Why do we say there are 50 states when there are only 47 with three commonwealths?

BG07

Well actually there are 4 commonwealths, and a commonwealth only states that they have a government based on the consent of the people, but they are still states at the same time. The four states are Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusettes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_%28United_States%29 May 11 07, 2:38 PM

uktwa

thank you May 11 07, 2:52 PM

collect

And Rhode Island is the "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" ... just in case you needed further complications! May 11 07, 2:55 PM

star_gazer

And Washington D.C. is its own special set up. May 11 07, 4:04 PM

BungeeAZ

No, there are 50 States. Alaska and Hawaii were the last added in 1959. Although Massachusetts, Virginia and others refer to themselves as commonwealths, they are, indeed, states. May 11 07, 4:07 PM

lanfranco

In other words, the term "Commonwealth" used by certain states doesn't actually mean anything in practical terms. It's simply a matter of tradition. May 11 07, 4:58 PM

MonkeyOnALeash

Territories anyone? May 11 07, 6:48 PM

lanfranco

As I believe we discussed fairly recently, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with commonwealth status: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico May 11 07, 7:24 PM

star_gazer

The four states of Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusettes are all called Commonwealths in their individual Constitutions, yet they all have the same rights and privileges of any other state. Commonwealth is just a word used the for more elegant language purposes. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico does not have the same status as a state. It is a US territory with a government unique to itself and other such territories. May 11 07, 8:19 PM