What exactly is a commonwealth, and which states are still considered commonwealths?

Answer 1

Four of the constituent states of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. This designation, which has no constitutional impact, 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 King of England. (The word commonwealth is of English derivation and refers to the common "weal" or welfare of the public.) In common parlance, people do not make the distinction between state or commonwealth.

Answer 2

all the US as well as Canada and Island like
Dominica are parts of the commonwealth
I will explain:
in 1996 I was issue a ticket for $300.00 in Quebec (Canada) the ticket was because I was driving with a Massachussett license
now remember the MA license say Commonwealth of Massachussett
I wen to court with my ticket I remind the Judge that if Montreal is part of Canada's commonwealth and my license say Commonwealth then basically I was driving with a legal license
guess what I win
Commonwealth is basically when a group of state or country is volontaraly agree to stand togehter and form one It started with the 53 state in the US
Canada is not part of the US but all od the provinces were agree to form one Government as the Commonwealth of Canada
(Quebec is trying to get out of it now *no chance*)
some of the Islands have form a diffenrent kind of commonwealth (for tax purpose only)
Hope I have not confuse you & I have help (just wanting you to know that it is not only the US that have a comonwealth
Good LUCK

Answer 3

I know Virginia is a commonwealth but I have no clue as to what a commonwealth is

Answer 4

50

Answer 5

I know Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are still commonwealths, and Rhode Island is something totally different. But I don't know why.