americas commonwealth countries

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. "[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"). [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). 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 . ^ D. Geographically a part of Asia, considered a European country in political geography. ", Member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, British Nationality Act (1981 c 61) Annex B The territories forming part of the Commonwealth, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Commonwealth Secretariat Member Countries, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Member_states_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations&oldid=1171427894, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2023, Articles with failed verification from June 2023, Articles lacking reliable references from June 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Australia was one of the original Dominions at the time of the, Barbados removed Elizabeth II as its head of state and, Most of the country was the formerly French, Canada was the first among the several original Dominions at the time of the. The various American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indian reservations as they are not sovereign entities. The formal name in Spanish for Puerto Rico is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ("Free Associated State of Puerto Rico"). Nevertheless, the UK remains one of the worlds great powers. The term "commonwealth" does not describe or provide for any specific political status or legal relationship when used by a state. ^ F. In geology, the Maltese Islands is located on the African Plate. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America. The Americas are almost entirely located in the Western Hemisphere, with some of the north-west islands of Alaska entering the Eastern Hemisphere. [5] 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. 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. Un. Together, the members of the Commonwealth have an estimated population of 2.5 billion. 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. All Commonwealth members have an equal say regardless of size or wealth. [a], Transition to U.S. Immigration Law began November 28, 2009 in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The majority of islands lying in the Atlantic between the Americas and Afro-Eurasia, such as Iceland, are not normally associated with the Americas and are therefore excluded from this list. The Common Law in Colonial America. The question of commonwealths becomes a bit more complicated when we move beyond the continental United States to look at a few of its island territories. [15][c] One of Pennsylvania's two intermediate appellate courts is called the Commonwealth Court. 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. 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 global and historical answer behind it might surprise you. It has an estimated population of 791,000. [4] In 2012, 54% of the voters did not wish to continue the present territorial status. With a population of nearly 1.4 billion, India is the second most populous country in the world. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Commonwealth is a term used by two unincorporated territories of the United States in their full official names, which are the Northern Mariana Islands, whose full name is Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, which is named Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in English and Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico in Spanish, translating to "Free Associated State of Puerto Rico." Originally, the countries that made up the Commonwealth included the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Some of the associations members still have the British monarch as their symbolic head of state, while others have opted to become republics. 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. Georgia withdrew from the organization in 2008, the same year that it was invaded by Russia. All these reasons have reaffirmed the need for the two countries to be closer allies through the Commonwealth. Rank Country (or dependent territory) Population (2022) % of pop. In the past, most of the people in Belize were of English and African descent, with the African population mainly descended from slaves brought to the country when it was part of the British Empire. Commonwealth countries are among the highest performing in the Ibrahim Index of African Governanceand make up 7 of the top 10 nations. Bilateral costs for trading partners in Commonwealth countries are on average 19 per cent less than between those in non-member countries. Together they work to pursue common goals and values. of Wisconsin. The territory was organized by the Foraker Act in 1900, which was amended by the JonesShafroth Act in 1917. This system was established under the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America ("Covenant"), which was signed in 1975 and codified as 48 U.S.C. The definition of commonwealth according to 2013 United States Department of State policy, as codified in the department's Foreign Affairs Manual, reads: "The term 'Commonwealth' does not describe or provide for any specific political status or relationship. The three Commonwealth countries on the continents of North and South America are Canada, Belize, and Guyana. The government of Puerto Rico has held several referendums with the options of U.S. statehood, independence, and commonwealth; the commonwealth option won on multiple plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998. At its height, the empire had territory in every part of the world, which is why people used to say that the sun never sets on the British Empire. Today, the empire that the UK once possessed is all but gone, aside from a few colonies consisting mostly of small islands. It is one of the five members of the United Nations Security Council and one of a handful of countries around the world that has a nuclear arsenal. Throughout its history, Guyana has been beset by ethnic tensions between the Indo-Guyanese population (Guyanese of South Asian descent) and the Afro-Guyanese population (Guyanese of African descent). 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). However, for both the Commonwealth and the States, constitutional convention effectively excludes the monarch from any personal exercise of governmental power. The following is a list of sovereign states in the Americas. The island group lies approx. Among other references, the constitution furthermore dictated that criminal indictments were to conclude "against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth". Criminal charges in these four states are brought in the name of the Commonwealth.[b]. The state university in Richmond is known as Virginia Commonwealth University; there is also a Virginia State University, located in Ettrick. 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. The term was also used by the Philippines during most of its period under U.S. sovereignty, when it was officially called the Commonwealth of the Philippines. independent countries make up the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, of the worlds 42 small states are Commonwealth members, each with a population of 1.5 million or less, citizens live in Commonwealth countries, with more than 60 per cent aged 29 or under, 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. The population of the UK is now estimated at 68 million. The Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management, the Commonwealth of Learning and the Commonwealth Journalists Association have their HQs in Canada, and the Commonwealth Library Association in Jamaica. Commonwealth member states Mozambique and Rwanda are distinguished by the fact that unlike most Commonwealth countries, they were never British colonies. For U.S. insular areas that designate themselves as "Commonwealths", see. Unlike the 50 states, U.S. territories do not have the same representation in Congress and do not have the same rights as states. as well as other partner offers and accept our, PA3 Kelly Newlin/U.S. In California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and New York, criminal charges are brought in the name of the People. But have you ever stopped to ponder what the word "Commonwealth" really means and why it's applied to some states and territories but not others? The LEGO Group announces location of new Americas office in Boston, MA. Guyana is also the only Commonwealth country in the Americas that is a republic, as both Canada and Belize are constitutional monarchies with a governor-general representing the British monarch as the ceremonial head of state. At present, all the Caribbean Commonwealth countries except Trinidad and Tobago have the British Monarch as their ceremonial head of state, though Barbados is also due to become a republic in November 2021. [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. "Commonwealth" is a traditional English term used to describe a political community as having been founded for the common good. 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. Regardless of state. Many small and developing Commonwealth countries are among those with the lowest ecological footprints worldwide. Click here to access the Commonwealth country directory, containing 53 detailed country profiles on Commonwealth member states. After gaining independence, the US also went ahead and fought the British again a few decades later during the War of 1812. As the Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the Commonwealth although that role . In addition, the US and the UK probably had little to gain from the US joining the Commonwealth. It has, for example, been applied to both states and territories. (2022) Average relative annual growth (%) (2022) Average absolute annual growth (2015) Date of last figure Many if not most of the people who live in the Caribbean Commonwealth countries are of African descent, though there is also a large community of people in Trinidad and Tobago who are of South Asian origin. The US has five major territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. [8][9], In 2020, there were only two options on the ballot. Of these five, only two of them are considered commonwealths the Northern Mariana Island and Puerto Rico. Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the, Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state internationally recognised as a part of. A detailed history describing the origins of Pennsylvania's government, including its designation as a commonwealth from colonial times, is available from the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. Joined as Swaziland, subsequently changing its name to Eswatini on 19 April 2018. CNMI's immigration laws have been replaced by the INA and other U.S. immigration laws.[14][15]. 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. Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution provides that each U.S. state is entitled to two senators, but makes no provision for representation of insular areas in the Senate. India and Pakistan have been in conflict with each other since they both achieved independence in 1947. The United States recognized the then-future independence of the Philippines in 1934 but called for a ten-year transitional period. 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. The need for the US to join comes from the fact that Brexit will require the UK to renegotiate several things such as trade and foreign policy. The UK was once a member of the European Union, but left the political and economic alliance in 2020. Dominica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago are republics. 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. New location draws on region's deep talent pool and innovative. Five member states are located in Southern Africa, six in Eastern Africa, four in Western Africa, and four in Middle Africa. [72][non-primary source needed] Former British dependencies are eligible to join the Commonwealth providing they agree and commit to the Commonwealth principles, these were laid out in the Singapore Declaration and reaffirmed in the Lusaka Declaration, the Langkawi Declaration and the Harare Declaration.[73][74][69]. There are eight countries in Asia that are members of the Commonwealth. The 1986 proclamation was an exception, approved by Australian ministers. All member states in the Americas are multiparty democracies. The issue revolves around whether Puerto Rico should remain a U.S. territory, become a U.S. state, or become an independent country. [8] Those that do use it are equal to those that do not. The least populous Commonwealth country in the Caribbean is St. Kitts and Nevis, in which just 53,000 (est.) [6][7] The unusually high percentage of votes for statehood was attributed to a boycott led by the pro-status quo Popular Democrats, leading to a very low turnout of 22.93%, mainly made up of pro-statehood voters. List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. In addition, there is a good relationship between the President of the United States and the British Royal Family. 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. However, this term does not affect laws or life in these states today . Massachusetts is officially named The Commonwealth of Massachusetts by its constitution. As in Virginia, the official title of the elected local prosecutor in each of Kentucky's political subdivisions is the Commonwealth's Attorney, as opposed to State's Attorney in other states or the more standard District Attorney. Therefore, its date of joining the Commonwealth would be 15 August 1947. Paul Reinsch. 33. of the world's 42 small states are Commonwealth members, each with a population of 1.5 million or less. ^ B. 52.52% of voters favored Puerto Rico's immediate admission to the Union and 47.48% voted against it, with a 54.72% turnout.[10]. Some of the common goals for these nations include good governance, promoting human rights, advocating for global peace, promoting democracy, and many other things. The other two republics have non-executive ceremonial presidencies and an elected prime minister as head of government. These goals are made possible through a number of projects such as the Commonwealth Games that take place once every four years. Commonwealth is a term used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full official state names. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky", "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts", "Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania", "7 fam 1120 Acquisition of U.S. The name State of Massachusetts Bay was used in all acts and resolves up to 1780 and in the first draft of the constitution. "Commonwealth" is a traditional English term used to describe a political community as having been founded for the common good. Ten of the thirteen member states are constitutional monarchies recognising Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state and with a prime minister as head of government. The first Head of the Commonwealth was King George VI but was taken over by Queen Elizabeth II . [11], In 1976, Congress approved the mutually negotiated Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in Political Union with the United States. The flagship publication of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the essential reference on the modern Commonwealth for, Economy | Politics | Society | Facts and Figures. Like most Caribbean countries, those of the Commonwealth are very popular among international tourists because of their many beaches, luxurious resorts, and vibrant cultural scenes. Some supporters of Puerto Rico's independence. 200km (120mi) south of the boundary between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This is an alphabetical list of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Americas.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). ", "The Big Question: What is the Commonwealth's role, and is it relevant to global politics? 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. The day-to-day functions of the monarch, which are largely ceremonial, are carried out by a governor-general. 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. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original and therefore earliest members were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Irish Free State, and Newfoundland. in their state constitutions in 1776, as did Kentucky in 1850. 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. 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. Canada was a founder member in 1931 when its independence was recognised under the Statute of Westminster. On September 28, 1786, the residents of Kentucky County began petitioning the Virginia legislature for permission to become a "free and independent state, to be known by the name of the Commonwealth of Kentucky". Upon its independence, the US became the first nation to get its independence from a colonial power originating from Europe. Almost all of the states were once colonies of Britain or had some relation to British colonies. However, following the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union (a move that is known as Brexit), the two countries began having talks for the US join. Cyprus has been a conflict flashpoint since 1974, when it became a divided island. All dates below are provided by the Commonwealth of Nations Secretariat members list, and population figures are as of 1 February 2020.[7]. Office space will be more than 100,000 square feet across five . Both countries are republics and members of the European Union. Africa is home to 19 Commonwealth countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, Commonwealth countries make up 7 of the top 10 highest performing countries for gender equality. Bangladesh, which was formerly East Pakistan, also boasts a large population of approximately 166 million. Commonwealth countries are diverse: they are among the worlds biggest, smallest, richest and poorest countries. Americas. 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. The debate has spawned several referendums, presidential executive orders and bills in the U.S. Congress. Is the United States in the Commonwealth. The Overseas Departments of France are fully incorporated parts of France. 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. The largest and most populous of the Caribbean Commonwealth countries is Jamaica, which has a population of nearly 3 million. English Common Law in the Early American colonies. As such, they share a strong influence of English common law in some of their laws and institutions. 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. "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. The United States recognized the then-future independence of the Philippines in 1934 but called for a ten-year transitional period.[17]. Guam applied for commonwealth status in 1982, but Congress rejected the application application. The Special Municipalities of the Netherlands are fully incorporated parts of the Netherlands. ", "The Commonwealth: What's the point of it? 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. Its initial members were the United Kingdom, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, and the Union of South Africa. Eleven countries in Oceania are members of the Commonwealth. While most of the current U.S. states began as territories and then were granted statehood, these . No government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as is the case in a political union. An applicant country should have historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth members, aside from exceptional circumstances which are only considered on a case-by-case basis. 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. Territories of the United States. [16], 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. 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]. 81-600) authorizing Puerto Rico to hold a constitutional convention, and in 1952, the people of Puerto Rico ratified a constitution establishing a republican form of government for the island. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "2 Further, under CNRA 702(a), the "immigration laws", as well as the amendments to the Covenant, "shall supersede and replace all laws, provisions, or programs of the Commonwealth relating to the admission of aliens and the removal of aliens from the Commonwealth.". It refers to the common "wealth", or welfare, of the public[10] and is derived from a loose translation of the Latin term res publica. 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. Commonwealth states originally had language in their constitutions defining them as commonwealths. The populations of the other Asian Commonwealth countries pale in comparison. 1898. 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. William E. Nelson. Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania have legal names containing "commonwealth.". The current name can be traced to the second draft of the state constitution, which was written by John Adams and ratified in 1780.[14]. 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. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, five members of the United Nations Security Council, The Largest Countries In The World by Area. The northern part of the island is now controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while the south is controlled by the internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus. While similar, a "commonwealth" has a slightly more developed relationship to the U.S. than a "territory" does. Puerto Rico has sports sovereignty, with its own national team at the Olympics and at other international competitions.

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