Commonwealth

A commonwealth is a historic English term denoting a political community established for the common good. The term emerged in the fifteenth century, when commonwealth signified public welfare, general advantage or common weal. Its meaning drew upon an earlier sense of wealth as wellbeing rather than material riches, and it corresponded conceptually to the Latin res publica. Over time, the word came to embody the idea of a polity oriented towards collective benefit, civic responsibility, and shared governance. By the seventeenth century, its usage expanded to describe a political system in which supreme power lay with the people, aligning the term with republican or democratic forms of government.

The Evolution of the Term and Its Global Adoption

The development of commonwealth from a general expression of public welfare to a formal political designation was gradual. By the early modern period, it had become associated with states grounded in the principles of civic participation and collective interest. This evolution allowed the term to be adopted as part of the official names of various political entities. Today, three sovereign states—Australia, The Bahamas, and Dominica—use Commonwealth as part of their official titles. In addition, four states of the United States and two US territories employ the designation in a constitutional or administrative sense. The term has also been used to describe associations of states, most notably the Commonwealth of Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States, both of which represent diverse forms of intergovernmental cooperation.

Historical Uses of the Term

Rome

English translations of texts from Ancient Rome sometimes render res publica, or related expressions, as the commonwealth, a term used to refer to the Roman state in its entirety. In this context, the word reflects the Roman ideal of a political community devoted to the collective good, although such translations represent interpretive choices grounded in later linguistic and political frameworks.

England

A prominent example of the term’s official use was the Commonwealth of England, established after the English Civil War. From 1649 to 1653, and again between 1659 and 1660, England existed as a republic following the execution of Charles I. Under Oliver Cromwell and later his son Richard, the state operated through de facto military rule in the name of parliamentary supremacy. Between 1653 and 1659, despite retaining the legal title of a Commonwealth, the regime is often described as The Protectorate because its institutions resembled those of a monarchic system with Cromwell serving as Lord Protector. Historians sometimes refer to this period as the Old Commonwealth. In the twentieth century, the term reappeared in political party names such as the Common Wealth Party and the Commonwealth Land Party.

Iceland

The period between 930 and 1262 in Icelandic history is commonly termed the Icelandic Commonwealth. During this era, Iceland operated without a monarchy, instead maintaining a unique political structure centred on the Althing, one of the world’s oldest parliamentary institutions. Many settlers had fled the unification of Norway under King Harald Fairhair, and their new community functioned as a decentralised polity grounded in consensus and legal tradition until Iceland swore fealty to the Norwegian crown.

Philippines

The Commonwealth of the Philippines existed from 1935 to 1946 as a transitional government established under the Tydings–McDuffie Act in preparation for full independence. It replaced the Insular Government, a US territorial administration. During the Second World War, between 1942 and 1945, the Commonwealth operated through a government-in-exile while the Philippines was under Japanese occupation. After the war, the Commonwealth resumed its functions until independence was achieved in 1946. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was also among the founding members of the United Nations.

Poland–Lithuania

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Rzeczpospolita, represented one of the most distinctive political systems in early modern Europe. The term res publica appeared in Polish political writing from the twelfth century, notably in the chronicles of Wincenty Kadłubek. The Commonwealth, formally established by the Union of Lublin in 1569, proclaimed itself a republic under a monarchic presidency. Its institutions included an elected monarchy bound by contractual obligations (pacta conventa), a powerful parliament (Sejm), and a renowned tradition of religious tolerance—the Warsaw Confederation. The system is often associated with the concept of Golden Liberty, which emphasised noble privileges and political participation.
An English translation of Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki’s treatise De optimo senatore, published in 1607 as A commonwealth of good counsaile, introduced English readers to many of the ideas underpinning the Commonwealth’s political structure.

Catalonia

Between 1914 and 1925, Catalonia functioned as an autonomous entity within Spain known as the Commonwealth of Catalonia (Mancomunitat de Catalunya). This federation of the four Catalan provinces exercised limited powers but played a significant role in modernising infrastructure, promoting culture, and developing Catalan-language institutions.

Liberia

From 1838 to 1847, Liberia bore the name Commonwealth of Liberia. Its political structure was influenced by the governance models of the United States. Upon declaring independence in 1847, Liberia adopted a new constitution and became the Republic of Liberia.

Contemporary Uses of Commonwealth

Australia

The term Commonwealth was first proposed during the Constitutional Convention of 1891 as the name for a federated Australia. Although some objected due to its associations with Cromwellian republicanism, the term was retained and formally enacted in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900. In Australia, Commonwealth is frequently capitalised and often abbreviated as Cth, referring specifically to the federal government. The Commonwealth of Australia functions within a federal system comprising states and territories that evolved from the original colonial divisions.

The Bahamas

Since gaining independence in 1973, The Bahamas has used the official style Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Although a Commonwealth realm sharing a monarch with the United Kingdom, it is a fully sovereign state.

Dominica

Dominica adopted the title Commonwealth of Dominica when it became a republic in 1978. The term reflects its constitutional structure rather than any monarchical ties.

Commonwealth in the United States

States

Four US states—Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia—officially describe themselves as commonwealths. All four were part of British America prior to independence and share legal traditions rooted in English common law. Their constitutions emphasise governance based on the common good and civic compact, though the designation does not entail substantive differences in legal status from other states.

Territories

Two US unincorporated territories carry the designation commonwealth: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (from 1952) and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (from 1978). The term reflects their unique political status within the United States. Additionally, the District of Columbia has proposed the name Douglass Commonwealth in the context of statehood initiatives, retaining the familiar abbreviation “DC”.

Commonwealth in International Organisations

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 independent states, most of which were formerly under British rule. The organisation includes republics and monarchies and functions as a network for cooperation in governance, development, cultural exchange, and shared values. Its ceremonial head is King Charles III, who also serves as monarch of 15 member states known as the Commonwealth realms.

Commonwealth of Independent States

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) emerged following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Comprising nine post-Soviet states, the CIS serves as a forum for cooperation in areas such as economics, defence, and foreign policy. Although not a political union, it facilitates coordination among its members and symbolises the peaceful disengagement of the former Soviet republics. Several states, including Georgia and Ukraine, have withdrawn or reduced their participation.

Proposed Uses in Modern Politics

In the United Kingdom, proposals have occasionally surfaced to revive the term in a constitutional context. Notably, a “Commonwealth of Britain Bill” was introduced repeatedly by a member of the Labour Party during the late twentieth century. The bill suggested restructuring the UK as a republic termed the Commonwealth of Britain, though it never passed into law.