Is commonwealth a good thing or a bad thing. My Boyfriend and his brother are sitting here having it out!?
As far as legally, we are in Ky I know it we are commonwealth. However his brother has lived in several diff states and swears it's better not to be commonwealth. Any specific differences or details u know would be very helpful or a website with this information.
I will report you! Serious answers only please.
Answers:
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 Great Britain. The word commonwealth is of English derivation and refers to the common "wealth" or welfare of the public. In common parlance, people do not make the distinction between state or commonwealth.
As the definition states "has no constitutional impact" there is no difference for someone charged with a crime or having any other interaction with the government. Perhaps if you had read the definition you would be able to reach your own conclusion.
A single state is a commonwealth to the country it belongs to. The national government and state government shares intrests and what not. Now Puerto Rico and guam are not states but they share same intrests and what not with the US.
You have a serious attitude problem, threatening to report people that are here to help you.
Legally, there's no difference between state and commonwealth. Some states just want to be fancy.
Huh?
Kentucky is a state. Virginia and Pennsylvania and Massachusetts call themselves commonwealths, but they are weird and it makes no difference.
There is no legal difference between the legal status of states that call themselves states and those that call themselves commonwealths. (Puerto Rico is a commonwealth, but it's in a class by itself.)
From Kentucky's own site: "There are four states in the United States that are titled commonwealths: Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The designation is an elected title deemed by the states' legislatures. To be a commonwealth rather than a state grants no differences legally or economically."
http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/kycommo...
There is absolutely no legal difference in US law between the two. The term "commonwealth" originally applied to self governing republics. All US States are legally republics. The Constitution refers to them all as "states."
"Commonwealth", when used by a state, means that it has declared itself to be a political entity organized for the common good of the people. By calling itself a commonwealth, the state has made a philosophical political statement about itself.
As a practical matter, it really makes very little difference in the lives of its citizens. What specifics does your boyfriend's brother give?
Edit on your "additional" facts: from your additions and from the thumbs down on all of the answers, I take it you don't believe us when we tell you there are no real differences between a state that calls itself a commonwealth and one that does not. I asked you what your boyfriend's brother has said, but you won't tell us that. If he knows of real examples, I'd like to hear them. Sounds like he didn't have any so you came here. Bottom line is that none of us knows of any real difference, can't find any real difference in our research, and aren't trying to insult you by saying so.
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