of America
669:Commonwealth of Dominica
655:Commonwealth of Dominica
1514:15th-century neologisms
1407:CIS Executive Committee
1392:Commonwealth Foundation
1084:Barclay, James (1791).
863:, the exceptions being
861:former Soviet Republics
819:Commonwealth of Nations
813:Commonwealth of Nations
807:Commonwealth of Nations
554:Between 1838 and 1847,
550:Commonwealth of Liberia
518:Between 1914 and 1925,
393:from 1942 to 1945 when
312:Commonwealth Land Party
269:Commonwealth of England
263:Commonwealth of England
202:Commonwealth of Nations
32:Commonwealth of Nations
1253:. Mass.Gov. 2013-09-26
585:of the six Australian
341:
330:Icelandic Commonwealth
324:Icelandic Commonwealth
34:. For other uses, see
1210:Australian Federation
727:Kentucky Constitution
577:Australian Government
802:International bodies
475:Warsaw Confederation
467:Nobles' Commonwealth
407:Tydings–McDuffie Act
334:Icelandic Free State
314:, was in existence.
65:improve this article
1383:—UK government site
1274:. Malegislature.gov
961:. It never reached
835:Commonwealth realms
712:American Revolution
471:religious tolerance
308:Common Wealth Party
293:Kingdom of Scotland
1489:2020-11-17 at the
1457:2003-04-06 at the
1215:2015-07-15 at the
716:English common law
639:Commonwealth realm
618:federal government
399:Insular Government
397:. It replaced the
277:Kingdom of England
1496:Commonwealth News
1480:Commonwealth New
1041:Our English word
893:the 2008 invasion
855:(CIS) is a loose
614:state governments
442:Wincenty Kadłubek
281:English Civil War
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794:, following the
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391:Second World War
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1150:Ben Hughes,
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1071:
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1059:
1050:
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1043:commonwealth
1042:
1040:
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1028:
1017:. Retrieved
1013:
1004:
953:sponsored a
945:
931:Proposed use
909:Soviet Union
865:Turkmenistan
850:
816:
785:
782:, since 1978
776:, since 1952
760:
740:Pennsylvania
693:
671:since 1978.
668:
663:republic of
658:
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534:mancomunitat
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63:Please help
58:verification
55:
831:Charles III
757:Territories
635:The Bahamas
624:The Bahamas
562:Current use
447:res publica
383:Philippines
367:Philippines
279:(after the
250:Res publica
235:Res publica
206:territories
194:U.S. states
158:res publica
149:common good
18:Commonweale
1508:Categories
1418:Countries
1320:2013-10-11
1299:2013-10-11
1278:2013-10-11
1257:2013-10-11
1251:"Mass.Gov"
1236:2013-10-11
1137:2024-02-18
1051:respublica
1047:commonweal
1019:2020-07-20
996:References
985:Federation
940:See also:
706:along the
659:The small
583:federation
548:See also:
452:confederal
342:Þjóðveldið
167:commonweal
91:newspapers
1519:Democracy
1162:(p. 227).
1132:0140-0460
1123:The Times
980:Democracy
951:Tony Benn
917:economics
869:Lithuania
763:organized
661:Caribbean
603:see above
567:Australia
520:Catalonia
508:Catalonia
460:Lithuania
338:Icelandic
182:Australia
121:July 2020
1487:Archived
1455:Archived
1350:June 26,
1344:Archived
1295:. Pa.gov
1213:Archived
969:See also
905:Abkhazia
857:alliance
829:is King
746:Virginia
723:Kentucky
665:Dominica
649:Dominica
485:nobility
428:Republic
297:de facto
273:de facto
196:and two
190:Dominica
171:republic
921:defence
897:Russian
895:of the
889:Georgia
885:Georgia
881:Ukraine
877:Estonia
698:of the
589:at the
556:Liberia
544:Liberia
530:Catalan
473:called
436:of the
389:in the
346:Althing
332:or the
318:Iceland
289:Richard
257:England
208:of the
186:Bahamas
105:scholar
1314:"Home"
1158:
1130:
990:League
947:Labour
923:, and
883:, and
873:Latvia
696:states
690:States
595:Sydney
456:Poland
354:Norway
188:, and
184:, the
165:" or "
153:wealth
107:
100:
93:
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78:
1340:DCist
694:Four
112:JSTOR
98:books
1352:2020
1156:ISBN
1128:ISSN
903:and
851:The
817:The
765:but
761:Two
683:and
637:, a
610:1900
575:and
487:and
480:Sejm
458:and
401:, a
377:The
358:King
328:The
267:The
237:and
229:Rome
84:news
1045:or
949:MP
593:in
177:".
173:or
67:by
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