In 1950, Congress enacted legislation (P.L. A traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good, it is used symbolically to emphasize that these states have a "government based on the common consent of the people"[9] as opposed to the British crown. ^ B. [13] On June 1, 1792, Kentucky County officially became a state. As things stand, the United States is not a member of the Commonwealth although it eligible to join and has expressed interest in the past. While the term commonwealth can be almost entirely dismissed as a remnant of political language from centuries ago, it is also a lasting reminder of the goals and ideals of politicians who shaped these nations and a reminder of what those nations are still striving to achieve every day. List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. Left in 1987; rejoined in 1997; suspended on 6 June 2000; Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency, Gained independence on 31 January 1968 from joint trusteeship of, Incorporated the former British mandate/trust territory of, The country was the formerly French and British. What Countries Are in the British Commonwealth? | Far & Wide Many small and developing Commonwealth countries are among those with the lowest ecological footprints worldwide. Copyright 2023 Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Commonwealth Observer Group arrives in Zimbabwe, Commonwealth Secretariat and Stimson Center extend groundbreaking climate assessment to Dominica and Mauritius, Blog: Why Im championing gender equality in ocean action, Fast Facts on the Commonwealth Secretary-General (PDF), Fast Facts on the Commonwealth and Elections (PDF), Fast Factson Gender Equality in the Commonwealth (PDF), Fast Factson the Commonwealth and CVE(PDF), Fast Facts on Climate Change in the Commonwealth (PDF), Fast Facts on the Commonwealth Cyber Programme (PDF), The Pacific nation of Nauru is the smallest Commonwealth member country with a population of about 10,000. people live. According to the Massachusetts State Government, the term "Commonwealth" was incorporated into their constitution in 1780 and was used to express the ideal that "the people [of Massachusetts] form themselves into a free, sovereign, and independent body politic, or state.". [8] Those that do use it are equal to those that do not. In all the other states, they are brought in the name of the State. Today, however, all members of the Commonwealth, including the UK, have equal standing. Hosted most recently in Birmingham, England, in 2022, athletes from these commonwealth countries come together to compete in sports like swimming and diving, table tennis, and gymnastics. Of the non-territorial statuses, becoming a U.S. state got 61.16% of the votes, Sovereign Free Associate State got 33.34% and Independence got 5.49%. Unless otherwise noted, independence was gained from the United Kingdom on the date (shown in column 2) of joining the Commonwealth. Opinion | These Republican presidential debate questions should be There are four US states whose legal names include the term Commonwealth: Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Territories of the United States. As sovereign states, these islands have full right to conduct their own foreign relations, while the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is part of the United States as a territory. But Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine highlighted tensions among the group, with Moldova's pro-Western leaders suspending the eastern European country's involvement while stopping short of withdrawing altogether. The term "commonwealth" does not describe or provide for any specific political status or legal relationship when used by a state. The debate has spawned several referendums, presidential executive orders and bills in the U.S. Congress. The Commonwealth of Independent States was founded after the collapse of the Soviet Union and today counts eight active participants among its members, including the Russian Federation, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. Commonwealth (U.S. state) Commonwealth is a term used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full official state names. [6] The most recent members to join were the Francophone African nations of Gabon and Togo on 29 June 2022, who along with Rwanda and Mozambique are unique in not having a . Is the United States in the Commonwealth. The smallest Commonwealth state in Asia is the Maldives, an archipelago of tiny islands in the Indian Ocean, not too far from India and Sri Lanka. business environment. 56. independent countries make up the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. "Commonwealth" is a traditional English term used to describe a political community as having been founded for the common good. Rather, the Commonwealth is an international organization in which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status, and cooperate within a framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration issued in 1971. In its charter, the group commits to "the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth." All these reasons have reaffirmed the need for the two countries to be closer allies through the Commonwealth. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. U.S. insular areas are not afforded direct representation in the federal legislature, either in the Senate or in the House of Representatives. English Common Law in the Early American colonies. For this reason, neither country has ever really had the need for the US to join. Also known simply as the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Nations refers to an association that consists of 53 states from all over the world. ^ G. The population figure is based on 2014 estimates. Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the, Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state internationally recognised as a part of. Click here to access the Commonwealth country directory, containing 53 detailed country profiles on Commonwealth member states. As such, they share a strong influence of English common law in some of their laws and institutions. The Seal of Pennsylvania does not use the term, but legal processes are in the name of the Commonwealth, and it is a traditional official designation used in referring to the state. The United States recognized the then-future independence of the Philippines in 1934 but called for a ten-year transitional period.[17]. The population of the UK is now estimated at 68 million. Ultimately the U.S. Congress is the only body empowered to decide the political status of Puerto Rico, as stated under the Territorial Clause.[3]. Plebiscite for the decolonization of Puerto Rico results in English: unincorporated territories of the United States, Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, United States House of Representatives Apportionment, President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status, "7 fam 1120 acquisition of u.s. nationality in u.s. territories and possessions", "Political Status of Puerto Rico: Options for Congress", December 2005 report of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status, "General Elections 2012 and Plebiscite on Puerto Rico Political Status", "Analysis Puerto Rico votes on statehood on Sunday for the fifth time. Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations - Wikipedia Together they work to pursue common goals and values. Commonwealth | History, Members, Purpose, Countries, & Facts [note 2] In contrast, each state has a sovereignty separate . Granted independence on 31 August 1962. While most of these commonwealth countries are independent from the United Kingdom today, King Charles still serves as head of state in the Commonwealth of Nations, which includes some 56 states, including Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand. This is evident in the names of the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts State House, and the Bridgewater State Hospital. The United Kingdom, of course, was the mother country of the British Empire. All Commonwealth members have an equal say regardless of size or wealth. There are 54 Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe and the Pacific The Special Municipalities of the Netherlands are fully incorporated parts of the Netherlands. as well as other partner offers and accept our, PA3 Kelly Newlin/U.S. The three Commonwealth countries on the continents of North and South America are Canada, Belize, and Guyana. Office space will be more than 100,000 square feet across five . Again, the term commonwealth here is used to emphasize the vision of a democratic and prosperous political community. There is no equivalent provision as to the Commonwealth. This is a list of countries and dependent territories in the Americas by population, which is sorted by the 2015 mid-year normalized demographic projections. For the U.S. states that designate themselves as commonwealths, see, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Specifically, CNRA 702(a) amended the Covenant to state that "the provisions of the 'immigration laws' (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Is the United States in the Commonwealth? - WorldAtlas Despite tensions, the commonwealth's remaining members appear likely to stay put, reaping the benefits of economic integration with the regional superpower. Not a member of the Commonwealth Foundation. Both countries are republics and members of the European Union. [1] The four states Kentucky,[2] Massachusetts,[3] Pennsylvania,[4] and Virginia[5] are all in the Eastern United States, and prior to the formation of the United States in 1776 were British colonial possessions (although Kentucky did not exist as an independent polity under British rule, instead being a part of colonial Virginia). The biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was held in the Americas in 1973 (Ottawa, Canada); 1975 (Kingston, Jamaica); 1985 (Nassau, The Bahamas); 1987 (Vancouver, Canada); and 2009 (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago). I. Oxford University Press. Rather, a separate immigration system existed in the CNMI. Americas - Commonwealth of Nations [5] In 2017, 97.18% voted overwhelmingly for statehood, with 1.5% for independence or free association and 1.32% for maintenance of the territorial status. In fact, the Royal Commonwealth Society came up with the idea of opening a branch in the US with the plan for making the US an associate member. When used in connection with areas under U.S. sovereignty that are not states, the term broadly describes an area that is self-governing under a constitution of its own adoption and whose right of self-government will not be unilaterally withdrawn by the United States Congress.[8]. India is the most populous member country, with over 1.4billion people. The Commonwealth has three members in Europe: The United Kingdom, Malta, and Cyprus. Five member states are located in Southern Africa, six in Eastern Africa, four in Western Africa, and four in Middle Africa. Commonwealth, also called Commonwealth of Nations, formerly (1931-49) British Commonwealth of Nations, a free association of sovereign states comprising the United Kingdom and a number of its former dependencies who have chosen to maintain ties of friendship and practical cooperation and who acknowledge the British monarch as symbolic head of . Facts | Commonwealth The name State of Massachusetts Bay was used in all acts and resolves up to 1780 and in the first draft of the constitution. These countries also share a common appreciation for friendly competition and participate every four years in a sporting event much like the Olympics called the Commonwealth Games. [12] Prior to November 28, 2009, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) did not apply in the CNMI. Became a republic on 1 August 1976 under the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Constitution Act 1976, passed by the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Rank Country (or dependent territory) Population (2022) % of pop. India and Pakistan have been in conflict with each other since they both achieved independence in 1947. Commonwealth (U.S. insular area) - Wikipedia There are eight countries in Asia that are members of the Commonwealth. New location draws on region's deep talent pool and innovative. Member countries | Commonwealth Despite these countries having no legal obligation to one another, they do share a set of common goals. Among other references, the constitution furthermore dictated that criminal indictments were to conclude "against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth". The formal name in Spanish for Puerto Rico is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ("Free Associated State of Puerto Rico"). Coast Guard via Getty Images, Paul Weaver/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images, According to the Massachusetts State Government, from the language of 17th-century thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. In addition, the US and the UK probably had little to gain from the US joining the Commonwealth. William E. Nelson. This was common rhetoric for politicians at the time who were aiming to express the ideals of a democratic state, but the term has never had an effect on the legal relationship of the state or rather, the commonwealth to the federal government. The largest and most populous of the Caribbean Commonwealth countries is Jamaica, which has a population of nearly 3 million. After gaining independence, the US also went ahead and fought the British again a few decades later during the War of 1812. Ph.D. thesis. Now, however, more than half of the people of Belize are of Latino and Mestizo descent. ^ E. Constitutional monarchy that operates under a Westminster system. Commonwealth is a term used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full official state names. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was an insular area that used "Commonwealth" in its official name, "Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands" from November 15, 1935 until July 4, 1946. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. The covenant was unilaterally amended by the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (CNRA) approved by the U.S. Congress on May 8, 2008, thus altering the CNMI's immigration system, making the Immigration and Nationality Act the applicable immigration law of CNMI. With the exception of federal employees (such as employees of the United States Postal Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and servicemen in all branches of the military) and people who earn their income from outside of the U.S. territories, residents of Puerto Rico generally do not pay federal income taxes, but are required to pay all other federal taxes (such as Social Security and Medicare) and Puerto Rico has no representation in the Electoral College that ultimately chooses the U.S. president and vice president. When used in connection with areas under U.S. sovereignty that are not states, the term broadly describes an area that is self-governing under a constitution of its adoption and whose right of self-government will not be unilaterally withdrawn by the U.S. There are Commonwealth countries all over the world, including the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Most of them were British colonies or dependencies of those colonies. Territories and Possessions", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commonwealth_(U.S._state)&oldid=1171073028, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 18 August 2023, at 22:08. [1] Such common values and goals include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, civil liberties, equality before the law, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace, which are promoted through multilateral projects and meetings, such as the Commonwealth Games, held once every four years. Its neighbor, Pakistan, has an estimated population of 226 million, making it the second most populous country in the Commonwealth. "[1], Of the current U.S. insular areas, the term was first used by Puerto Rico in 1952 as its formal name in English ("Commonwealth of Puerto Rico"). "South Sudan Launches Bid to Join Commonwealth", "South Sudan on Track to Join Commonwealth Nations", "Suriname plans to join the Commonwealth", "Suriname eying membership of Commonwealth", "Strengthening Guyana's participation in the Commonwealth and providing guidance to Suriname as it considers applying for membership", "Burundi Applies to Join Commonwealth to Bolster Angolophone Ties", "Zimbabwe applies to re-join Commonwealth, 15 years after leaving", "The future of the modern Commonwealth: Widening vs. List of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Americas There are thirteen Commonwealth member states in the Americas, all but Canada within the Caribbean region, and all but Belize and Guyana are islands. The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states. It is also the most populous of all the Commonwealth countries in the Western Hemisphere, with a population of more than 38 . The drafting of the Constitution of Puerto Rico by its residents was authorized by Congress in 1951, and the result approved in 1952. This framing of the state as a commonwealth derives from the language of 17th-century thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke and refers to the goal of creating a political community for the common good. CNMI's immigration laws have been replaced by the INA and other U.S. immigration laws.[14][15]. Some of the common goals for these nations include good governance, promoting human rights, advocating for global peace, promoting democracy, and many other things. A Canadian, Arnold Smith, was the first Commonwealth Secretary-General, serving from 1965 to 1975, and Sir Shridath Ramphal of Guyana followed him until 1990. The first Head of the Commonwealth was King George VI but was taken over by Queen Elizabeth II . This is the third in the . [17] 1801. Half of the top 20 global emerging cities are in the Commonwealth: New Delhi, Mumbai, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore, Johannesburg, Kolkata, Cape Town, Chennai and Dhaka. Cyprus became independent in 1960, while Malta achieved independence in 1964. Despite the Spanish translation of the term "commonwealth", Puerto Rico's relationship with United States is not a Compact of Free Association (which is the case for the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands). Puerto Rico also participates in different international organizations such as the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) (associate member), the Organization of Ibero-American States (full member), and the Ibero-American Summit (associate member). In 1776, Pennsylvania's first state constitution referred to it as both Commonwealth and State, a pattern of usage that was perpetuated in the constitutions of 1790, 1838, 1874, and 1968. [2] Puerto Rico's political relationship with the U.S. has been a continuing source of debate in Puerto Rico, the United States Congress, and the United Nations. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago joined the Commonwealth on independence in 1962, Barbados and Guyana in 1966, and the other Caribbean states followed in the 1970s and 1980s. The combined GDP of Commonwealth countries in 2021 was US$13.1 trillion and is estimated to reach $19.5 trillion in 2027, almost doubling in ten years from $10.4 trillion in 2017. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Insular areas are, however, afforded limited representation in the House by a delegate who may vote in committee but not on the House floor. Together, the members of the Commonwealth have an estimated population of 2.5 billion. Every two years, they meet at theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. .mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^ A. Its initial members were the United Kingdom, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, and the Union of South Africa. Though it legally has no significance, the title of "commonwealth" has come into question during disputes over the future of Puerto Rico's status as a territory namely, in the debate over whether the territory should remain as it is, become independent, or become a fully integrated US State. All member states in the Americas are multiparty democracies. Africa is home to 19 Commonwealth countries. List of countries in the Americas by population, List of sovereign states and dependent territories in North America, List of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America, List of former sovereign states North America, List of former sovereign states South America, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_in_the_Americas&oldid=1153986480, Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, This page was last edited on 9 May 2023, at 14:44. It comprises three regions, Northern America (Canada and the United States), the Caribbean (cultural region of the English, French, Dutch, and Creole speaking countries located on the Caribbean Sea) and Latin America (nations that speak Spanish and Portuguese). [a], Transition to U.S. Immigration Law began November 28, 2009 in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Additionally, the official title of the elected local prosecutor in each of Virginia's political subdivisions is the Commonwealth's Attorney, as opposed to State's Attorney in other states or the more standard District Attorney. Of these five, only two of them are considered commonwealths the Northern Mariana Island and Puerto Rico. Canada is the largest of all the Commonwealth countries and the second largest country in the world by area. The Americas are almost entirely located in . Commonwealth countries are diverse: they are among the worlds biggest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Commonwealth countries make up 7 of the top 10 highest performing countries for gender equality. [70][71], Most Commonwealth member have constitutional links with the United Kingdom and the former British Empire. This page was last edited on 21 August 2023, at 01:40. The members have a combined population of 2.4 billion, almost a third of the Earth's population, of whom 1.21 billion live in India, and 95% live in Asia and Africa combined. Opinion | To Fix Health Care, We Need to Look Beyond Medicine - The New 1001 Boylston Street, Boston, MA will be the LEGO Group's Americas. The monarch is not the same individual as the British monarch, hence making it not a Commonwealth realm. Un. deepening? As the Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth although that role does not give her any special powers. List of countries in the Americas by population, It corresponds to the following formula: projection, Current real density based on food growing capacity, Antiviral medications for pandemic influenza, Percentage suffering from undernourishment, Health expenditure by country by type of financing, Programme for International Student Assessment, Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_countries_in_the_Americas_by_population&oldid=1161037007, Lists of countries by large sub or trans-continental region, by population, Lists of countries by continent, by population, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 20 June 2023, at 06:49. Guam applied for commonwealth status in 1982, but Congress rejected the application application. All 35 states are members of the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Today 56 countries are members of the world's oldest political association.
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