We’re always told that the US has 50 states, but Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky (to my knowledge) refer to themselves as “Commowealths”.
So are we 47 states and 3 Commonwealths? And what about the “Republic” of Texas?
Thanks.
It is my understanding that a state’s reference to itself as a “commonwealth” has no legal significance on the federal level. As far as the feds are concerned, they’re all states.
BTW, Massachusetts also refers to itself as a commonwealth.
The “Republic of Texas” only existed from 1836 to 1845, when it became the “State of Texas” following its admission to the Union.
That’s locally grown horse manure. All 50 states are states, in the only sense that matters. Putting “commonwealth” on the letterhead does not change the states’ legal standing, constitutional standing, or system of government. All states have a republic form of government (because it’s required by the Constitution), all states are called “states” in the Constitution, and the “commonwealths” have little or nothing in common that justifies singling them out.
Even these “commonwealths” seem to realize this. Kentucky’s website banner reads “The Offficial State Government Site for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Another page from Kentucky’s website:
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Massachusetts are commonwealths. Well, okay, those four states do call themselves commonwealths, but doing so obviously does not deprive them of statehood. A “commonwealth” was simply a term popular in the eighteenth century, particularly around the time of American independence, for describing a political community whose form of government was based on the consent of the governed.
Rhode Island is “Commonwealth of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”.
The Master speaks: Why is Virginia (and MA and PA and KY) called a commonwealth?
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The “Republic of Texas” only existed from 1836 to 1845, when it became the “State of Texas” following its admission to the Union. **
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Yeah but the only people who acknowledge that are not native Texans. They still think they are a seperate country…
Not commonwealth, but State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Nope. Having lived in Rhode Island for 7 years, I can tell you that it’s the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Smallest state; longest official name.
Oh, and mipiace, I’m also a native Texan. I even took Texas history in 7th grade. 
Beaten to the punch. Stupid hamsters… :mad:
The Master speaks and I heed.
Thanks,
If you ever sit for the Virginia Bar, make sure you refer to it as the Commonwealth – if you call it a state the bar examiners get ticked off. 
–Cliffy
With regards to the posts by mipiace and bobby, I seem to recall from my Texas state history class many years ago that the treaty of annexation that incorporated the Republic of Texas into the US had a clause allowing Texas to decide to break apart into smaller states if it so desired.
Of course, I can’t find a good reference for this and I may have been mislead by a 4th grade teacher (lots of years ago). Most hits on Google seem to point out numerous arguments about admitting Texas as one state, mulitiple states, a slave state, a free state, or even whether the US congress has the power to annex a foriegn country at all. So my guess is that I was slightly mislead, but that the issue of when and how Texas became part of the US was highly controversial at the time and probably still is, even if you aren’t a Texan.
This topic is covered at some length in the thread Texas into 5 States?