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Commonwealth vs Federal - What's the difference?

commonwealth | federal |

As a proper noun commonwealth

is the commonwealth of nations, a loose confederation of nations based around the former british empire.

As an adjective federal is

federal.

commonwealth

English

(wikipedia commonwealth)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A form of government, named for the concept that everything that is not owned by specific individuals or groups is owned collectively by everyone in the governmental unit, as opposed to a state , where the state itself owns such things.
  • Approximately, a republic.
    • May 19, 1649' ''Be it declared and enacted by this present Parliament and by the Authoritie of the same That the People of England and of all the Dominions and Territoryes thereunto belonging are and shall be and are hereby constituted, made, established, and confirmed to be a '''Commonwealth''' and free State]] And shall from henceforth be Governed as a '''Commonwealth and Free State by the supreame Authoritie of this Nation, the Representatives of the People in Parliam[ent] and by such as they shall appoint and constitute as Officers and Ministers under them for the good of the People and that without any King or House of Lords. [[s:An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth, Act of the Long Parliament.

    Derived terms

    For example, the official name of Australia is Commonwealth of Australia'. It is applied to four states of the United States, to wit, the '''Commonwealth of Pennsylvania''', the '''Commonwealth of Kentucky''', the '''Commonwealth of Massachusetts''', and the '''Commonwealth of Virginia'''. Also used by self-governing, semi-autonomous units such as the ' Commonwealth of Puerto Rico .

    Related terms

    * commonweal

    federal

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Pertaining to a league or treaty; derived from an agreement or covenant between parties, especially between nations.
  • * Grew
    • The Romans compelled them, contrary to all federal right, to part with Sardinia.
  • Pertaining to the national government level, as opposed to state, provincial, county, city, or town.

    • Derived terms

    * quasifederal

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US) A law-enforcement official of the FBI; short for federal agent.

    • Synonyms

    * (noun)

    Anagrams

    * ----