Are there really 50 states?
Absolutely. But four of them use a slightly different name.
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky officially call themselves commonwealths.
So what does that actually mean, and are they any different from the other 46 states?
What is a commonwealth?
The word “commonwealth” generally describes a political community organized for the common good.
Its use in America goes back to the country’s early history, when the term emphasized the idea that government existed for the benefit of the people rather than a king or other ruling authority.
Virginia and Pennsylvania began using the term in 1776. Massachusetts included “commonwealth” in its 1780 constitution. Kentucky continued the tradition when it separated from Virginia and became a state in 1792.
Which states are commonwealths?
There are four:
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Virginia
Kentucky
Despite the different name, all four are full U.S. states.
Do commonwealth states operate differently?
No. And this is probably the most important part.
Calling a state a commonwealth does not give it additional powers, different representation in Congress or a special constitutional relationship with the federal government.
Pennsylvania’s government specifically explains that there is no legal distinction between a state and a commonwealth. Virginia law also uses “Commonwealth” and “state” to refer to Virginia.
In other words, Kentucky is not a different category of state because it is officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
It is still one of the 50 states.
But what about Puerto Rico?
This is where the word can get confusing.
Puerto Rico is also commonly called a commonwealth, and the Northern Mariana Islands officially has “Commonwealth” in its name.
But they are not states.
They are U.S. territories, so the word “commonwealth” in that context does not mean the same thing as when Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Kentucky uses it.
That is why simply hearing the word “commonwealth” does not tell you a place’s legal status within the United States.
The takeaway
America has 50 states.
Four simply carry an old word in their official names that reflects part of America’s political history.
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky may call themselves commonwealths, but legally, they are states just like the other 46.
Sources
Massachusetts Government – Why is Massachusetts a Commonwealth?
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Manual
Virginia Legislative Information System – Code of Virginia
U.S. Census Bureau, official state and territory listings