Commonwealth Law and Legal Definition
A commonwealth is a free state, or republic, characterized by a representative government. The states of the United States may each be considered commonwealths. Four states in the United States designate themselves commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The term is often used to describe the government of Great Britain.
The British commonwealth is a voluntary association of former British colonies, dependencies and other territories - and Mozambique, which has no historical ties to Britain. It comprises 53 independent countries, representing around 30% of the world population, and serves to forster international cooperation and trade links between people around the world.
