See Also: COMMONWEALTH, government(law)
AUSTRALIAN Commonwealth Government Loans(finance)
commonwealth(dictionary)
commonwealth(dictionary)
Commonwealth(encyclopedia)
commonwealth (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Commonwealth Games(encyclopedia)
First Commonwealth Bank(finance)
Commonwealth Games, the(dictionary)
British Commonwealth(dictionary)

COMMONWEALTH, government (law)


COMMONWEALTH, government. A commonwealth is properly a free state, or republic, having a popular or representative government. The term has been, republic, having a popular or representative government. The term has been, applied to the government of Great Britain. It is not applicable to absolute applied to the government of Great Britain. It is not applicable to absolute governments. The states composing the United States are, properly, so many governments. The states composing the United States are, properly, so many commonwealths. commonwealths. 2. It is a settled principle, that no sovereign power is amenable to 2. It is a settled principle, that no sovereign power is amenable to answer suits, either in its own courts or in those of a foreign country, answer suits, either in its own courts or in those of a foreign country, unless by its own consent. 4 Yeates, 494. unless by its own consent. 4 Yeates, 494.