Commonwealth of Nations: Difference between revisions
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Voluntary association of 54 independent countries, most of which are former British colonies. The Commonwealth developed out of the [[Imperialism|British Empire]] and works towards shared goals in democracy and economic development. | |||
The largest member of the Commonwealth is Canada, at nearly 10 million square kilometers. The most populous Commonwealth country is India, with nearly 1.1 billion people. The smallest member is Nauru, with only 13,000 inhabitants. The Commonwealth also includes the world's driest and most sparsely populated country: Namibia. | The largest member of the Commonwealth is Canada, at nearly 10 million square kilometers. The most populous Commonwealth country is India, with nearly 1.1 billion people. The smallest member is Nauru, with only 13,000 inhabitants. The Commonwealth also includes the world's driest and most sparsely populated country: Namibia. | ||
'' | Every member state has its constitutional status. They can be realm, republic or monarchy. 'Realm' indicates a Commonwealth country which has the Queen as sovereign, while 'monarchy' indicates a Commonwealth country which has its own monarch as Head of State. | ||
Membership in the Commonwealth is entirely voluntary; therefore any member can withdraw at any time. For example, the Republic of Ireland withdrew in 1949 and so did Zimbabwe in 2003. | |||
Marlborough House in London became the headquarters of the Commonwealth in 1965. Today, it houses the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation, and has been the venue for a number of independence negotiations and many Commonwealth conferences, including summit meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government. The house was extensively renovated by the British government between 1989 and 1993. | |||
The Commonwealth Flag consists of the Commonwealth symbol in gold on a blue background centred on a rectangle. The flag developed from the car pennants produced for the first time at the Ottawa Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1973. It is flown at Marlborough House throughout the year and for a limited period at other venues where Commonwealth Meetings are held or when other Commonwealth events / visits are taking place, for example Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings. | |||
The flag developed from the car pennants produced for the first time at the Ottawa Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1973. | |||
It is flown at Marlborough House | |||
[[File:Commonwealth_flag.jpg]] | [[File:Commonwealth_flag.jpg]] | ||
== | == Sources == | ||
* "About the Commonwealth." ''The Official Website of the British Monarchy''. <http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/TheCommonwealth/TheCommonwealth.aspx>. | * "About the Commonwealth." ''The Official Website of the British Monarchy''. <http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/TheCommonwealth/TheCommonwealth.aspx>. | ||
http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/191086/191247/the_commonwealth/ | *http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/191086/191247/the_commonwealth/ | ||
Latest revision as of 08:33, 26 April 2012
Voluntary association of 54 independent countries, most of which are former British colonies. The Commonwealth developed out of the British Empire and works towards shared goals in democracy and economic development.
The largest member of the Commonwealth is Canada, at nearly 10 million square kilometers. The most populous Commonwealth country is India, with nearly 1.1 billion people. The smallest member is Nauru, with only 13,000 inhabitants. The Commonwealth also includes the world's driest and most sparsely populated country: Namibia.
Every member state has its constitutional status. They can be realm, republic or monarchy. 'Realm' indicates a Commonwealth country which has the Queen as sovereign, while 'monarchy' indicates a Commonwealth country which has its own monarch as Head of State.
Membership in the Commonwealth is entirely voluntary; therefore any member can withdraw at any time. For example, the Republic of Ireland withdrew in 1949 and so did Zimbabwe in 2003.
Marlborough House in London became the headquarters of the Commonwealth in 1965. Today, it houses the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation, and has been the venue for a number of independence negotiations and many Commonwealth conferences, including summit meetings of Commonwealth Heads of Government. The house was extensively renovated by the British government between 1989 and 1993.
The Commonwealth Flag consists of the Commonwealth symbol in gold on a blue background centred on a rectangle. The flag developed from the car pennants produced for the first time at the Ottawa Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1973. It is flown at Marlborough House throughout the year and for a limited period at other venues where Commonwealth Meetings are held or when other Commonwealth events / visits are taking place, for example Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.
Sources
- "About the Commonwealth." The Official Website of the British Monarchy. <http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/TheCommonwealth/TheCommonwealth.aspx>.
- http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Internal/191086/191247/the_commonwealth/