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(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations)
(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations in 2023)


The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as the Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 53 independent member states. Most of them were formerly parts of the British Empire. They co-operate within a framework of common values and goals, as outlined in the Singapore Declaration.[ These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism, and world peace.
The '''Commonwealth of Nations''', simply referred to as the '''Commonwealth''' including on this wiki, is a political association of '''56''' member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire British Empire].  


The Commonwealth is not a political union, but an intergovernmental organisation through which countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status. Its activities are carried out through the permanent Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General; biennial Meetings between Commonwealth Heads of Government; and the Commonwealth Foundation, which facilitates activities of non-governmental organisations in the so-called 'Commonwealth Family'. The symbol of this free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently held by Queen Elizabeth II.
The chief institutions of the organisation are the '''Commonwealth Secretariat''', which focuses on intergovernmental aspects, and the '''Commonwealth Foundation''', which focuses on non-governmental relations among member states. Numerous organisations are associated with and operate within the Commonwealth.


Elizabeth II is also the monarch, separately, of 16 members of the Commonwealth, informally called the Commonwealth realms. As each realm is an independent kingdom, Elizabeth II, as monarch, holds a distinct title for each, though, by a Prime Ministers' Conference in 1952, all include the style Head of the Commonwealth at the end; for example: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth. Beyond the realms, the majority of the members of the Commonwealth have separate heads of state: 32 members are republics, and five members have distinct monarchs: the Sultan of [[Brunei]]; the King of [[Lesotho]]; the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (or King) of [[Malaysia]]; the King of [[Swaziland]]; and the King of [[Tonga]].
The head of the Commonwealth is Charles III. (It was Queen Elizabeth II until her death in 2022.) He is king of 15 member states, known as the '''Commonwealth realms''', while 36 other members are republics, and five others have different monarchs.


Note that [[Fiji]] is currently a suspended member.
Member states have no legal obligations to one another but are connected through their use of the English language and historical ties. Citizenship of a Commonwealth nation affords benefits in some member countries, particularly in the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth Charter defines their shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as promoted by the quadrennial Commonwealth Games.

Latest revision as of 09:05, 5 May 2023

(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations in 2023)

The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth including on this wiki, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire.

The chief institutions of the organisation are the Commonwealth Secretariat, which focuses on intergovernmental aspects, and the Commonwealth Foundation, which focuses on non-governmental relations among member states. Numerous organisations are associated with and operate within the Commonwealth.

The head of the Commonwealth is Charles III. (It was Queen Elizabeth II until her death in 2022.) He is king of 15 member states, known as the Commonwealth realms, while 36 other members are republics, and five others have different monarchs.

Member states have no legal obligations to one another but are connected through their use of the English language and historical ties. Citizenship of a Commonwealth nation affords benefits in some member countries, particularly in the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth Charter defines their shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, as promoted by the quadrennial Commonwealth Games.

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