Commonwealth Membership
See also: Commonwealth of Nations > Termination of membershipWithin the Commonwealth, there is no differentiation in status between republics, Commonwealth realms or the members with their own monarchs (Brunei, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland, and Tonga).
Membership of the Commonwealth is by common assent of the existing members, and this principle applies equally to territories gaining independence or to outside territories requesting membership. Until 2007, Commonwealth members that changed their internal constitutional structure to that of a republic had to re-apply for membership also. Widespread objection to the racial policies in South Africa resulted in that country deciding not to pursue a re-application for Commonwealth membership when it became a republic in 1961. Fiji and the Maldives also did not apply for continued membership after becoming republics (Fiji was likely to be suspended in any case, since a coup had overthrown the democratically elected government), and thus their membership lapsed too.
Read more about this topic: Republics In The Commonwealth Of Nations
Famous quotes containing the words commonwealth and/or membership:
“This little world, this little state, this little commonwealth of our own....”
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