Commonwealth vs. State
Saturday December 9, 2006
I discovered a great answer to the question of why Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts are all officially "commonwealths" and not "states" and the U.S. government site, Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government for Kids...
What is a commonwealth vs. state? Is Virginia a state or a commonwealth? How many commonwealth states do we have in the U.S.?
There is no difference between a commonwealth and a state in the U.S. To Locke, Hobbes, and other 17th-century writers the term "commonwealth" meant an organized political community -- what we today call a "state." Officially Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts are all commonwealths. When Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts became part of the United States, they merely took the old form of state in their title.
Today, commonwealth also means a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the U.S. These are Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Comments
The worst President of the USA apparently suffers from senility. Someone needs to place a gag on Carter to prevent continuing damage from his runaway mouth.
There is a big difference between LIVING in a Commonwealth and a state, in my experience. I lived in Maryland for 48 years and then moved to Pennnsylvania. The Commonwealth is run is such very small political units that a great deal of tax money is totally wasted, and cooperation across even 100 miles is difficult. For example, York County has 17 school districts, each with an administrator earning say $100,000 a year, running mostly only one high school and 2 middle schools and a few more elementary schools. Enormous Prince Georges County, Md. pays just one administrative staff, albeit larger. More money goes for student needs instead of people sitting in offices. Equal educational opportunity is divided over a large area, instead of children in one district suffering intensely from lack of paper and pencils, while a few miles away kids have everything they need. It is easier for the little ‘politico’ principals and adminstrators in Pennsylvania to get away with things that would be professionally audited in a large Maryland administration. Yes, I mean like funds disappearing, as well as what is taught (Dover). It is easier for incompetent principals to work in Pennsylvania, because they are someone’s buddy. When you drive north from Maryland to Pennsylvania, you can visibly SEE the state line on the road surface in many areas.
I miss living in a STATE!
This is one of those things that no one has ever been able to explain (at least to me). Today they may be treated the same but I don’t think that was the case back when our country was formed. Consider that 3 of the original 13 colonies (Kentucky joined later) choose to remain Commonwealth’s while the other 10 decided to become a state, why?
One problem I have noticed, and not liked, living in a commonwealth is the fact that Virginia does not have to comply with the National Minimum Wage requirements. The state has decided in a recent vote to keep it at $5.15. Although this doesn’t affect me personally, it still baffles me.
i would like to know why some states are commonwealth and some are not. Thanks.
I live in the Commonwealth of KY having moved here from the State of Michigan. This is the difference I see: The State government has very little jurisdiction over the 120 counties that make up the state. Liquor laws, bldg. codes, etc., are all decided by the county. I think it is very inefficient and creates widespread political corruption with no oversight from the Central Government.
And by the way, in answer to Guilden, Jimmy Carter was not the worst president, our current president by far and away is deemed such by most everyone in the world. Carter speaks his mind and doesn’t care who likes it…always did and always will. At least he speaks the truth, unlike anyone in our current administation.
Thank you for the information on the difference between a Commonwealth and a State. And I strongly agree with Janice Taylor regarding our current President — if we can really call him that and Jimmy Carter. President Bush has done irreparable damage to this country.
How is it that opinions of a president come up in a discussion of states vs. commonwealths? What is wrong with you people? Both sides, get over it and realize we’re all in this together and stop making an enemy of each other when we’ve got REAL problems out there that threaten all of us.
The REAL problem is the President!!! HE IS A LIER!!!!!!!
You don’t even know how to spell “liar”. How can you talk about someone else when you’re clearly illiterate? Viva Bush!
Jimmy Carter cut the budgets of our 4 military units to the point that parts where hard to get.We had to salvage parts from other aircraft and trucks to keep them going. Jimmy Carter was the biggest joker to be president. The President only as good as the congress that backs him. Things would be alot different if congress would keep their noses out of sports. Also,check out your local Congressman or Senator and count up how many pork barrel projects them have their fingers in.
Bush made his share of mistakes. Why? because he’s human,and humans make mistakes.Check out all the in house fighting the dems are having now,and check out a President named Clinton who was impeached for lieing,and having a affair in the oval office.
I’m not a defender of Bill Clinton. He’s a liar, an adulterer, and possibly a murderer. However, he was impeached for lying about Whitewater, not for having an affair in the Oval Office.
Thanks to all for the comments regarding the post about commonwealth’s and states. I suggest to the others you should find another medium to express your political views. Maybe even visit the Library of Congress and do some actual research into voting records and the bills themselves. This post however is about commonwealths and states. While the last two presidents were both governors of states, references other than to that fact are out of place. Also as you are all affiliated with some commonwealth or state, both safeguard there members RIGHT to vote. I suggest using your voting power as a platform to ensure your voice is heard as a part of your state or commonwealth. Also, encourage everyone you know to do the same in his or her state or commonwealth. Unless you are in the state of Florida then you should volunteer to count the votes. You will have a much greater influence than you otherwise would have had by simply voting in that state.
I think you must be mistaken that Virginia ignores the Federal minimum wage??? A State cannot ignore a Federal law. A State can impose a higher minimum wage (or higher vehicle fuel standard, etc.), but never a lower one.
Many of these comments do not make a clear distinction between state and commonwealth. Even within a single comment the term “state” sometimes refers to state (as opposed to commonwealth) and state (as either state or commonwealth). Very confusing.
I now live in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I have been here for two years having moved here from the State of Oregon. I agree with some of the other comments I read. My experience is, the officials in Pennsylvania use the commonwealth statement to their advantage. If you ask why does this or that not seem to apply? The response is always the same….We dont have to follow that Law…We make our Own…..We are a commonwealth….Okay, so where is the advantage? I see a lot of disadvantages.
I am unfortunate enough to reside in Kentucky, a Commonwealth, and have to agree with the negatives. It seems there are a lot more restrictions (both personal and public). Higher court costs, not allowing ‘common sense’ laws like “alternate parking”, alcohol and drug restrictions, and on and on…Compared to other STATES, it is waaay more ‘bible-belt and a real sad place to live!! Oh well!
If people would stop worrying the president’s personal life and more about our country and whats going to happen to our kids, we would all fair better. I don’t care if they have a million affairs, it’s no different from anybody else. I say if they can run the country then leave the dirty laundry for him and his wife….. Now about the commonwealth I have lived in Pa. before and yeah they do have Laws that could be better but these States do take care of their people when they are down and out and need the help..
the people in a commonwealth dont have as many rights compared to a state for instance (in a state if you say you have been assulted and make a complaint on a person it is investigated before they arrest the other person in a commonwealth all you have to do is make a complaint on a person they will arrest that person put them in jail they will have to see a judge before they get bail set and that person dont even really know what he is being arrested for if he never did it)
this is just on another persons word
I am curious about the difference between a commonwealth and a state, and after reading the post I am even more confused. I moved from NJ to PA which is a commonwealth, and I noticed a difference between practices such as the court systems, and department of transportation, (which is horrible compared to NJ), but I think this is merely a difference between the states.
I Have read everyones comments, I lived in PA my entire life of 36yrs. I can honestly say, all your info has enlighten me quite a bit. I never lived outside of it, and this very day I still wonder what i’m missing out on, not having lived elsewhere. What I know for certain is, is that Nj is a sandpit of high car insurance and FORMER corruption in cherry hill, NJ uses the beach to make its money in way of ones doing beach trips on weekends. Delaware is ok, but taxes on residents is way high. tax free shopping is nice tho’. MD IS great hiking territory nice scenery, but rural, chesapeake bay is good. DON’T WANT TO LIVE THERE. NO WORK FOUND
virgina and tennese, is bible belt direct tv satelites hardcore disablity loafers lots of bail bondsmen and gun shops. beer can be bought in convience stores there with the hillbilly pickups parked out front..no whaddimean…no place for me there. SO….WHERE IS GREAT NON COMMONWEALTH place for guy to live out happy peaceful working single life???
there must be a difference.
there seems to be no help in KY for women trying to leave an emotionally abusive relationship.
For those of you seeking a better grasp on the law, I suggest listening to We The People Radio Network (WTPRN.com), specifically Tuesday nights from 9-11pm EST(Bridging the Gap) and Mondays/Thursdays 9-11pm EST and Fridays 9pm-1am EST for “The Rule of Law” .. You can also retrieve archives on that site..
Some of what I see being mentioned has a lot to do with the tragedy of the 14th Amendment wherein corporations of capital U capital S citizens were created.
Something also to be noted is that the Constitution (supreme law of the land) regardless of State or Commonwealth simply places RESTRICTIONS on Government and thereby protects our innumerable rights bestowed upon us by our creator!
& to touch on the off topic ranters
G’dubya is definitely now our worst prez after a longstanding shameful worst held by FDR.
…& if I didnt raise any eyebrows there…
!God Bless our Constitutional Republic, Death to the new world order cult and their inverted pentagram toting republican elephant icon!..
Please wake up
I live and work in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I can tell you that Virginia DOES comply with the federal mandated minimum wage. When congress recently raised the minimum wage, I saw the notices go up at the workplace.
Here is the official explanation from the Kentucky website it also states this on the PA website but I can only cut and paste so much info here. Although I agree with the differences you state here they are not different for this reason just differences between states. I once was told there was a minute difference in legal control from federal gov back then which is why some states decided to be commonwealth instead of states but after researching this today I see no difference then or now.
When Kentucky joined the Union, the terms “commonwealth” and “state” were recognized by the U.S. government as being synonymous. 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.
P.S GW is the worst Pres ever
Here some info that I got from Dictionary.com
com·mon·wealth Audio Help /ˈkɒmənˌwɛlθ/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[kom-uhn-welth] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. (initial capital letter) a group of sovereign states and their dependencies associated by their own choice and linked with common objectives and interests: the British Commonwealth.
2. the Commonwealth. Commonwealth of Nations.
3. (initial capital letter) a federation of states: the Commonwealth of Australia.
4. (initial capital letter) a self-governing territory associated with the U.S.: official designation of Puerto Rico.
5. (initial capital letter) English History. the English government from the abolition of the monarchy in 1649 until the establishment of the Protectorate in 1653, sometimes extended to include the restoration of Charles II in 1660.
6. (initial capital letter) the official designation (rather than “State”) of four states of the U.S.: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
7. any group of persons united by some common interest.
8. the whole body of people of a nation or state; the body politic.
9. a state in which the supreme power is held by the people; a republican or democratic state.
Before I start I want to say that I have bad grammar so if you can’t understand this then I apologize but just bear with me.
Since I live in Norfolk, virginia the complaints I have is that the way our tax money being used , the way the can do whatever they want, and how they can let certain people get away with soo many things. For example, The main dominant real estate company here in Norfolk is Judy Boone Reality. I’m serious no matter I turn I see her sign everywhere. Plus she been buying land left and right and replacing homes with expensive homes.
My other problem that virginia does is the way the city look at people records when they apply for food stamp, welfare, Section 8 Etc. I mean when it comes to Criminal charges that one thing but even if the charge was soo long ago. They still look at you and be like “oh you didn’t qualified b/c of this charge you got 30 years ago that why ” and then you ask like them like is the other place I can get help they like sorry not my problem. I can keep going on forever but yall eye are probably watery from this.
P.S. Bush Sucks
I grew up in PA but as an adult have lived in several states. I currently live in TX which is by far the worst I’ve experienced. However, what I have found is that every state does things a little differently. The court systems are given different names (an appellate court in one place is a superior court in another); tasks like transfering your car title can happen at a notary one place and the tax assessor’s office in another. And there’s been scandal and waste in every state I’ve lived in. Spend a little time doing research. Find out that in TX $300 is the most an adult on medicaid can make a month but that in places like PA and DE it is well into middle class income. And someone mentioned “alternate parking”. What is that and what does it have to do with this discussion?
Oh, and to Sean, if you are a convicted felon you made a bad decision at some point in your life. The consequence is you cannot vote, sit on a jury, collect most forms of welfare or social security. Regardless of whether you live in a state or commonwealth.
Hey Beenthere……..
Better do some more homewrok, cause I too am a convicted felon, and I collect permanent diability and food stamps. I have medicaid. Just because one make a mistake, does not mean they are a bad person! Or for that matter ignorant. Your arrogance repulses me, and your simplistic attituse towards felons is rather narrowminded and one sided, if you please, keep those kind of personal comments to yourself! Thank you.
There are two simple answers:
Historically speaking, it’s all semantics. The state founders wanted to differentiate themselves from the “states” established by the king of Britain so they formed new bodies established by colonials for the “common-wealth” of those who reside there.
Practically speaking, today the difference is all in governance and state v. local power structures. I am a NY native and county gov’t budgets and controls (i.e. taxation) are enormous compared to Massachusetts where I lived for some time. In MA, counties are barely recognized and have very little control over laws and enforcement. In MA cities and towns have more power over counties and run the show.
Which bureaucratic structure is better or worse depends on who you want to hang or who’s doing the hanging! They’re all bloated, redundant, inefficient, and wasteful from my experience trying to work with them – at ALL levels including feds – as a contractor and employee. Thanks to the civil service unions and the overly litigious society we all live in. (that ought to distract you from the presidents for a bit!!
)
In response to the “lier” guy and the viva guy after him…can bush even spell liar????
we are under martial law and have been for over 58 years and they just told us on C-span…. America has never been the home of the brave BUT COWARDS that bow to the federal government the CFR and NWO rules over you so who is yr daddy
So. To recap.uuuuuuuuuuhmmm
Seems like there is no clear answer defining the diff. between Comm. and a State.If anyone finds a real answer please Email me fredussloan@yahoo.com
thanks
I moved from Maryland to Virginia in Dec. 07 and I found it was the worst mistake I ever made. I started a auto towing company in Va. and I found more hoops, red tape and BS then anyone should have to go thru. Now I know why companies are flocking from Virginia to Tenn.
Tenn. is the best state to start your own company because of little red tape and the best tax set-up I have ever seen. There is no Income tax in Tenn. only sale tax and low propty tax on land that you own. In Virginia you pay tax every year on everything you own cars, truck, boats, trailer, everything and you have to get it re inspected every year. Now I know why Virginia calls it the Commonist Wealth
Because I live in Kentucky, a commonwealth my employer is not exempt from placing gender biased regulations on hair length, allowing our female staff to have hair of anylength and male staff to wear their hair 2 in. above their collar.
what does hair got to do with commonwealth or not. don’t people understand states can set there own local laws regardless, and emplyers can do the same, biggiest thing i notice states with more wealfar or higher unemplyment have higher prop. taxs, sales tax either way middle class workers pays for most it seems like, get tired of paying for other people to set on there assets.
I like the rest of you have been searching for the meaning of commonwealth vs. state. Since i have had the pleasure of living in the state of Illinois for 32 yrs. and for the last 2yrs. have been here in the commonwealth of Ky. unfortunately. I have seen a very big difference mostly with the way that here in the commonwealth there is a very big wedge between middle to low income families are treated and those of wealthy or upper-class. I have come to believe that most of the problems come from to many county elections, laws that differ from county to county, and usless appointments of people in positions. Here in the commonwealth I have seen more wasteful spending and appointment of funds than living in Chicago. That’s the truth!! I don’t believe that it is we have less rights here, as it is that the commonwealth has a complete disregard for the rights that we do have. J.J had a comment on here about being able to make complaints on someone and being arrested and having to see a judge before any investigating is done. I know that to be true have gone through that and witnessing it for myself firsthand on numerous ocassions. You are issued a court fee for everything. I don’t mind that as much as the amount of the court fee which is highway robbery. A commonwealth is not a common interest of the people as it should be. Rather it is the common interest or good of the State Government. I would much rather live in a state than in the clutches of a commonwealth. One more thing I pay twice as much for full coverage car insurance on one vehicle here in Ky., than I was paying living in Chicago for full coverage on two vehicles what is the reason for that???
I couldn’t figure it out either. I’m VA born but CA bred for 31yrs. I find this place atrocious. There are taxes for taxes and then more taxes on those taxes. I find all levels of the city, county and state offices to be the BEST at inefficiency and incompetency. Get this: In CA you go to DMV, pay for your title, registration, tags, taxes, etc., in one office, one bill, sent to you yearly which by the way can be paid by mail. In VA we took our selves to DMV in one county cause it’s faster, they only process titles and plates. O.K. We’re good, so we thought. Two weeks later we get a tax bill from the treasurers office for another $379. After the $17 inspection fee and another $28 fee for some damn crab sticker that we don’t get anymore (hell, I want my sticker now). Oh yeah, what was the $400 for at DMV? Hell, it’s not even a new car. Tell me, could we have done this all at one time? Even with the pain in the butt smog laws in CA and the Kazillion people there things ran smoother and more efficiently. I’m so home sick. P.S. In CA Food is not taxed. If it’s for human consumption, no tax. It comes from cigs and booze mostly. I get $637 p/mo. disability and can account for nearly every penny, how does one loose millions? The only thing Commonwealth about VA is that it is down right COMMON!
I was born in commonwealth of PA and lived there for 32 years, lived in MD for 7 years, now just moved to commonwealth of VA. The taxes are lower in PA and VA than in MD. I also noticed that government is more centralized in MD. Several comments above mention this as a positive since it is more “efficient”. I believe in limited government and power should be distributed to the lowest level of government possible. In PA if you don’t like the school district policy that affects YOUR kids, you can do something about it by getting elected to the school board or voting for your favorite school board rep. Try doing that in MD with county wide elections. GOOD LUCK!!! I like more power in my hands and less in officials at county, state, and national levels.
George W. Rules!!!
George Bush Rules!!!
Reading these horrible stories about commonwealths makes me glad to live in a state..Tennessee to be exact. If I ever move away which I doubt, I’ma make sure I move to a state and not a commonwealth.
P.S. Bush sucks beyond suckability!! (if thats even a word lol)
The basic difference between a Commonwealth and a State when referring to the four states in the US is the ownership of land. A commonwealth does not allow the actual ownership of the land, only the use of the land. Although I am not sure, I also think that mineral rights may belong to the state rather than the “owner of the right to use the land”.
Where I live…
The Commonwealth of Virginia is not concerned with the common needs of the common man but rather with the wealth of the state.
P.S. George Bush should be in prison!
right winger has answered correctly! DING DING DING….it is the right to Own land (as in a State)as opposed to (as in a Commonweath) the right to own the use of land without oil or mineral or blue sky rights….. I am amazed at all of the silly and mean spirited political comments on this site…shame on all of you for promoting such hostility. When Mr. Obama screws up too (just like every single other president) will you be disrespectful to him as well…All presidents regardless of their bafooary, deserve respect for the OFFICE. As Americans we all need to keep this in mind….peace out
I have lived in Illinois for the last year now after living in PA for 23 years, and have to say I am surprised by how many comments are negative toward PA. From my transition I can tell you this: taxes are way higher here in Illinois, social services seem underfunded (Which seems counterintuitive to the high taxes), car insurance doubled (I kept the same carrier and have an accident free history, was told it was simply because of the location change), the Illinois DMV is way better than in PA (maybe that’s where all the tax money goes). As for schools, people complain as much here about primary/secondary education as they did back in PA. The one difference, it is easier for people to do something about it back in PA as far as I can tell. My one friend was disgusted with our high school back in PA and ran for the school board his senior year and was elected. He has since been reelected several times. Oh, then there is the whole corruption thing. I have never liked the current PA Governor due to corruption stories from other elected officials I have spoken with during campaign seasons. However, Illinois definitely takes the cake for corruption. Go Blagojevich; sink to a new low…
As for Bush, he’s just a simple scapegoat for a bad decade. I’m no fan of Bush’s policies, but did he cause the housing bubble or Americans that love to spend more than they can afford. “Sure I’ll buy this over priced house, fill it with a few plasma screen TVs, and then ignore the whole mortgage contract. Now please bail me out.” It is too easy to blame one person for all our troubles.
Yes, I live in Hawaii. If you are freezing on the mainland, well, how unfortunate. Do you have an imaginary friend? Like God? How,… unfortunate. You people are funny to me. George Bush will be seen as one of the best presidents that the U.S. has ever had. Why? He removed Hitler in Iraq. We should have done it in Europe too before Pearl Harbor was bombed. That’s right, my home.
Aloha,
Toes in the Warm Sand.
I lived in Commonwealth of PA for 50 years and moved to TN. One thing I can say is that my property taxes were way higher in PA for way less land. Here in TN I own a home, a small piece of land and pay just under $200 a year for property tax. I have the rights to the land for as deep as I can dig, vs Pa. where I never truly owned the land, only the rights to USE the land. Here in TN. you get one stop shopping at the county court house. Need your drivers lic. renewed, as well as your car tag and then want to pay your taxes and vote-you do it all at the county court house. We can vote for 6 weeks prior to the actual date of the national election. I have superior schools and no local zoning codes-(I live out in the county as opposed to living in a town). The down side is that I have no trash pickup and emergency services will take 20 minutes to get here should I ever need them. If you move to a rural area, learn to dress your own wounds and broken bones, and learn to shot straight, because if you count on the cops to get there in time, you’ll be dead or very hurting.
coming from alabama to virginia, i realize that it’s not a big diff. their just as racist here as they are there commonwealth or not. oh, and by the way bush was the worst!!
Tidbit: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania controls the sale of liquor in its “State Stores”.
Why didn’t they call liquor stores commonwealth stores?
The guide gives the right answer and yet people continue to insist there is a difference.
It’s just a title.
Now, you may not like how the state was run, but it has nothing to do with it being a “commonwealth”. It has more to do with the traditions of the state. All the state has to do is change the laws and it can be run any way it wants.
It’s just a title that these few states are proud of keeping as a form of tradition.
ps. STATES also control liquor stores. For example the State of Washington. What is up with animosity toward j. carter?
p.s. Bush is gone, thank you imaginary friend!
i would like to know.whats a state and a commonwealth had to do in a justicial matter?
I was arrested in VA but I don’t live there. My laywer said that if I was in another county in VA I would have gotten a different sentence or none at all. Different counties have different ways of governing. I was in Henrico county which is probably where they used to burn witches. I met girls in jail serving time for minor offensives (in my opinion). A 19 yr old girl serving 30 days for underage drinking….A 20 yr old girl for serving 15 days for visiting a friend on a property where she had been evicted from for non-payment of rent. The penalites DO NOT fit the crimes. And the jails are disgusting. If you serve 30 days, you wear the same pair of underwear for all 30 days. We slept on the floor, we not given toilet paper for 2 days, we ate food that made us sick, and were denied medical attention! If you need emergency medical, you have to pay for it. I dont think jail should be a 5 star resort but we should have been treated like humans. Besides, WE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. But in a commonwealth, the government is not for the people…they concerned with their own needs. The court fees were over $500! You think that would have been enough to buy toilet paper. I am not defending acts of crime….just want to be treated fairly. Don’t expect any justice in a commonwealth.
Bush was a disappointment
Clinton was immoral
Reagan was great
Carter is and was a failure
I LIVE IN KENTUCY AND THEY SEEM TO TAX MORE. BUT NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF A HOUSE ON A PIECE OF LAND YOU CAN NOT OWN. IF THINGS TOTALY GO TO POT AND EVEN THOUGH YOUR HOUSE IS PAID FOR HOW DO YOU KEEP A COMMONWEALTH STATE OR A REGULAR STATE OR GOVERNMENT FROM TAKING IT AWAY FROM YOU. OR PUTTING SOME UNREASONABLE TAX ON IT THAT A HOME OWNER CAN’T PAY. SO THEY CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM YOU??
Hey Toes in the Sand…more like head in the sand…Europe did not bomb Pearl Harbor, Japan did.
George W. Bush did rule….unfortunately he was suppose to govern.
I’ve lived in both a commonwealth (Ky) and a state (Fl), and I really don’t see what the argument about the diffenrence is. Other than more power at a local level in a commonwealth (counties have more say over local rules) there is absolutely no difference other than the definition in the dictionary. Different states have diffent rules voted on by the people in that state, as with counties. So why wouldn’t they differ from place to place?
A commonwealth must follow all the minimum wage and discrimination laws as anyone else. Until recently, the same job in Ky actually paid more than in Fl. That was until Ky went to being a right to work state, ie, right to screw you state. Now it all pays the same, unless you work for minimum wage which be the same in July, even though the cost of living in Fl is much higher.
Fl does not track their sexual predators nearly as well, Fl is probably the worse state in the union for such a thing. If you love your kids, don’t move down there.
I’ve been in traffic court in both Ky and Fl. Ky was far cheaper and more forgiving. Also, the only time I’ve been in jail is because of a clerical screwup in Fl. If anything, the system down there is more inefficent then in Ky.
Ky invites high paying industries, for better or worse. Fl tries to chase out anyone under 65 who isn’t just visiting and spending money.
Fl is far more racist. I hear the N word about once a month in Ky, compared to multiple times a day in Fl. In Ky, and I wish I’d taken a picture, I’ve actually seen rednecks flying the Confederate flag playing basketball with black guys. Whereas that’s a recipe for a shootout in Fl.
As a final note: GW can burn in hell, if there’s such a place.
I used to live in MD and now live in VA. All I can tell you is I am happy with that decision. I pay almost $2400 less a year in taxes, and that money goes to my kids college fund. Personally, I like living in Northern VA better than MD, and I like the lower taxes.
This is too funny. Most if not all of these posts deal with simple differences in the choices folks have made for their State and have nothing to do with the Commonwealth vs. State distinction. Best I can see, the difference between a Commonwealth and a State is the same as the difference between an “Automobile” and a “Car”…….there isn’t one beyond the name.
A “Commonwealth” is a free, sovereign, entity, a republic. A “State” is an engaged arm of the District of Columbia and under federal jurisdiction although NOT a federal territory but doing business/trade with.
A “Commonwealth” is foreign to “State” and is not subject to federal jurisdiction. These days, it is not so much as a physical place but where you consider yourself to inhabit. (Not “domicile” or “reside”). “States” and “Commonwealths” are incorrectly interchanged.
By the way, after reading more of your confusions; You are under “state” control are NOT protected by the Bill of Rights or the Constitution but submit to the laws provided by the “state” and federal government. In a “Commonwealth” you are subject to the rights and laws up-held by the Constitution. e.g; the Supreme Court has ruled that speed limits set by the federal government are un-constitutional however, if you are a “citizen” of a “state” and posses a license, you are ruled by those laws set by them. ergo- not protected by the constitution.
Before you go speeding, there is far more to it than just that but in extremely simplified example, that’s you answer. They are not the same.
I live in Virginia, my drives license is revoked here, if i go to a not comonwealth state and pretend i never had a drivers license, would i be able to get one? will they find out that i had one and it’s revoked? people tell me they don’t because VA is comonwealth! does anyone know? thank you.
No, not if you are a US citizen or resident. Again, there is far more to it than that simplicity. YOu will need to change your status EVERYWHERE and on EVERYTHING to a Constitutional State resident. You would be considered a Non-resident alien, NON-individual, national. Unless you reside in the DoC or any federal territory. Any association with a Social Security #, which by the way, is NOT your number but the government’s. you are only trustee of it, is acceptance to those laws, statutes and codes that govern it.
Each “state” has two personalities; the constitutional one and the “state” one. You cannot pick and choose which one you want to be a part of as it suits you. Don’t believe me? Look into the IRC for each of the definitions of the words at the beginning of this comment and see if they apply to you; “US citizen”, “resident” etc. Don’t be fooled however, there are NO loop holes that you can take advantage of. The fact that you applied for a license to begin with was the contract that you agreed to adhere to. Technically, and constitutionally (if it applies to you) you have the right to freedom of travel. By asking a state for that right by applying for a license, you effectively surrender that right. Please don’t think that means you can drive with out a license constitutionally. You need to know if you are protected by that document or not. I cannot answer that for you and, it is not that easy to just decide one day that that is who you are. It is highly probably (almost certain) that you are engaged in contracts that will keep you from that protection. You need to discover the laws yourself. I have not the time to detail that.
Sorry, my bad, your answer is “yes”. Yes, they will find out. My first word to the last comment was “no”. It was out of the intended context.
Most states reciprocate.
This post has been going on for nearly three years! Is that really necessary? Too bad most of the posts have nothing to do with states vs. commonwealths. Instead, it has been turned into a playground for political hacks. American politics, as usual, has been going on since the beginning of this country. Since Washington and Adams, Adams and Jefferson, Jackson and Henry Clay. The slander, blacklisting, fear-mongering has all been going on from day one! I wish all of these people would stay home and ‘arm-chair quarterback’ football (Hollywood types, included) instead of pretending to know anything about the politics of The United States of America!
Commonwealths are “Confederations” of Counties that have (all of them) a State Government such as we are all used to. BUT! The actual “laws of operations” and the actual operation of the “State” is performed at the COUNTY level, and NOT by the “State” Government. The State can say “We must have a Medicaid law”. And the counties’ representatives to the State Legislature, owing to the autonomy that each Commonwealth brought with it into the Union back when they signed the Constitution as a Signatory Political Body, has the right to legislate a different way of disbursing funds than the prevailing Federal Medicaid Guidelines. The Commonwealths all reserved certain rights such as these (basically minor rights) to themselves when they joined the Union. But the real focus of the Commonwealth is actually how the Counties have always been the political bodies that carry out the mandates and laws of the State (per se). The Courts, at a local level, can be a little different in various countys, but in the end, all are still liable to the General laws of the ‘State’, and the Federal Government, which are supreme over all local and State Laws. Everyones’ Rights never vary, but the employment of them CAN vary, county by county. It makes for less “interference” by the ‘State’ over the county. The differences between the Northern Marianas and Puerto Rico are more marked since they have not accepted Statehood, as have all four of our domestic commonwealths.
I have lived in NC, PA, ME, and MA. PA and MA are both Commonwealths and I can tell you they are polar opposites in terms of state government. Here in Mass you can get free health care from the state if your income is low enough. PA had that special type of government known as “none.” I have to agree with the previous comments that the differences described here (eg: PA vs NJ) are not about state vs. commonwealth but just differences between states.
There’s no difference.