Why throughout Massachusetts law and TV law shows set in Boston does it make references to 'The Commonwealth'

Question

As an Australian I always understood 'Commonwealth' as to be in relation to the Brittish rule or as a protectorate. So in regards to these 6 states of the United States is it more about 'Common - Wealth' as opposed to anything in regards to Britain?

Answer 1

I will just quote William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:

"Massachusetts, like Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky, is called a "Commonwealth". Commonwealths are states, but the reverse is not true. Legally, Massachusetts is a commonwealth because the term is contained in the Constitution. In the era leading to 1780, when the state Constitution was ratified, a popular term for a whole body of people constituting a nation or state was the word "Commonwealth." This term was the preferred usage of some political writers. There also may have been some anti-monarchic sentiment in using the word "Commonwealth." The name, which in the eighteenth century was used to mean "republic", can be traced to the second draft of the state Constitution, written by John Adams and accepted by the people in 1780."

For more information, go to the Commonwealth website listed below in "source."

Answer 2

The previous answerers also forgot to include Kentucky among the states that refer to themselves as the "Commonwealth of." This language tends to be used by the original states (and some like Kentucky that were parts of the original territory of the U.S.). The term commonwealth dates back to the Government established by Cromwell after the English Civil War during the interregnum prior to the restoration.

The term state on the other hand derives from the concept of an independent government (e.g. nation-state) and was the language used in the Declaration of Independence to refer to the new status of the thirteen colonies.

In addition to the states, Puerto Rico is also a commonwealth but, in relation to Puerto Rico, that is a particular description of status under the federal laws governing Puerto Rico.

Answer 3

it means "common good," or "best interest." it is what Mass. sometimes uses in the style of criminal cases where the state is the prosecutor. They are saying "the best interest of Mass v. Defendant." the prosecution represents "the best interests of Mass." it is interchangeable with the term "state."



The other answers are correct too, I assumed you were talking about Crime Drama TV like Boston Legal. I have never heard the term Common Wealth used in any context other than in the style of criminal cases, but I am an attorney. So, I would be unaware of any other usage. Any state can call themselves a "common wealth." I have seen states other than Mass. Use it in published cases. I have also seen Mass cases styled as State v. Defendant and State of Massachussettes v. Defendant and just plain Massachussettes v. Defendant.

"Commonwealth" is a British term. The term "Wealth" used to mean "well being" in Britain. It is like using the term "witnesseth my hand" instead of "witness my signature" or "affaint saith not" instead of "deny." In legal documents. Older attorneys usually use these terms. You find other places in the law where you will run into dated terms. In MS where I practice, some of the older lawyers will say "bastardy suit" instead of "paternity suit." The MS code even still has the term "bastardy as well as bastard" in it.

Answer 4

Because that is the official name of Massachusetts - the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

This is a common trivia trick question that asks how many states there are. Four states - Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Maryland - are formally titled as Commonwealths. (They're states with fancy names.)

Answer 5

It is The Commonwealth of Massachusetts - NOT the State of Massachusetts.

Answer 6

duke forgot to mention Virginia....tisk tisk tisk.