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2025-10-28T19:07:55Z

United Kingdom: added source for paragraph

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{{Short description|Political community established for common good}}
{{About|the generic term|the association of primarily former British Empire territories|Commonwealth of Nations|other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date = July 2020}}
A '''commonwealth''' is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the [[common good]]. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Origin and meaning of commonwealth|url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/commonwealth|access-date=2020-07-20|website=Online Etymology Dictionary|language=en}}</ref> 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 was deemed analogous to the Latin ''[[res publica]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=A|first=J|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4mk3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA180|title=The Monthly Magazine And British Register|date=1796|volume=1|pages=179–180|language=en|quote=Our English word ''commonwealth'' or ''commonweal'', is precisely analogous to ''respublica''}}</ref> The term literally meant "common well-being". In the 17th century, the definition of "commonwealth" expanded from its original sense of "[[public welfare]]" or "[[wikt:commonweal|commonweal]]" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a [[republic]] or [[democracy|democratic state]]".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Boyd|first=James Penny|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vkwKAQAAMAAJ&q=commonwealth+republic+democracy&pg=PA14|title=The Political History of the United States, Or, Popular Sovereignty and Citizenship|date=1888|publisher=International Publishing Company|language=en|quote=You find in your reading other terms used to convey the same idea as "democracy" or "republic." The word "commonwealth" is one of them.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Barclay|first=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zo87PD4-pCUC&pg=PP242|title=Barclay's English Dictionary|date=1791|publisher=Nicholson & Company|language=en|quote=COMMONWEAL, or COMMONWEALTH ... a republic; a democracy.}}</ref>

The term evolved to become a title to a number of political entities. Three countries – [[Australia]], the [[Bahamas]], and [[Dominica]] – have the official title "Commonwealth", as do four [[U.S. state]]s and two [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territories]]. Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to name some associations of states, most notably the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], an organisation primarily of former [[Territory|territories]] of the [[British Empire]]. It is also used in the translation for the organisation made up of formerly Soviet states, the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]].

==Historical use==
===Rome===
{{Main|Res publica|Roman Republic}}
Translations of [[Ancient Rome|Ancient Roman]] 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===
{{Main|Commonwealth of 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 to 1653 and 1659 to 1660, under the rule of [[Oliver Cromwell]] and his son and successor [[Richard Cromwell|Richard]]. 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 [[The Protectorate|Protectorate]]. In a British context, it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Commonwealth".{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

In the later 20th century a socialist political party known as the [[Common Wealth Party]] was active.<ref name="bh">Ben Hughes, ''They shall not pass!: the British battalion at Jarama: the Spanish Civil War''. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Pub., 2011. {{ISBN|9781849085496}} (p. 227).</ref> Previously a similarly named party, the [[Commonwealth Land Party (UK)|Commonwealth Land Party]], was in existence.<ref>Peter Barberis, John McHugh and Mike Tyldesley, Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations</ref>

===Iceland===
{{Main|Icelandic Commonwealth}}
The period of Icelandic history from the establishment of the [[Althing]] in 930 to the pledge of fealty to the [[King of Norway|Norwegian king]] in 1262 is usually called the ''Icelandic Nation'' ({{langx|is|Þjóðveldið}}) in Icelandic and the ''[[Icelandic Commonwealth]]'' in English. In this period Iceland was colonized by a public consisting largely of recent immigrants from [[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Norway]] who had fled the unification of that country under [[King]] [[Harald Fairhair]].

===Philippines===
{{main|Commonwealth of the Philippines}}
The [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] was the administrative body that governed the [[Philippines]] from 1935 to 1946, aside from a [[Government in exile of the Commonwealth of the Philippines|period of exile]] in the [[Second World War]] from 1942 to 1945 when [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|Japan occupied the country]]. It replaced the [[Insular Government]], a [[territory of the United States|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]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/unms/founders.shtml| title = United Nations website listing founding members}}</ref>

===Poland–Lithuania===
{{Main|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth}}
''Republic'' is still an alternative translation of the traditional name ''[[Rzeczpospolita]]'' of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. [[Wincenty Kadłubek]] (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 [[Confederation|confederal]] union formed by [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Poland]] and [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]] (1569–1795).

It is also often referred as "[[Golden Liberty|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]]s, who were bound to certain contracts ''[[Pacta conventa (Poland)|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===
{{Main|Commonwealth of Catalonia}}
Between 1914 and 1925, [[Catalonia]] was an autonomous region of Spain. Its government during that time was given the title ''[[mancomunidad]]'' ([[Catalan language|Catalan]]: ''mancomunitat''), which is translated into English as "commonwealth". The [[Commonwealth of Catalonia]] 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===
{{See also|History of Liberia#Colonization (1821–1847)|label 1=Commonwealth of Liberia}}
Between 1838 and 1847, [[Liberia]] 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1985/liberia_1_commonwealth.htm| title = The Commonwealth of Liberia}}</ref>

==Current use==
===Australia===
{{Main|Australia|l1 = Commonwealth of Australia|Australian Government}}
"Commonwealth" was first proposed as a term for a [[Federation of Australia|federation]] of the six Australian [[crown colony|crown colonies]] at the [[Constitutional Convention (Australia)#1891 convention|1891 constitutional convention]] in [[Sydney]]. Its adoption was initially controversial, as it was associated by some with the republicanism of [[Oliver Cromwell]] ([[#England|see above]]), but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution.<ref>Helen Irving. [http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/helen_irving,9939.html Australian Federation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715000750/http://www.civicsandcitizenship.edu.au/cce/helen_irving%2C9939.html |date=2015-07-15 }} – Civics and Citizenship Education. Retrieved 15 July 2015.</ref> 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 [[States and territories of Australia|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 [[Government of Australia|federal government]], and "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country.

===The Bahamas===
{{Main|The Bahamas|l1 = Commonwealth of the Bahamas}}
[[The Bahamas]], a [[Commonwealth realm]], has used the official style ''Commonwealth of The Bahamas'' since its independence in 1973.

===Dominica===
{{Main|Commonwealth of Dominica}}
The small [[Caribbean]] republic of [[Dominica]] has used the official style ''Commonwealth of Dominica'' since 1978.

===Certain U.S. states and territories===
{{Main|Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth (U.S. insular area)}}
====States====
Four [[U.S. state|states]] of the [[United States|United States of America]] officially designate themselves as "commonwealths". All four were part of [[British America|Great Britain's possessions]] along the [[East Coast of the United States|Atlantic coast of North America]] prior to the [[American Revolution]]. As such, they share a strong influence of [[common law|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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kentucky.gov |title=Kentucky.gov |publisher=Kentucky.gov |access-date=2013-10-11}}</ref>
* [[Massachusetts]] is a commonwealth,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov |title=Mass.Gov |publisher=Mass.Gov |date=2013-09-26 |access-date=2013-10-11}}</ref> declaring itself as such in its constitution, which states: "[T]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 certain laws for the common good."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution#cp00s00.htm |title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |publisher=Malegislature.gov |access-date=2013-10-11}}</ref>
* [[Pennsylvania]] uses the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" constitutionally and in its official title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pa.gov |title=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | The Keystone State |publisher=Pa.gov |access-date=2013-10-11}}</ref>
* [[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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginia.gov |title=Home |publisher=Virginia.gov |access-date=2013-10-11}}</ref>

====Territories====
Two [[Territories of the United States|organized]] but [[Unincorporated territories of the United States|unincorporated]] U.S. territories are called commonwealths. The two are:
* [[Commonwealth of Puerto Rico]], since 1952
* [[Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]], since 1978

In 2016, the [[Council of the District of Columbia|Washington, D.C. city council]] also selected "Douglass Commonwealth" as the potential name of [[Statehood movement in the District of Columbia|State of Washington, D.C.]], following the [[2016 Washington, D.C. statehood referendum|2016 statehood referendum]], at least partially in order to retain the initials "D.C." as the state's abbreviation.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://dcist.com/story/16/10/18/following-a-series-of/ |title= Council Tosses 'New Columbia,' Changes Constitution To 'The State Of Washington D.C.' |website= DCist |date= October 18, 2016 |access-date= June 26, 2020 |first= Rachel |last= Kurzius |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200629141413/https://dcist.com/story/16/10/18/following-a-series-of/ |archive-date= June 29, 2020 |url-status= live }}</ref>

===International bodies===
====Commonwealth of Nations====
{{Main|Commonwealth of Nations}}
The [[Commonwealth of Nations]] is a voluntary association of 56 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]] is [[Charles III|King Charles III]], who also reigns as monarch in the 15 member states known as [[Commonwealth realm]]s since his accession in 2022.

====Commonwealth of Independent States====
{{Main|Commonwealth of Independent States}}
The [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] (CIS) is a loose [[military alliance|alliance]] or confederation consisting of nine of the 15 [[Post-Soviet states|former Soviet Republics]], the exceptions being [[Turkmenistan]] (a CIS associate member), [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]], [[Estonia]], [[Ukraine]], and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] left the CIS in August 2008 following [[2008 South Ossetia war|the 2008 invasion]] of the [[Russia]]n military into [[South Ossetia]] and [[Abkhazia]]. Its creation signalled the dissolution of the [[Soviet Union]], its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between the [[Republics of the Soviet Union|Soviet Republics]]. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate in [[economics]], [[Defence (military)|defence]], and [[foreign policy]].<ref>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.</ref>

==Proposed use==
===United Kingdom===
{{See also|Republicanism in the United Kingdom}}
[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Tony Benn]] sponsored a [[Commonwealth of Britain Bill]] several times between 1991 and 2001, intended to abolish the monarchy and establish a [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom|British republic]]. It never reached [[second reading]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=By |title=Tony Benn’s Plan to Democratise Britain – and Abolish the Monarchy |url=https://tribunemag.co.uk/2021/02/tony-benns-plan-to-democratise-britain-and-abolish-the-monarchy |access-date=2025-10-28 |website=tribunemag.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Confederation]]
* [[Democracy]]
* [[Federation]]
* [[Political alliance|League]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Commonwealth|commonwealth}}
* Commonwealth of Nations
** [http://www.direct.gov.uk/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/InternationalBodies/InternationalBodiesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4003092&chk=JXlogH The Commonwealth]—UK government site
** [http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat]
** [http://www.commonwealthfoundation.com/ Commonwealth Foundation]
** [http://www.rcsint.org/ Royal Commonwealth Society]
* Commonwealth of Independent States
** [http://www.cis.minsk.by/ CIS Executive Committee]
** [http://www.cisstat.com/eng/ CIS Statistical Committee]
* Countries
** [http://www.gov.au/ Commonwealth of Australia]
* United States
** [http://www.ky.gov Commonwealth of Kentucky]
** [http://www.mass.gov Commonwealth of Massachusetts]
** [http://www.state.pa.us/ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20050321103909/http://www.virginia.gov/cmsportal/ Commonwealth of Virginia]
** [http://www.gobierno.pr/ Commonwealth of Puerto Rico] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030406004643/http://www.fortaleza.gobierno.pr/ |date=2003-04-06 }}
** {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101223043232/http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/mariana Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]}}
* Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
** [http://www.commonwealth.pl Commonwealth of Diverse Cultures: Poland's Heritage]
* Commonwealth New
** [http://thecommonwealth.org/newsroom/news The Commonwealth Secretariat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117130214/http://thecommonwealth.org/newsroom/news |date=2020-11-17 }}
** [http://www.yocomm.com/ Commonwealth News] at YOCOMM NEWS

[[Category:15th-century neologisms]]
[[Category:Democracy]]

Commonwealth - Revision history

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