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A commonwealth is any political entity that was founded on law and united by a compact for the good of the people.
# The people of a nation or state; the body politic.
# A nation or state governed by the people; a republic.
# Commonwealth
## Used to refer to some U.S. states, namely, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
## Used to refer to a self-governing, autonomous political unit voluntarily associated with the United States, namely, Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.
# An international association such as The Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the British Commonwealth) or the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Republics).
# The English state and government from the death of Charles I in 1649 to the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, including the Protectorate of 1653 to 1659.
# Archaic. The public good; commonweal.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoA commonwealth state is just an agreement to be a member of the United States.. A commonwealth state has the right to withdraw from the United States and become it's own country if the people in that commonwealth choose to no longer be a member of the U.S.A.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoA state and a commonwealth are one in the same by definition. The US Government has the idea that all of the states and commonwealths are the same. The difference is how they govern themselves. A lot of times commonwealths consider themselves to have a sense of "sovereignty" within the people themselves. So essentially one could argue that it's just a pride thing.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoCommonwealth means an independent community or nation which is mainly democratic. This is also means the international association of countries which were formerly the British Empire.
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What is the difference between a US 'commonwealth' and a state?
To the best of my knowledge there really isn't one. It is a historical naming issue. In the early days of colonization, commonwealth was practically synonymous with 'republic' or 'state'. Some preferred the term because they liked the implied meaning better. But I do not believe there is any meningful distinction that differentiates a commonwealth from a state. However, in modern parlance, there is a tendency to use the term commonwealth to refer to a government with local autonomy but which is a protectorate of some other nation as is the case with US held territories like Puerto Rico. However this modern spin on the word should not be taken as implying any legal distinction between US states which are commonwealths vs states that are not.
What does state government mean?
what does state government mean please answer it for me
What is the Commonwealth of Nations?
The Commonwealth of Nations is an association of 54 sovereign states, including the UK. Most, but not all, of the countries were once under British rule. Today they are all independent and include 33 republics, 16 monarchies where the Queen is Head of State, and 5 countires with their own monarch. The UK does not rule the Commonwealth; it is one of the 54 members, just as it is one of the members of the European Union.
What is the difference between a 'commonwealth' and a 'state' In a commonwealth landowners do not possess mineral or oil rights to their land. They don't actually own their land but own its use.?
Numerous definitions can be applied to the term commonwealth. In its loosest form, commonwealth means for the common or public good, and is often a state formed for the common good of the people. The term commonwealth can also apply to a group of nations that have a loose alliance for the good of all members of each nation. Several US states have commonwealth designation. These are Virginia, Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. The commonwealth designation was important as these states originally defined their governance in direct opposition to the governance of the British Empire. The designation now lacks meaning and has merely been retained as a salute to the past history of rebellion that freed the US from British rule. google_ad_request_done.current_ad_block = 1; google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad); Some US territories are also organized as commonwealths. These territories, like Puerto Rico, are not entitled to the same rights and benefits as recognized states. For example Puerto Rico's designation as a commonwealth implies an ongoing relationship with the US, but does not imply statehood.
Who is the head of the Commonwealth of Nations?
The Monarch is the head of state (and therefore the head of British government). Technically, it is the monarch who appoints the Prime Minister, who de facto runs the country.
Is Virginia a state or commonwealth?
It is a US state named "The Commonwealth of Virginia".
Is Kentucky a commonwealth or a state?
It is a state, and its full name is "The Commonwealth of Kentucky", it is just refered to as Kentucky in common useage.
Is California a Commonwealth?
No. California is a State. Massachusetts is a Commonwealth.
When was Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs created?
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs was created in 1966.
When did Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs end?
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs ended in 1968.
When did Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations end?
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations ended in 1966.
When was Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations created?
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was created in 1947.
Is missouri a commonwealth state?
Missoouri does NOT style itself a commonwealth.
What does the commonwealth star mean - the one on the auatralian flag?
The Commonwealth Star on the Australian flag represents the Australian States and Territories. It has 7 points representing each state and territory.
Is Hawaii british commonwealth?
No. It is a US state, and as such, could not be a member of the Commonwealth.
Is Georgia a commonwealth state?
No Georgia is not one of the four commonwealth states.
Is oaklahoma a commonwealth state?
no
