commonwealths
States sharing governance
Commonwealths is the plural of commonwealth, a political community organized for the common good.
Four U.S. states officially style themselves commonwealths: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky.
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of countries, mostly former British territories.
Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands are U.S. commonwealths—self-governing territories in association with the federal government.
Benefit shared by all
- public interestSocietal welfare and benefit
- social welfareGovernment help for citizens
- general welfareCollective societal benefit
- shared resourcesAssets used by many
civic virtue · mutual aid · solidarity · stewardship · prosperity · equity · reciprocity · public good
Sovereign political entities
- statesModes of being
- republicsStates with elected governance
- territoriesAreas under jurisdiction
- realmsRuled territories or spheres
dominions · sovereignty · constitution · citizenship · parliament · governance · self-governance · autonomy
Union of semi-autonomous states
- confederationAutonomous entities united loosely
- unionJoining into one
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
bloc · association · consortium · partnership · affiliation · member nations · treaty · pact
Rule by the people
- republicState with elected leaders
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- representativeOne who acts for another
senate · judiciary · executive · cabinet · ministry · bicameral · charter · enfranchisement
common good
Benefit shared by all
- public interestSocietal welfare and benefit
- social welfareGovernment help for citizens
- general welfareCollective societal benefit
shared resources · civic virtue · mutual aid · solidarity · stewardship · prosperity · equity · reciprocity · public good · commonweal
nations
Sovereign political entities
- statesModes of being
- republicsStates with elected governance
- territoriesAreas under jurisdiction
realms · dominions · sovereignty · constitution · citizenship · parliament · governance · self-governance · autonomy · independence
federation
Union of semi-autonomous states
- confederationAutonomous entities united loosely
- unionJoining into one
- leagueAssociation or distance unit
coalition · bloc · association · consortium · partnership · affiliation · member nations · treaty · pact · entente
democracy
Rule by the people
- republicState with elected leaders
- electionsFormal choosing of officials
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
representative · senate · judiciary · executive · cabinet · ministry · bicameral · charter · enfranchisement · parliament
commonwealthsmonarchies
States with hereditary rulers
empires · autocracies · dictatorships · tyrannies · kingdoms
commonwealthsempires
Extensive ruled territories
colonies · colonial empires · dependencies · protectorates · vassal states
commonwealthsfiefdoms
Territories under feudal lords
oligarchies · plutocracies · kleptocracies · private estates · patrimonies
- Commonwealth GamesMulti-sport event for British-linked nations
- Commonwealth BankAustralian banking giant
- Commonwealth of NationsPost-imperial voluntary alliance
- the commonwealthAssociation of sovereign nations
- British CommonwealthPost-imperial voluntary association