"Commonwealth" is a nomenclature used by four of the constituent states of the United States
of America in their official, full state names.
These states are Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The four are among the first 15 states to join the Union.
This designation, which has no legal meaning, emphasizes that they have a "government based
on the common consent of the people" as opposed to one legitimized through their earlier royal
colony status that was derived from the monarch of Great Britain.
The word commonwealth in this context refers to the common "wealth", or welfare, of the
public and is derived from a loose translation of the Latin term res publica.
The same term is also used by but has distinct legal meaning for the U.S. Commonwealths of
Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, which are not states.
The use of the term also derives from the use of English common law in colonial America.
Some vestiges of the influence of common law can still be found in some legal concepts
and principles in the Commonwealths, particularly in Virginia with its independent cities, which
have their origin in the old English shire system, which was a part of how early Virginia
was organized.
Besides the four aforementioned states, other states may also, on occasion, use the term
"commonwealth" to refer to themselves.
The State of Vermont, for instance, uses the term "Commonwealth" three times in its constitution,
interchangeably with the term "State".
Delaware also called itself a "Commonwealth" in its 1776 constitution.
Commonwealth of Kentucky
On September 28, 1786, the residents of Kentucky County began petitioning the Commonwealth
of Virginia legislature for statehood.
They wished the County to be recognized as a "free and independent state, to be known
by the name of the Commonwealth of Kentucky."
On June 1, 1792, Kentucky County officially became a state.
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.
Kentucky is the only state outside of the first 13 that uses "Commonwealth" in its name.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts is officially named "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts" by its constitution.
The name "State of Massachusetts Bay" was used in all acts and resolves up to 1780 and
the first draft of the constitution.
The current name can be traced to the second draft of the state constitution, which was
written by John Adams and ratified in 1780.
In Massachusetts, the term State is occasionally used in an official manner, but usually in
a compound structure rather than as a stand-alone noun.
This is evident in the name of the agency "Massachusetts State Police," the Massachusetts
State House and in "Bridgewater State Hospital".
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
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.
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.
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.
Commonwealth of Virginia
The name "Commonwealth of Virginia" dates back to its independence from the Kingdom
of Great Britain.
Virginia's first constitution directed that "Commissions and Grants shall run, In the
Name of the commonwealth of Virginia, and bear test by the Governor with the Seal of
the Commonwealth annexed."
The Secretary of the Commonwealth still issues commissions in this manner.
Among other references, the constitution furthermore dictated that criminal indictments were to
conclude "against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth."
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.
In Virginia, the term State is occasionally used in an official manner, but usually in
a compound structure rather than as a stand-alone noun.
This is evident in the name of the agency "Virginia State Corporation Commission" and
in "Virginia State Police", and as in the name of "Virginia Polytechnic Institute and
State University".
The state university in Richmond is known as Virginia Commonwealth University.
Criminal prosecutions In Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
and Virginia, criminal prosecutions are brought in the name of the "Commonwealth."
In California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, and New York, they are brought in the name
of the "People."
In all the other U.S. states, criminal prosecutions are brought in the name of the "State" while
federal criminal prosecutions are brought in the name of the "United States of America."
See also Secretary of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth U.S. state
General: Commonwealth
References