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Acommonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for thecommon good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century.[1] 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 Latinres publica.[2] 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" to mean "a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; arepublic ordemocratic state".[3][4]
The term evolved to become a title to a number of political entities. Three countries –Australia, theBahamas, andDominica – have the official title "Commonwealth", as do fourU.S. states and twoU.S. territories. Since the early 20th century, the term has been used to name some associations of states, most notably theCommonwealth of Nations, an organisation primarily of formerterritories of theBritish Empire. It is also used in the translation for the organisation made up of formerly Soviet states, theCommonwealth of Independent States.
Translations ofAncient 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.
TheCommonwealth of England was the official name of the political unit (de facto military rule in the name of parliamentary supremacy) that replaced theKingdom of England (after theEnglish Civil War) from 1649 to 1653 and 1659 to 1660, under the rule ofOliver Cromwell and his son and successorRichard. From 1653 to 1659, although still legally known as a Commonwealth, the republic, united with the formerKingdom of Scotland, operated under different institutions (at times as ade facto monarchy) and is known by historians as theProtectorate. In a British context, it is sometimes referred to as the "Old Commonwealth".[citation needed]
In the later 20th century a socialist political party known as theCommon Wealth Party was active.[5] Previously a similarly named party, theCommonwealth Land Party, was in existence.[6]
The period of Icelandic history from the establishment of theAlthing in 930 to the pledge of fealty to theNorwegian king in 1262 is usually called theIcelandic Nation (Icelandic:Þjóðveldið) in Icelandic and theIcelandic Commonwealth in English. In this period Iceland was colonized by a public consisting largely of recent immigrants fromNorway who had fled the unification of that country underKingHarald Fairhair.
TheCommonwealth of the Philippines was the administrative body that governed thePhilippines from 1935 to 1946, aside from aperiod of exile in theSecond World War from 1942 to 1945 whenJapan occupied the country. It replaced theInsular Government, aUnited States territorial government, and was established by theTydings–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 theUnited Nations.[7]
Republic is still an alternative translation of the traditional nameRzeczpospolita of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.Wincenty Kadłubek (Vincent Kadlubo, 1160–1223) used for the first time the original Latin termres publica in the context of Poland in his "Chronicles of the Kings and Princes of Poland". The name was used officially for theconfederal union formed byPoland andLithuania (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 ofreligious tolerance calledWarsaw Confederation, had its own parliamentSejm (although elections were restricted tonobility andelected kings, who were bound to certain contractsPacta conventa from the beginning of the reign).
"A commonwealth of good counsaile" was the title of the 1607 English translation of the work ofWawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki "De optimo senatore" that presented to English readers many of the ideas present in the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Between 1914 and 1925,Catalonia was an autonomous region of Spain. Its government during that time was given the titlemancomunidad (Catalan:mancomunitat), which is translated into English as "commonwealth". TheCommonwealth 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.
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.[8]
"Commonwealth" was first proposed as a term for afederation of the six Australiancrown colonies at the1891 constitutional convention inSydney. Its adoption was initially controversial, as it was associated by some with the republicanism ofOliver Cromwell (see above), but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution.[9] The term was finally incorporated into law in theCommonwealth 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 thestate governments (the successors of the six colonies). So, in an Australian context, the term "Commonwealth" (capitalised), which is often abbreviated to Cth, refers to thefederal government, and "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country.
The Bahamas, aCommonwealth realm, has used the official styleCommonwealth of The Bahamas since its independence in 1973.
The smallCaribbean republic ofDominica has used the official styleCommonwealth of Dominica since 1978.
Fourstates of theUnited States of America officially designate themselves as "commonwealths". All four were part ofGreat Britain's possessions along theAtlantic coast of North America prior to theAmerican Revolution. As such, they share a strong influence ofEnglish common law in some of their laws and institutions. The four are:
Twoorganized butunincorporated U.S. territories are called commonwealths. The two are:
In 2016, theWashington, D.C. city council also selected "Douglass Commonwealth" as the potential name ofState of Washington, D.C., following the2016 statehood referendum, at least partially in order to retain the initials "D.C." as the state's abbreviation.[15]
TheCommonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 independent sovereign states, most of which were once part of theBritish Empire. The Commonwealth's membership includes both republics and monarchies. TheHead of the Commonwealth isKing Charles III, who also reigns as monarch in the 15 member states known asCommonwealth realms since his accession in 2022.
TheCommonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a loosealliance or confederation consisting of nine of the 15former Soviet Republics, the exceptions beingTurkmenistan (a CIS associate member),Lithuania,Latvia,Estonia,Ukraine, andGeorgia.Georgia left the CIS in August 2008 followingthe 2008 invasion of theRussian military intoSouth Ossetia andAbkhazia. Its creation signalled the dissolution of theSoviet Union, its purpose being to "allow a civilised divorce" between theSoviet Republics. The CIS has developed as a forum by which the member-states can co-operate ineconomics,defence, andforeign policy.[16]
Labour MPTony Benn sponsored aCommonwealth of Britain Bill several times between 1991 and 2001, intended to abolish the monarchy and establish aBritish republic. It never reachedsecond reading.[17]
Our English wordcommonwealth orcommonweal, is precisely analogous torespublica
You find in your reading other terms used to convey the same idea as "democracy" or "republic." The word "commonwealth" is one of them.
COMMONWEAL, or COMMONWEALTH ... a republic; a democracy.
