A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the
common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "
republic
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
". 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 "
wealth", which is "well-being", and is itself a loose translation of the Latin
res publica (republic). The term literally meant "common well-being". In the 17th century, the definition of "commonwealth" expanded from its original sense of "
public welfare" or "
commonweal
Commonweal or common weal may refer to:
* Common good, what is shared and beneficial for members of a given community
* Common Weal, a Scottish think tank and advocacy group
* Commonweal (magazine), ''Commonweal'' (magazine), an American lay-Cath ...
" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a republic or
democratic state".
The term evolved to become a title to a number of political entities. Three countries –
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, the
Bahamas, and
Dominica
Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically ...
– have the official title "Commonwealth", as do four
U.S. states and two
U.S. territories. Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to name some fraternal associations of states, most notably the
Commonwealth of Nations, an organisation primarily of former
territories
A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal.
In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or an ...
of the
British Empire. The organisation is not to be confused with the
realms of the Commonwealth.
Historical use
Rome
Translations of
Ancient Roman
In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...
writers' works to English have on occasion translated "''
Res publica''", and variants thereof, to "the commonwealth", a term referring to the Roman state as a whole.
England
The
Commonwealth of England was the official name of the political unit (''de facto'' military rule in the name of parliamentary supremacy) that replaced the
Kingdom of England (after the
English Civil War) from 1649–53 and 1659–60, under the rule of
Oliver Cromwell and his son and successor
Richard
Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Frankish language, Old Frankish and is a Compound (linguistics), compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic language, Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' an ...
. From 1653 to 1659, although still legally known as a Commonwealth, the republic, united with the former
Kingdom of Scotland, operated under different institutions (at times as a ''de facto'' monarchy) and is known by historians as the
Protectorate. In a British context, it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Commonwealth".
Iceland
The
Icelandic Commonwealth or the
Icelandic Free State ( is, Þjóðveldið) was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the
Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the
Norwegian king
The Norwegian monarch is the head of state of Norway, which is a constitutional and hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system. The Norwegian monarchy can trace its line back to the reign of Harald Fairhair and the previous petty kingdom ...
in 1262. It was initially established by a public consisting largely of recent immigrants from
Norway who had fled the unification of that country under
King Harald Fairhair.
Philippines
The
Commonwealth of the Philippines
The Commonwealth of the Philippines ( es, Commonwealth de Filipinas or ; tl, Komonwelt ng Pilipinas) was the administrative body that governed the Philippines from 1935 to 1946, aside from a period of exile in the Second World War from 1942 ...
was the administrative body that governed the
Philippines from 1935 to 1946, aside from a
period of exile in the
Second World War from 1942 to 1945 when
Japan occupied the country. It replaced the
Insular Government, a
United States territorial government, and was established by the
Tydings–McDuffie Act. 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
United Nations.
Poland–Lithuania
''Republic'' is still an alternative translation of the traditional name ''
Rzeczpospolita
() is the official name of Poland and a traditional name for some of its predecessor states. It is a compound of "thing, matter" and "common", a calque of Latin ''rés pública'' ( "thing" + "public, common"), i.e. ''republic'', in Engli ...
'' of the
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Wincenty Kadłubek
Wincenty Kadłubek ( 1150 – 8 March 1223) was a Polish Catholic prelate and professed Cistercian who served as the Bishop of Kraków from 1208 until his resignation in 1218. His episcopal mission was to reform the diocesan priests to ensure ...
(Vincent Kadlubo, 1160–1223) used for the first time the original Latin term ''
res publica'' in the context of Poland in his "Chronicles of the Kings and Princes of Poland". The name was used officially for the
confederal union formed by
Poland and
Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
1569–1795.
It is also often referred as "
Nobles' Commonwealth" (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 religious tolerance called
Warsaw Confederation, had its own parliament ''
Sejm'' (although elections were restricted to
nobility and
elected king
An elective monarchy is a monarchy ruled by an elected monarch, in contrast to a hereditary monarchy in which the office is automatically passed down as a family inheritance. The manner of election, the nature of candidate qualifications, and th ...
s, who were bound to certain contracts ''
Pacta conventa'' from the beginning of the reign).
"A commonwealth of good counsaile" was the title of the 1607 English translation of the work of
Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki "De optimo senatore" that presented to English readers many of the ideas present in the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Catalonia
Between 1914 and 1925,
Catalonia was an autonomous region of Spain. Its government during that time was given the title ''
mancomunidad'' (
Catalan
Catalan may refer to:
Catalonia
From, or related to Catalonia:
* Catalan language, a Romance language
* Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia
Places
* 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...
: ''mancomunitat''), which is translated into English as "commonwealth". The
Commonwealth of Catalonia
The Commonwealth of Catalonia ( ca, Mancomunitat de Catalunya, ) was a deliberative assembly made up of the councillors of the four provinces of Catalonia. Promoted in its final stages of gestation by the Regionalist League of Catalonia, it wa ...
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.
Liberia
Between 1838 and 1847,
Liberia
Liberia (), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean ...
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.
Current use
Australia
"Commonwealth" was first proposed as a term for a
federation of the six Australian
crown colonies
A Crown colony or royal colony was a colony administered by The Crown within the British Empire. There was usually a Governor, appointed by the British monarch on the advice of the UK Government, with or without the assistance of a local Counci ...
at the
1891 constitutional convention in
Sydney
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...
. Its adoption was initially controversial, as it was associated by some with the republicanism of
Oliver Cromwell (
see above), but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution. The term was finally incorporated into law in the ''
Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900'', which established the federation. Australia operates under a federal system, in which power is divided between the federal (national) government and the
state governments (the successors of the six colonies). So, in an Australian context, the term "Commonwealth" (capitalised), which is often abbreviated to Cth, refers to the
federal government
A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...
, and "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas, a
Commonwealth realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations whose monarch and head of state is shared among the other realms. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealt ...
, has used the official style ''Commonwealth of The Bahamas'' since its independence in 1973.
Dominica
The small
Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
republic of
Dominica
Dominica ( or ; Kalinago: ; french: Dominique; Dominican Creole French: ), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island country in the Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island. It is geographically ...
has used the official style ''Commonwealth of Dominica'' since 1978.
Certain U.S. states and territories
States
Four
states of the
United States of America officially designate themselves as "commonwealths". All four were part of
Great Britain's possessions along the
Atlantic coast of North America prior to the
American Revolution. As such, they share a strong influence of
English common law in some of their laws and institutions. The four are:
*
Kentucky is designated a commonwealth by the
Kentucky Constitution as the "Commonwealth of Kentucky".
*
Massachusetts is a commonwealth, declaring itself as such in its constitution, which states: "
e 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 certain laws for the common good."
*
Pennsylvania uses the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" constitutionally and in its official title.
*
Virginia has been known as the "Commonwealth of Virginia" since before the
American Revolutionary War, and is referred to as a commonwealth in its constitution.
Territories
Two
organized but
unincorporated U.S. territories are called commonwealths. The two are:
*
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporate ...
, since 1952
*
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, since 1978
In 2016, the
Washington, D.C. city council also selected "Douglass Commonwealth" as the potential name of
State of Washington, D.C., following the
2016 statehood referendum, at least partially in order to retain the initials "D.C." as the state's abbreviation.
International bodies
Commonwealth of Nations
The
Commonwealth of Nations—formerly the British Commonwealth—is a voluntary association of 54 independent sovereign states, most of which were once part of the
British Empire. The Commonwealth's membership includes both republics and monarchies. The
Head of the Commonwealth was Queen
Elizabeth II, who also reigned as monarch directly in the 16 member states known as
Commonwealth realm
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations whose monarch and head of state is shared among the other realms. Each realm functions as an independent state, equal with the other realms and nations of the Commonwealt ...
s until her death in 2022.
Commonwealth of Independent States
The
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a loose
alliance or confederation consisting of nine of the 15
former Soviet Republics, the exceptions being
Turkmenistan (a CIS associate member),
Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
,
Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
,
Estonia,
Ukraine, and
Georgia.
Georgia left the CIS in August 2008 following
the 2008 invasion of the
Russian military into
South Ossetia and
Abkhazia
Abkhazia, ka, აფხაზეთი, tr, , xmf, აბჟუა, abzhua, or ( or ), officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, recognised by most countries as part of Georgia, which vi ...
. Its creation signalled the dissolution of the
Soviet Union, its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between the
Soviet Republics. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate in
economics,
defence, and
foreign policy
A State (polity), state's foreign policy or external policy (as opposed to internal or domestic policy) is its objectives and activities in relation to its interactions with other states, unions, and other political entities, whether bilaterall ...
.
[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.]
Proposed use
United Kingdom
Labour
Labour or labor may refer to:
* Childbirth, the delivery of a baby
* Labour (human activity), or work
** Manual labour, physical work
** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer
** Organized labour and the labour ...
MP
Tony Benn sponsored a ''
Commonwealth of Britain Bill
The Commonwealth of Britain Bill was a bill first introduced in the House of Commons in 1991 by Tony Benn, then a Labour Member of Parliament (MP). It was seconded by the future Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn.
The Bill proposed abolis ...
'' several times between 1991 and 2001, intended to abolish the monarchy and establish a
British republic. It never reached
second reading.
See also
*
Confederation
*
Democracy
*
Federation
*
League
League or The League may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band
* ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football
Sports
* Sports league
* Rugby league, full contact footba ...
References
External links
* Commonwealth of Nations
*
The CommonwealthUK government site
*
Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat*
Commonwealth Foundation*
Royal Commonwealth Society* Commonwealth of Independent States
*
CIS Executive Committee*
CIS Statistical Committee* Countries
*
Commonwealth of Australia* United States
*
Commonwealth of Kentucky*
Commonwealth of Massachusetts*
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania*
Commonwealth of Virginia*
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico*
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands* Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
*
Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland's Heritage*Commonwealth New
The Commonwealth Secretariat{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117130214/http://thecommonwealth.org/newsroom/news , date=2020-11-17
Commonwealth Newsat YOCOMM NEWS
15th-century neologisms
Democracy