Commonwealth of Nations

British Commonealth of Nations handwritten on Anglo-Irish Treaty draft

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Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio)

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Marlborough House

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The Gambia High Commission in New Delhi

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Commonwealth of Nations

200px Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations
Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations
Formation	1931
Type	Intergovernmental organization
Headquarters	Marlborough House, London, United Kingdom
Membership	56 member states
Official languages	English
Head of the Commonwealth	Charles III
Commonwealth Secretary-General	Patricia Scotland

The Commonwealth of Nations, commonly known as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, most of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organization are the Commonwealth Secretariat, which focuses on intergovernmental aspects, and the Commonwealth Foundation, which focuses on non-governmental relations between member states.

History

The Commonwealth of Nations was established in 1931 through the Statute of Westminster, which recognized the legislative independence of the Dominions of the British Empire. The modern Commonwealth was formally constituted by the London Declaration in 1949, which established the member states as "free and equal".

Membership

Membership in the Commonwealth is open to any country that meets the criteria of democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights. The Commonwealth has 56 member states, including large countries like India, Canada, and Australia, as well as smaller nations like Barbados and Malta.

Objectives and Activities

The Commonwealth aims to promote democracy, human rights, and economic development among its member states. It organizes the Commonwealth Games, a multi-sport event held every four years, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is held biennially to discuss global and Commonwealth issues.

Structure

The Commonwealth is headed by the Head of the Commonwealth, a symbolic position currently held by Charles III. The Commonwealth Secretary-General is the chief executive of the Commonwealth Secretariat, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization. The current Secretary-General is Patricia Scotland.

Related Pages

• British Empire
• Commonwealth Games
• Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
• Commonwealth Secretariat
• Commonwealth Foundation
• Statute of Westminster 1931
• London Declaration (1949)