Leslie Massey
In Australia, the term Commonwealth is often used to refer to the federal government, while state refers to the individual governments of the six Australian states. Australia operates under a federal system, meaning power is divided between the federal government and the state governments. The term Commonwealth was first proposed for Australia in 1891 and was incorporated into law in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, which established the federation. The term commonwealth itself is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good, dating back to the 15th century.
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What You'll Learn
Commonwealth of Australia: Australia's official name
The official name of Australia is the "Commonwealth of Australia". The term "commonwealth" was first proposed as a name for the federation of six Australian crown colonies in 1891. The name was controversial at first due to its association with the republicanism of Oliver Cromwell, but it was retained in all subsequent drafts of the constitution.
The term "commonwealth" has a long history. It is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the "common good". The noun "commonwealth" dates back to the 15th century, originally referring to the "common-wealth" or "public wealth". In the 17th century, the definition expanded to include the idea of a ""state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a republic or democratic state". The term has been used in various contexts, including to refer to the Roman state as a whole, and the political unit that replaced the Kingdom of England after the English Civil War, which was known as the "Commonwealth of England".
In the context of Australia, the term "Commonwealth" refers specifically to the federal government. Australia operates under a federal system, where power is divided between the federal (national) government and the state governments. The term "Commonwealth of Australia" was officially adopted in the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, which established the federation.
The use of "Commonwealth" in Australia's official name does not indicate any significant difference from other countries that do not use this term. It is primarily a remnant of colonial origins and a reflection of the desire for the colonies to unite for the common good. The term has associations with republicanism and anti-monarchist sentiments, but Australia's status as a Commonwealth country does not imply a rejection of monarchy.
In conclusion, the official name "Commonwealth of Australia" reflects the country's federal structure and the desire for a united political community founded for the common good. The term "commonwealth" has a rich history and has been used in various contexts, but in the Australian context, it specifically refers to the federal government and the united nature of the country.
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![Report of the proceedings of the Conference between the Premiers of the states of the commonwealth of Australia, held at Sydney, April [15-22] 1903. 1903 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61IX47b4r9L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Commonwealth origins: Anti-monarchy and the common good
In the context of Australia, the term "Commonwealth" refers to the federal government, and the “Commonwealth of Australia” is the official name of the country. The term "commonwealth" itself has its origins in the traditional English meaning of “public welfare, general good, or advantage". The noun dates back to the 15th century, derived from the old meaning of "wealth" as "well-being".
In the 17th century, the definition evolved to refer specifically to “a state in which the supreme power is vested in the people; a republic or democratic state". This shift in meaning reflected the anti-monarchial sentiment of the time, particularly following the English Civil War, where the Kingdom of England was replaced by the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell's rule. The term "commonwealth" was preferred by political writers during this period, signifying a rejection of monarchical rule and an embrace of republican ideals.
In the context of Australia, the use of "Commonwealth" in its name reflects a similar sentiment of establishing a government for the common good, rather than for the benefit of a monarch. This is evident in Australia's history as a constitutional monarchy, where references to the monarchy have been gradually removed from various institutions since the late 1980s and 1990s. For instance, the Oath of Citizenship, which included an assertion of allegiance to the Australian monarch, was replaced by a pledge of loyalty to "Australia and its people".
Despite these moves towards republicanism, Australia's relationship with the monarchy is complex. In 1999, a referendum was held on whether Australia should become a republic, but the proposal was defeated with 55% of electors voting 'no'. Additionally, the monarchy continues to hold symbolic significance, as seen in the controversy surrounding the playing of the royal anthem, "God Save the Queen", during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. While Australia's path to becoming a republic may be ongoing, the origins of its name as a Commonwealth reflect the nation's foundational values of the common good and democratic principles.
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Commonwealth vs state: Relationship to the nation
In the context of Australia, the term "Commonwealth" refers to the federal government, while "Commonwealth of Australia" is the official name of the country. Australia operates under a federal system, where power is divided between the federal (national) government and state governments.
The term "commonwealth" is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. It refers to a nation, state, or other political unit, and dates back to the 15th century. The noun "commonwealth" means "public welfare, general good, or advantage". Over time, the definition expanded to include the idea of a ""state in which supreme power is vested in the people; a republic or democratic state".
In the case of Australia, the term "Commonwealth" was first proposed in 1891 during the drafting of the Constitution, and it was officially incorporated into law with the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, which established the federation. The adoption of the term was initially controversial due to its association with republicanism, but it was retained due to its emphasis on the common good.
In summary, the Commonwealth of Australia is the official name of the country, and the term "Commonwealth" in this context refers specifically to the federal government. The relationship between the Commonwealth and the state governments in Australia is one of shared power, with the federal government addressing matters of common good and national interest, while the state governments retain significant autonomy.
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Commonwealth countries: Membership and history
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 56 sovereign states, referred to as Commonwealth countries. Most of them were British colonies or dependencies of those colonies. However, membership is not restricted to former colonies; for example, Mozambique and Rwanda, the two most recent members to join, have no historical ties to the British Empire. The Commonwealth was first officially formed in 1926 when the Balfour Declaration of the Imperial Conference recognised the full sovereignty of Dominions. Known as the "British Commonwealth", the original members were Australia, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
No government in the Commonwealth exercises power over the others, as is the case in a political union. Instead, the Commonwealth is an international organisation in which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status. They cooperate within a framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration issued in 1971. These common values and goals include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, civil liberties, equality before the law, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace. These shared values are also promoted through multilateral projects and meetings, such as the Commonwealth Games, held once every four years.
The Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III, serves as a symbol of this free association. All heads of the Commonwealth to date have been monarchs of the United Kingdom. However, this position does not give the monarch any political or executive power over Commonwealth member states, except for the Commonwealth realms and their dependencies. The position is purely symbolic, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General is the chief executive of the Commonwealth.
The criteria for membership of the Commonwealth of Nations have evolved over time. Initially, the Statute of Westminster 1931 stated that membership required dominionhood. However, this changed with the 1949 London Declaration, which allowed republican and indigenous monarchic members, provided they recognised King George VI as "Head of the Commonwealth". In 1959, Queen Elizabeth II described the Commonwealth as a "free association of independent states". Over time, the Commonwealth has admitted members without any constitutional links to Britain, such as Mozambique in 1995 and Rwanda in 2009. In 2022, Togo and Gabon, former French colonies, joined the Commonwealth, marking a significant expansion of the organisation beyond former British colonies.
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Australia's government: Federal vs state power
Australia is a federation that operates with a division of power between the federal (national) government and the state governments. The country's official title is the "Commonwealth of Australia", with "Commonwealth" referring to the federal government.
The term "commonwealth" is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the "common good". It is believed that the term was first proposed for Australia by Henry Parkes, the "father of federation", during the drafting of the Constitution in 1891. The term was incorporated into law with the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, which established the federation.
In the context of Australia, the term "Commonwealth" is often abbreviated to "Cth". The term is also used in the names of other political entities, such as the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the British Commonwealth or Empire), which is a voluntary association of sovereign states, including Britain and its former colonies.
The Australian government is structured so that the states retain a role, with the powers of the Commonwealth Government outlined in Section 51 of the Constitution. Over time, the Commonwealth has gained more power, particularly in areas such as taxation and external affairs.
In summary, Australia's federal system divides power between the Commonwealth (federal) government and the state governments, with the term "Commonwealth" referring specifically to the federal government in the Australian context.
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Frequently asked questions
In the context of Australia, the term "Commonwealth" refers to the federal government, while "state" refers to the individual governments of the six states that make up the country. The term "Commonwealth" in this context is often abbreviated to "Cth" and the official name of the country is the "Commonwealth of Australia".
The term "Commonwealth" was first proposed as a name for the federation of six Australian colonies during the 1891 constitutional convention in Sydney. It was officially incorporated into law through the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900, which established the federation.
There are four states in the US that are classified as commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The term "commonwealth" in this context is simply a name distinction, as these states have the same political and legal status as any other state.
