In the terminology of the United States insular areas, a Commonwealth is a type of organized but unincorporated dependent territory.
The definition of "Commonwealth" according to current U.S. State Department policy (as codified in the department's Foreign Affairs Manual) reads: "The term 'Commonwealth' does not describe or provide for any specific political status or relationship. It has, for example, been applied to both states and territories. When used in connection with areas under U.S. sovereignty that are not states, the term broadly describes an area that is self-governing under a constitution of its adoption and whose right of self-government will not be unilaterally withdrawn by Congress".
There are currently two United States insular areas classified with the status of commonwealth, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.
Famous quotes containing the words commonwealth and/or insular:
“This little world, this little state, this little commonwealth of our own....”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)
“They are a curious mixture of Spanish tradition, American imitation, and insular limitation. This explains why they never catch on to themselves.”
—Helen Lawrenson (1904–1982)