36:
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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
375:
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:
755:
780:
206:
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.
768:
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:
361:
784:
596:
1201:
493:"De optimo senatore" that presented to English readers many of the ideas present in the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
383:
579:
150:. The term literally meant "common well-being". In the 17th century, the definition of "commonwealth" expanded from its original sense of "
947:
930:
776:
602:
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You find in your reading other terms used to convey the same idea as "democracy" or "republic." The word "commonwealth" is one of them.
426:
411:
841:
835:
810:—formerly the British Commonwealth—is a voluntary association of 56 independent sovereign states, most of which were once part of the
202:
1332:
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209:
is sometimes referred to in the
English language as the "French Commonwealth", although the organisation itself never uses the term.
1148:
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57:
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594:), but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution. The term was finally incorporated into law in the
189:. Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to name some fraternal associations of states, most notably the
1475:
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762:
439:
in the context of Poland in his "Chronicles of the Kings and
Princes of Poland". The name was used officially for the
79:
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46:
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86:
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20:
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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
68:
715:
565:
463:
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322:
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586:. Its adoption was initially controversial, as it was associated by some with the republicanism of
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296:
281:
1507:
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978:
909:
849:
823:
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326:
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201:. It is also used in the translation for the organisation made up of formerly Soviet states, the
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.
341:
in 1262. It was initially established by a public consisting largely of recent immigrants from
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1116:
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1023:
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205:. Informally, by analogy to the Commonwealth of Nations, the French-influenced post-colonial
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787:, at least partially in order to retain the initials "D.C." as the state's abbreviation.
169:
The term evolved to become a title to a number of political entities. Three countries –
1325:"Council Tosses 'New Columbia,' Changes Constitution To 'The State Of Washington D.C.'"
951:
913:
811:
511:
was an autonomous region of Spain. Its government during that time was given the title
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several times between 1991 and 2001, intended to abolish the monarchy and establish a
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19:
This article is about the generic term. For the intergovernmental organisation, see
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The
Political History of the United States, Or, Popular Sovereignty and Citizenship
897:
853:
731:
uses the "Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania" constitutionally and in its official title.
728:
575:
513:
477:
233:
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904:. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate in
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35:
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292:. In a British context, it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Commonwealth".
973:
704:
684:
182:
1120:
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
1111:
968:
939:
905:
857:
814:. The Commonwealth's membership includes both republics and monarchies. The
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561:
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officially designate themselves as "commonwealths". All four were part of
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893:
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653:
473:
178:
159:
158:" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a
144:", which is "well-being", and is itself a loose translation of the Latin
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
869:
865:
822:, who also reigns as monarch directly in the 15 member states known as
609:, and "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country.
544:
334:
174:
885:
861:
583:
333:) was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the
141:
295:
In the later 20th century a socialist political party known as the
1375:
737:
has been known as the "Commonwealth of Virginia" since before the
468:
346:
900:, its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between the
779:
also selected "Douglass Commonwealth" as the potential name of
1400:
29:
1462:
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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
1440:
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1302:
16:
Term for a political community founded for the common good
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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:
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in some of their laws and institutions. The four are:
1410:
1107:"Irish join French 'commonwealth' to boost influence"
181:– have the official title "Commonwealth", as do four
1420:
1281:
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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"
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 (
8:
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
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
990:
472:(although elections were restricted to
394:government, and was established by the
337:in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the
880:left the CIS in August 2008 following
480:, who were bound to certain contracts
193:, an organisation primarily of former
7:
1323:Kurzius, Rachel (October 18, 2016).
1059:. International Publishing Company.
999:"Origin and meaning of commonwealth"
714:is designated a commonwealth by the
58:adding citations to reliable sources
1392:Commonwealth of Independent States
1376:Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat
931:Republicanism in the United Kingdom
664:Certain U.S. states and territories
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:
1028:. Vol. 1. pp. 179–180.
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
1105:Paris, Adam Sage (2024-02-18).
697:Atlantic coast of North America
368:Commonwealth of the Philippines
362:Commonwealth of the Philippines
45:needs additional citations for
630:, has used the official style
580:1891 constitutional convention
454:It is also often referred as "
427:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
412:Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
1:
1426:Commonwealth of Massachusetts
1185:"The Commonwealth of Liberia"
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:
491:Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki
1441:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
1079:. Nicholson & Company.
1003:Online Etymology Dictionary
763:Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
693:Great Britain's possessions
632:Commonwealth of The Bahamas
619:Commonwealth of the Bahamas
1524:
1386:Royal Commonwealth Society
1094:realms of the Commonwealth
1053:Boyd, James Penny (1888).
928:
856:(a CIS associate member),
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739:American Revolutionary War
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384:Japan occupied the country
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276:and his son and successor
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18:
1411:Commonwealth of Australia
1401:CIS Statistical Committee
785:2016 statehood referendum
781:State of Washington, D.C.
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
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
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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:
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595:
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542:
523:mancomunitat
522:
514:mancomunidad
512:
506:
488:
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134:commonwealth
133:
131:
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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::
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