I just started reading A Charmed Life, and came across a reference to Massachusetts, calling it a Commonwealth. That prompts the following question: What is a commonwealth? How does a commonwealth differ from a state?
I just started reading A Charmed Life, and came across a reference to Massachusetts, calling it a Commonwealth. That prompts the following question: What is a commonwealth? How does a commonwealth differ from a state?
Here is a link straight from the State of Massachusetts government webpage.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/why-is-massachusetts-a-commonwealth
But in a nut shell it is just a fancy way of saying that they threw a democracy rule themselves with their own elected government.
Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky are also commonwealths. So in reality, the US is made up of only 46 states and 4 commonwealths.
So in reality, the US is made up of only 46 states and 4 commonwealths.
Something can fit in more than one category. State (under US parlance) and commonwealth are not mutually exclusive.
The actual wording from the above linked reference to Massachusetts:
Part Two of the Constitution, under the heading "Frame of Government" states: "that the people ... form themselves into a free, sovereign, and independent body politic, or state by the name of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
So in reality, the US is made up of only 46 states and 4 commonwealths.
The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, 1 federal district {Washington, D.C. (District of Columbia) the capital city of the United States}, and somewhere around 50 territories.
Yes 4 states full official state name is Commonwealth of ( Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, or Virginia)
As well as Hawaii proper spelling is Hawaiสปi (notice the backward apostrophe called an okina)
5 of are largest territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands) have non-voting delegated members in Congress.
The smallest territory, Kingman Reef, encompasses only 0.005 square miles (0.013 km2), or a little larger than 3 acres.
Washington, D.C. has no governor or senators, and its representative has no vote in the House.
Washington, D.C. has no governor or senators, and its representative has no vote in the House.
Us Constitution, Article 1 Section 8:
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards and other needful Buildings;
There are only two paths for DC to become a state.
1. A constitutional amendment altering the above grant of power to Congress.
2. Move the "Seat of the Government of the United States" somewhere else.
It would only take 13 states to block path 1.
If they take path 2, all government offices, foreign embassies, and most private business in DC will move to the new capitol. DC will be depopulated of anyone who can afford to move and DC will become the poorest state in the union.
If they take path 2, all government offices, foreign embassies, and most private business in DC will move to the new capitol. DC will be depopulated of anyone who can afford to move and DC will become the poorest state in the union.
Under that option, the Cession would be returned to Maryland, as it would no longer be the Federal District.
Under that option, the Cession would be returned to Maryland, as it would no longer be the Federal District.
IIRC: the original cession for DC was split between Maryland and Virginia.
Yes, it ought to revert, but the Democrats have been talking on and off about making DC a state for at least a decade. And that's what I was talking about, what would be needed to make DC as state.
Yes, it ought to revert, but the Democrats have been talking on and off about making DC a state for at least a decade. And that's what I was talking about, what would be needed to make DC as state.
Yes, but as soon as the federal district is dissolved (that is, if the Feds created a new federal district), the Cession would automatically revert to Maryland, and then it would fall under the 'creating a state from a portion of another' provision of the Constitution.
the Cession would automatically revert to Maryland
Do you have a cite for that. I'm skeptical that automatic reversion is a valid assumption.
Do you have a cite for that. I'm skeptical that automatic reversion is a valid assumption.
Opinions are all over the map, but the Cession was for a specific purpose permitted in the Constitution. If that purpose is no longer fulfilled, the land must revert to Maryland as there is no other Constitutional provision that would apply.
It is one of those Constitutional Conundrums, but I'd say the return of VA is somewhat guiding (though the circumstances are different). Fundamentally, where the Constitution is silent, the Feds have no authority to act.
Fundamentally, where the Constitution is silent, the Feds have no authority to act.
Unfortunately, there are times the Feds act even in cases where the Constitution is silent or even specifically prohibits certain type of actions.
Unfortunately, there are times the Feds act even in cases where the Constitution is silent or even specifically prohibits certain type of actions.
About 80% of what the Federal government does it has no authority to do. But that's a discussion for another place. :-)