How many commonwealths

So what makes them different from the rest of the 50 states? Literally nothing. Who knew. So why these states in particular? Both Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, a group of 22 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, are also commonwealths, but with different relationships with the United States than the states that happen to also call themselves commonwealths. Residents are U. It can also be used in more general ways, such as to refer to the body of people of a nation or any group of people united by some common interest.

But in the context of the US and its 50 states, the word commonwealth is simply used as another word for state in the official names of four states in particular. How did we end up with red states and blue states? Learn the history here.

Four US states are technically designated as commonwealths: Pennsylvania admitted to the union December 12, , Massachusetts February 6, , Virginia June 25, , and Kentucky June 1, The first three were among the original 13 colonies Kentucky was part of Virginia until it became the 15th state.

All four use the word commonwealth in their official name: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , the Commonwealth of Virginia , and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. After all, we usually say that the US has 50 states not 46 states and four commonwealths. So what does this mean in practical terms? What sets commonwealths apart from other states? Other than the name, there really is no legal or governmental difference between states known as states and states known as commonwealths.

The term commonwealth is also still used beyond the US, notably in the Commonwealth of Nations — a 53 country intergovernmental group which includes countries such as Canada, Australia, South Africa, and India — where nearly all the countries share a history of being ruled by the British Empire as a territory or colony.

While most of these commonwealth countries are independent from the United Kingdom today, Queen Elizabeth II still serves as head of state for 16 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, including Canada, Jamaica, and New Zealand. Despite these countries having no legal obligation to one another, they do share a set of common goals.

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.

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. Hosted most recently in Australia in , athletes from these commonwealth countries come together to compete in sports like swimming and diving, table tennis, and gymnastics.

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. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App.

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