Commonwealth of Nations and User:Laurel Bush/Workshop IV: Difference between pages

Revision as of 00:23, 7 June 2006

Revision as of 11:02, 18 July 2007

Line 1:

= Workshop links =

{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="4" style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; width: 250px;"

|+ style="font-size: larger; margin-left: inherit;"|<big><big>'''Commonwealth of Nations'''</big></big>

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Toolshed]]

|- style="text-align: center;"

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Workshop I]]

| colspan="2" |

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Workshop II]]

[[Image:Flag_of_the_Commonwealth_of_Nations.svg|250px|Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations]]<br />

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Workshop III]]

[[Flag of the Commonwealth]]

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Workshop IV]]

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Workshop V]]

* [[User:Laurel Bush/Workshop VI]]

----

* [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]]

* [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]]

* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1994/Ukpga_19940039_en_1.htm Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]

----

= [[Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)]] =

'''Aberdeen South''' is a [[burgh constituency]] of the [[United Kingdom House of Commons|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], and it elects one [[Member of Parliament|Member of Parliament (MP)]] by the [[first past the post]] system of election. It was first used in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1885|1985 general election]], but has undergone various boundary changes since that date.

There is also an [[Aberdeen South (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen South Holyrood constituency]], a constituency of the [[Scottish Parliament]]<ref>The boundaries of Holyrood constituencies remain as when the constituencies were created in 1999<br>''Holyrood'' referes to the fact that the [[Scottish Parliament Building]] is in the [[Holyrood, Edinburgh|Holyrood]] area of [[Edinburgh]]<br> See also ''[[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions]]''</ref>, created in 1999 with the boundaries of the Westminster constituency of at that time.

== Boundaries ==

=== Current ===

{| class="toccolours" style="border-collapse: collapse; float: left;" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="260"

|-

|align="center"| '''[[Council areas of Scotland|Council areas]]<br> grouped by the Fifth Review'''

|-

|align="center"| [[Image:Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City.png ]]

|-

|align="center"| '''[[Aberdeen City]] and [[Aberdeenshire]]

|}

As redifined by the Fifth Review of the [[Boundary Commission for Scotland]], and subsequently first used in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]],<ref>''[http://www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk/ Boundary Commission for Scotland website]''<br> See also ''[[List of UK Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland]]''</ref> Aberdeen South is entirely within the [[Aberdeen City council area]] and one of five constituencies covering that [[Council areas of Scotland|council area]] and the [[Aberdeenshire council area]].

To the south and west of Aberdeen South there is [[West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (UK Parliament constituency)|West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine]], which is entirely within the Aberdeenshire area. To the north there is [[Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen North]] which, like Aberdeen South is entirely within the Aberdeen City area. Further north there is [[Gordon (UK Parliament constituency)|Gordon]], which covers part of the Aberdeen City area and part of the Aberdeenshire area. To the north of Gordon there is [[Banff and Buchan (UK Parliament constituency)|Banff and Buchan]] which, like West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, is entirely within the Aberdeenshire area.

=== Historic ===

==== 1885 to 1918 ====

From 1832 to 1885 there was a single [[Aberdeen (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen]] constituency. Prior to 1832, the [[burgh of Aberdeen]] had been represented as a component of the [[Aberdeen Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen Burghs]] constituency.

When Aberdeen South was created by the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]] and first used in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1885|1885 gnereal election]], so was Aberdeen North. Aberdeen South then consisted of the municipal wards of St Nicholas, Rosemount, Rubislaw and Ferryhill, and the 9th Parliamentary Polling District.{{fact}}

The same boundaries were used in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1886|1886 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1892|1892 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1895|1895 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1900|1900 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1906|1906 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, January 1910|January 1910 general election]] and the [[United Kingdom general election, December 1910|December 1910 general election]].

==== 1918 to 1950 ====

In 1918 constituency boundaries were redefined by the [[Representation of the People Act 1918]]. By then the [[City of Aberdeen]] had been created and, together with Aberdeen North, Aberdeen South became one of two constituencies covering the [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] (which was one of four [[Counties of Scotland|counties of cities]] in Scotland) and entirely within the city. The new boudaries were first used in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1918|1918 general election]], and Aberdeen South then consisted of the wards of Ferryhill, Rosemount, Rubislaw, Ruthrieston and St Nicholas.<ref name="Graig">''[[Boundaries of Parliamentary Constituencies 1885-1972]]'' (ISBN 0-900178-09-4), F. W. S. Craig 1972</ref>

The same boundaries were used in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1922|1922 general elecion]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1923|1923 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1924|1924 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1929|1929 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1931|1931 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1935|1935 general election]] and the [[United Kingdom general election, 1945|1945 general election]].

==== 1950 to 1983 ====

For the [[United Kingdom general election, 1950|1950 general election]] boudaries were redefined again, by the [[House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act 1949]]. A new list of wards defined Aberdeen South - Ferryhill, Holburn, Rosemount, Rubislaw, Ruthrieston and Torry<ref name="Graig"/> - but the City of Aberdeen remained a two-constituency city, divided between Aberdeen South and Aberdeen North, with both constituencies entirely within the city.

The constituency consisted of the same wards for the [[United Kingdom general election, 1951|1951 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1955|1955 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1959|1959 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1964|1964 general election]], [[United Kingdom general election, 1966|1966 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970 general election]] and the [[United Kingdom general election, 1974|1974 general election]]. However, during this period, there may have been changes to ward boundaries leading to changes to constituency boundaries.

In 1975, throughout Scotland, under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], counties were abolished, and the City of Aberdeen was enlarged to included areas formerly within the [[county of Aberdeen]] and the [[county of Kincardine]]. Also, the city became a district within the [[Grampian region]]. The enlarged city included areas covered by the constituencies of [[West Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)|West Aberdeenshire]] and [[North Angus and Mearns (UK Parliament constituency)|North Angus and Mearns]].

The [[United Kingdom general election, 1979|1979 general election]] was held before a review of constituency boundaries took account of new local government boundaries.

==== 1983 to 1997 ====

<nowiki>{{section stub}}</nowiki>

The [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]], the [[United Kingdom general election, 1987|1987 general election]] and the [[United Kingdom general election, 19792|1992 general election]] tokk place during this period.

In 1996, under the [[Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994]], local government regions and districts were abolished and the city became one of 32 [[unitary council area|unitary]] [[council areas of Scotland]].

==== 1997 to 2005 ====

As redefined for the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]] Aberdeen South was one of three constituencies covering and entirely within the Aberdeen City area, the other two being Aberdeen North and [[Aberdeen Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberdeen Central]]. Aberdeen South shared boundaries with both of the other two constituencies.

The same boundaries were used for the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]].

== Notes and references ==

<references/>

= Re South Wales regions =

* [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)]]

'''South Wales East''' is an electoral region of the [[National Assembly for Wales]], consisting of eight [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituencies]]. The electoral region was first used in 1999, when the Assembly for Wales was created.

Each constituency elects one [[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] electoral system, and the region as a whole elects four additional or top-up Assembly Members, to create a degree of [[proportional representation]]. The additional member seats are allocated from [[Closed list|closed lists]] by the [[d'Hondt method]], with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.

The region covers the whole of the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]] and part of the preserved county of [[Mid Glamorgan]]. The rest of Mid Glamorgan is mostly within the [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]] electoral region and partly within the [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales West]] region.

== Constituencies ==

The nine constituencies have the names and boundaries of constituencies of the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]]):

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Constituency

! Preserved counties

|-

| [[Blaenau Gwent (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Blaenau Gwent]]

| '''[[Official language|Official&nbsp;languages]]'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| [[English language|English]]

|-

| [[Caerphilly (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Caerphilly]]

| '''[[Head of the Commonwealth]]'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| Her Majesty [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]

|-

| [[Islwyn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Islwyn]]

| '''[[Commonwealth Secretary-General|Secretary-General]]'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| His Excellency the Rt Hon. [[Don McKinnon]] (since 1999)

|-

| [[Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney]]

| '''Deputy Secretary-General'''

| Partly [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]], partly [[Mid Glamorgan]]

| [[Ransford Smith]]

|-

| [[Monmouth (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Monmouth]]

| '''Established'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| informally as "British" Commonwealth in 1926, the modern Commonwealth began in 1949.

|-

| [[Newport East (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Newport East]]

| '''[[List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations by name|Member states]]'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| 53

|-

| [[Newport West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Newport West]]

| '''[[Marlborough House|Headquarters]]'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| [[Westminster]], [[London]]

|-

| [[Torfaen (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Torfaen]]

| '''Official site'''

| Entirely within [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]

| [http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ thecommonwealth.org]

|}

----

The '''Commonwealth of Nations''', usually known as the '''Commonwealth''', is an [[Voluntary association|association]] of 53 independent [[sovereign state]]s, almost all of which are former territories of the [[British Empire]].

----

* [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)]]

It was once known as the '''British Commonwealth of Nations''' or '''British Commonwealth''', and some still call it by that name, either for historical reasons or to distinguish it from the other [[commonwealth]]s around the world. [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199596/ldhansrd/vo951120/text/51120-02.htm][http://www.thecommonwealth.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=143321]. The full name, ''Commonwealth of Nations'', is sufficient to distinguish the Commonwealth from other commonwealths such as the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] or the Commonwealth of Australia.

[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], who is called the Head of State of 16 [[Commonwealth Realm]]s, is the [[Head of the Commonwealth]]; this title, however, does not imply any political power over member nations, and does not automatically belong to the [[British monarch]].

'''South Wales Central''' is an electoral region of the [[National Assembly for Wales]], consisting of eight [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituencies]]. The electoral region was first used in the [[Welsh Assembly election, 1999|1999 Welsh Assembly election]], when the Assembly for Wales was created.

The Commonwealth is primarily an [[organisation]] in which countries with diverse [[economics|economic]] backgrounds have an opportunity for close and equal interaction. The primary activities of the Commonwealth are designed to create an atmosphere of economic co-operation between member nations, as well as the promotion of [[democracy]], [[human rights]], and good [[governance]] in those nations.

Each constituency elects one [[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] electoral system, and the region as a whole elects four additional or top-up Assembly Members, to create a degree of [[proportional representation]]. The additional member seats are allocated from [[Closed list|closed lists]] by the [[d'Hondt method]], with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.

The Commonwealth is not a political union of any sort, and does not allow the [[United Kingdom]] (UK) to exercise any power over the affairs of the organization's other members. While some fifteen nations of the Commonwealth, known as [[Commonwealth Realm]]s, recognise the same person who is the [[British Monarch]] as their separate [[head of state]], the majority do not.

==Origin==

Although performing a vastly different function, the Commonwealth is the successor of the [[British Empire]]. In 1884, whilst visiting [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]], [[Lord Rosebery]] described the changing British Empire, as its former colonies became more independent, as a "Commonwealth of Nations".

As created in 1999, the region covers much of the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[Mid Glamorgan]] and much of the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]]. The rest of Mid Glamorgan is partly within the [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]] electoral region and partly within the [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales West]]. The rest of South Glamorgan is within the South Wales West electoral region.

===British Empire weakens===

Conferences of British and colonial [[Prime minister|Prime Ministers]] had occurred periodically since 1887, leading to the creation of the [[Imperial Conferences]] in the late 1920s. The formal organisation of the Commonwealth developed from the [[Imperial Conferences]], where the independence of the [[self-governing colony|self-governing colonies]] and especially of [[dominion]]s was recognised, particularly in the [[Balfour Declaration 1926|Balfour Declaration]] at the Imperial Conference in 1926, when the UK and its dominions agreed they were "equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations". This relationship was eventually formalised by the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]] in 1931.

As created in 1999, the region covers the whole of the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[West Glamorgan]], part of the preserved county of [[Mid Glamorgan]] and part of the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]].

<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:commonthen.jpg|frame|The Commonwealth has grown massively in the last few decades. Above, the 10 representatives in 1957, below, the over 50 members in 2000]] -->

Other parts of Mid Glamorgan are within the [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]] and [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]] electoral regions, and other parts of South Glamorgan are within the South Wales Central region.

For the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007|2007 Welsh Assembly election]], constituency boundaries will change, and so therefore will the boundaries of the region.

The region will continue, however, to cover part of Mid Glamorgan and part of South Glamorgan, with the rest of Mid Glamorgan in the South Wales Central region and the rest of South Glamorgan partly in the

and the region will cover all of the preserved county of West Glamorgan and part of the preserved county of Mid Glamorgan. Other parts of Mid Glamorgan will be within the South Wales Central region and the South Wales West region.

The constituencies have the names and boundaries of constituencies of the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]]). For Westmister election purposes, however, there are no electoral regions, and constituency boundary changes will become effective for the [[54th United Kingdom general election|next United Kingdom general election]].

===Many members gain independence===

After [[World War II]], the Empire was gradually dismantled, partly owing to the rise of independence movements in the then-subject territories (such as that started in [[India]] under the influence of [[Mohandas Gandhi]] and [[Subhash Chandra Bose]]), and partly owing to the British Government's strained circumstances resulting from the cost of the war. The word "British" was dropped in 1946 from the title of the Commonwealth to reflect the changing position. [[Burma]] (1948), and [[Aden]] (1967) are the only former colonies not to have joined the Commonwealth upon independence. Among the former [[protectorate]]s and [[League of Nations mandate|mandates]], [[Egypt]] (1953), [[Sudan]] (1956) [[Israel]] (1948), [[Iraq]] (1932), [[Bahrain]] (1971), [[Qatar]] (1971), [[United Arab Emirates]] (1971), [[Jordan]] (1946), [[Kuwait]] (1961) and [[Oman]] (1971) never became members of the Commonwealth. The [[Republic of Ireland]] left the Commonwealth upon becoming a [[republic]] in 1949. However, the [[Ireland Act 1949]] passed by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament of Westminster]] gave citizens of the Republic of Ireland a status similar to that of other citizens of the Commonwealth in [[UK law]].

===Republics as members===

The issue of [[republic]]an status within the Commonwealth was resolved in April [[1949]] at a Commonwealth prime ministers' meeting in London. India agreed that when it became a republic in January [[1950]] it would accept the King as "symbol of the free association of its independent member nations and as such Head of the Commonwealth". The other Commonwealth countries in turn recognised India's continuing membership of the association. (At Pakistan’s insistence, India was not regarded as an exceptional case and it was assumed that other states would be accorded the same treatment as India.) The London Declaration is often seen as marking the beginning of the modern Commonwealth.

'''South Wales Central''' is an electoral region of the [[National Assembly for Wales]], consisting of eight [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituencies]]. The electoral region was first used in 1999, when the Assembly for Wales was created.

===Old, New and White Commonwealth===

As the Commonwealth grew, the UK and pre-1945 Dominions (a term formally dropped in the 1940s) became informally known as the "[[Old Commonwealth]]", particularly since the 1960s when some of them disagreed with poorer, [[Africa]]n and Asian (or [[New Commonwealth]]) members about various issues at [[Commonwealth Heads of Government]] meetings. Accusations that the old, "White" Commonwealth had different interests from African Commonwealth nations in particular, and charges of [[racism]] and [[colonialism]], arose during heated debates about [[Rhodesia]] in the 1970s, the imposition of [[sanction]]s against [[apartheid]]-era South Africa in the 1980s and, more recently, about whether to press for democratic reforms in [[Nigeria]] and then [[Zimbabwe]]. The term ''New Commonwealth'' is also used in the [[United Kingdom]] (especially in the 1960s and 1970s) to refer to recently [[decolonisation|decolonised]] countries, which are predominantly non-white and underdeveloped. It was often used in debates about [[immigration]] from these countries.

Each constituency elects one [[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] electoral system, and the region as a whole elects four additional or top-up Assembly Members, to create a degree of [[proportional representation]]. The additional member seats are allocated from [[Closed list|closed lists]] by the [[d'Hondt method]], with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.

In recent years, the term "[[White Commonwealth]]" has been used in a derogatory sense to imply that the wealthier, white nations of the Commonwealth had different interests and goals from the non-white, and particularly the African members. Zimbabwean President [[Robert Mugabe]] has used the term frequently to allege that the Commonwealth's attempts to catalyse political changes in his country is motivated by racism and colonialist attitudes and that the White Commonwealth dominates the Commonwealth of Nations as a whole.

The region covers much of the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[Mid Glamorgan]] and much of the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]]. The rest of Mid Glamorgan is partly within the [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]] electoral region and partly within the [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales West]]. The rest of South Glamorgan is within the South Wales West electoral region.

==Membership==

[[Image:Commonwealth of Nations.png|thumb|400px|World map of the Commonwealth of Nations as of 2005. Current member states are coloured blue.]]

== Constituencies ==

The Commonwealth encompasses a population of approximately 1.8 billion people in 53 countries, making up about 30% of the world's population. [[India]] is the most populous member, with a billion people at the 2001 census, while [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], and [[Nigeria]] each contain more than 100 million people; [[Tuvalu]] is the smallest member, with only 11,000 people. The land area of the Commonwealth nations equals about a quarter of the world's land area, with [[Australia]], [[Canada]] (the world's second-largest nation by area), and [[India]] each having more than 3.2 million [[square kilometre]]s (1.2 million [[square mile]]s).

The nine constituencies have the names and boundaries of constituencies of the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]]):

Membership is open to countries that accept the association's basic aims and have a present or past constitutional link to a Commonwealth member. Not all members have had direct constitutional ties to the UK: some South Pacific countries were formerly under Australian or New Zealand administration, while [[Namibia]] was governed by South Africa from 1920 until independence in 1990. [[Cameroon]] joined in 1995 although only a fraction of its territory had formerly been under British administration through the [[League of Nations mandate]] of 1920–46 and [[United Nations]] Trusteeship arrangement of 1946–61. There is only one member of the present Commonwealth which has never had any constitutional link to the British Empire or a Commonwealth member. [[Mozambique]], a former [[Portugal|Portuguese]] [[colony]], was admitted in [[1995]] on the back of the triumphal re-admission of [[South Africa]] and Mozambique's first democratic elections, held in [[1994]]. The move was supported by Mozambique's neighbours, all of whom were members of the Commonwealth and who wished to offer assistance in overcoming the losses incurred from the country's opposition to white minority regimes in [[Rhodesia]] (now [[Zimbabwe]]) and South Africa. In 1997, amid some discontent, Commonwealth Heads of Government agreed that Mozambique's admission should be seen as a special case and not set a precedent.

{| class="wikitable"

==Non-members==

|-

! Constituency

! Preserved counties

|-

| [[Cardiff Central (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cardiff Central]]

| Entirely within [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Cardiff North (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cardiff North]]

| Entirely within [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Cardiff South and Penarth (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]]

| Entirely within [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Cardiff West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cardiff West]]

| Entirely within [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Cynon Valley (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cynon Valley]]

| Entirely within [[Mid Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Pontypridd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Pontypridd]]

| Partly [[Mid Glamorgan]], partly [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Rhondda (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Rhondda]]

| Entirely within [[Mid Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Vale of Glamorgan (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Vale of Glamorgan]]

| Partly [[Mid Glamorgan]], partly [[South Glamorgan]]

|}

===Non-applicants From 2007 ===

[[Tongue in cheek]], [[Charles de Gaulle]] twice suggested that [[France]], although it was never a member of the British Empire (even if for centuries English/British monarchs claimed the title '[[English claims to the French throne|King of France]]'), should apply for Commonwealth membership. This idea was never realised, but might be seen as a follow-up to a proposal made by Churchill to join the British and legitimate French governments during [[World War II]], in opposition to the puppet regime of [[Vichy France]].

[[David Ben-Gurion]] suggested that [[Israel]] join the Commonwealth, but this proposal was opposed by most Israelis for suggesting dependence upon the UK, and by the organisation as suggesting a firmer support for Israel than it actually offered.

----

[[Egypt]] and [[Iraq]] have never shown an interest in joining the Commonwealth, although they are eligible to do so, having histories of British rule. [[Bahrain]], [[Kuwait]], [[Jordan]], and [[Oman]] similarly are not members.

----

* [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)]]

In [[North America]], the original [[Thirteen colonies|13 British colonies]] (four of which were since subdivided) which successfully fought the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|United Kingdom]] for their independence in the [[American Revolutionary War]] possess the requisite history of British rule; but, as they are now member-states of the [[United States of America]], this political allegiance mitigates serious consideration of applying for Commonwealth membership. Nevertheless, the UK and USA maintain close cultural and political ties apart from the Commonwealth.

'''South Wales West''' is an electoral region of the [[National Assembly for Wales]], consisting of seven [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituencies]]. The electoral region was first used in the [[Welsh Assembly election, 1999|1999 Welsh Assembly election]], when the Assembly for Wales was created.

[[Hong Kong]] could not join the Commonwealth following the end of British rule in 1997, as it became a [[special administrative region (People's Republic of China)|special administrative region]] of the [[People's Republic of China]].

Each constituency elects one [[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] electoral system, and the region as a whole elects four additional or top-up Assembly Members, to create a degree of [[proportional representation]]. The additional member seats are allocated from [[Closed list|closed lists]] by the [[d'Hondt method]], with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.

===Current and possible future applicants===

[[Palestine]] and [[Yemen]] have applied to join the Commonwealth, and when a Civil Administration takes power in [[Myanmar]] (Burma) it might also apply.

As created in 1999, the region covers the whole of the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[West Glamorgan]], part of the preserved county of [[Mid Glamorgan]] and part of the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]].

It has also been suggested that [[Israel]], [[Jordan]] and [[Algeria]] might consider joining.

Other parts of Mid Glamorgan are within the [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]] and [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]] electoral regions, and other parts of South Glamorgan are within the South Wales Central region.

For the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007|2007 Welsh Assembly election]], however, boundaries will change, and the region will cover all of the preserved county of West Glamorgan and part of the preserved county of Mid Glamorgan. Other parts of Mid Glamorgan will be within the South Wales Central region and the South Wales West region.

The constituencies have the names and boundaries of constituencies of the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]]). For Westmister election purposes, however, there are no electoral regions, and constituency boundary changes will become effective for the [[54th United Kingdom general election|next United Kingdom general election]].

Should [[Somaliland]] and [[Southern Sudan]] gain independence or international recognition it is likely they will want to join the Commonwealth too.

== Constituencies ==

Two nations with no historical links to the [[British Empire]]--[[Rwanda]] and [[Cambodia]]--have also applied to join, but their accession seems unlikely.

===Suspension 1999 to 2007 ===

In recent years the Commonwealth has suspended several members "from the Councils of the Commonwealth" for failure to uphold democratic government. Suspended members are not represented at meetings of Commonwealth leaders and ministers, although they remain members of the organisation.

{| class="wikitable"

[[Fiji]], which had ceased to be a member of the Commonwealth 1987–1997 as a result of a republican ''coup d'etat'', was suspended 2000–2001, after a military coup, as was [[Pakistan]] from 1999 until 2004.

|-

! Constituency

! Preserved counties

|-

| [[Aberavon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Aberavon]]

| Entirely within [[West Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Bridgend (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Bridgend]]

| Partly [[Mid Glamorgan]], partly [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Gower (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Gower]]

|rowspan=2| Entirely within [[West Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Neath (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Neath]]

|-

| [[Ogmore (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ogmore]]

| Partly [[Mid Glamorgan]], partly [[South Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Swansea East (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Swansea East]]

|rowspan=2| Entirely within [[West Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Swansea West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Swansea West]]

|}

=== From 2007 ===

[[Nigeria]] was suspended between 1995 and 1999.

{| class="wikitable"

[[Zimbabwe]] was suspended in 2002 over concerns with the electoral and land reform policies of [[Robert Mugabe]]'s [[Zanu-PF]] government, before withdrawing from the organisation in 2003.

|-

! Constituency

! Preserved counties

|-

| [[Aberavon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Aberavon]]

| Entirely within [[West Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Bridgend (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Bridgend]]

| Entirely within [[Mid Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Gower (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Gower]]

|rowspan=2| Entirely within [[West Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Neath (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Neath]]

|-

| [[Ogmore (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ogmore]]

| Entirely within [[Mid Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Swansea East (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Swansea East]]

|rowspan=2| Entirely within [[West Glamorgan]]

|-

| [[Swansea West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Swansea West]]

|}

= Re [[South Glamorgan constituencies]] =

===Withdrawal===

As membership is purely voluntary, member governments can choose at any time to leave the Commonwealth. Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 in protest at Commonwealth recognition of breakaway [[Bangladesh]], but rejoined in 1989. [[Zimbabwe]] left the Commonwealth in [[2003]] when Commonwealth Heads of Government refused to lift the country's suspension on human rights and governance grounds.

= Re [[Mid Glamorgan constituencies]] =

===Other termination===

Although Heads of Government have the power to suspend member states from active participation, the Commonwealth has no provision for the expulsion of members. However, [[Commonwealth Realm]]s which become [[republic]]s automatically cease to be members, unless (like [[India]] in [[1950]]) they obtain the permission of other members to remain in the organisation as a republic.

== Westminster boundaries ==

The [[Republic of Ireland]] did not apply for re-admittance after becoming a republic in [[1949]], as the Commonwealth then did not allow republican membership. But the leader of its Opposition at the time, [[Eamon de Valera]], believed that this was a mistake, and he and his successor as [[Taoiseach]], [[Sean Lemass]], both considered re-applying. [[Éamon Ó Cuív]], a minister in the present Irish Government (and himself de Valera's grandson), raised the issue of the Republic's possible reapplication a number of times in the [[1990]]s. But the issue arouses both hostility and indifference in [[Ireland]], where many people still associate the Commonwealth with British [[imperialism]], even though the majority of member states are now republics. The Republic of Ireland was the first nation ever to leave the Commonwealth and not rejoin.

=== Current boundaries ===

[[South Africa]] was prevented from continuing as a member after it became a republic in [[1961]], due to hostility from many members, particularly those in Africa and Asia as well as Canada, to its policy of [[apartheid]]. The South African government withdrew its application to remain in the organisation as a republic when it became clear at the 1961 Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference that any such application would be rejected. South Africa was re-admitted to the Commonwealth in [[1994]], following the end of apartheid in [[1990]].

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

The declaration of a republic in the [[Fiji]] Islands in 1987, after [[Fiji coups of 1987|military coups]] designed to deny [[Indo-Fijians]] political power in Fiji, was not accompanied by application to remain. Commonwealth membership was held to have lapsed until [[1997]], after [[racism|racist]] provisions in the republican constitution were repealed and reapplication for membership made.

|-

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Boundaries !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Notes

|-

| 1. [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgend CC (Westminster)]] (part) ||rowspan=7| [[Image:MidGlamorganParliamentaryConstituenciesNumbered.png|left|Parliamentary constituencies in Mid Glamorgan]] ||rowspan=7| Bridgend, Ogmore and Pontypridd are also partly [[South Glamorgan constituencies]] <br> (three of seven constituencies covering the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]]) <br> The area of Ogmore within South Glamorgan is too small to show on the map<br>

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney is also partly a [[Gwent constituencies|Gwent constituency]] <br> (one of eight constituencies covering the preserved county of [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]])

|-

| 2. [[Cynon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Cynon Valley CC (Westminster)]]

|-

| 3. [[Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (UK Parliament constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney CC (Westminster)]] (part)

|-

| 4. [[Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)|Ogmore CC (Westminster)]] (most)

|-

| 5. [[Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency)|Pontypridd CC (Westminster)]] (part)

|-

| 6. [[Rhondda (UK Parliament constituency)|Rhondda CC (Westminster)]]

|-

| 7. [[Vale of Glamorgan (UK Parliament constituency)|Vale of Glamorgan CC (Westminster)]] (part)

|}

=== New boundaries ===

[[Hong Kong]] ceased to be a member after the [[1997]] handover of British rule to [[China]].

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

==Organisation and objectives==

{| align=right

| [[Image:Ac.thequeen.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]], Head of the Commonwealth.]]

|-

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Boundaries !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Notes

| [[Image:Don McKinnon.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Don McKinnon]], Commonwealth Secretary-General]]

|-

| 1. [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgend CC (Westminster)]] ||rowspan=6| [[Image:MidGlamorganParliamentaryConstituenciesProposed.png|left|Proposed Revision]] ||rowspan=6| Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney will be also partly a [[Gwent constituencies|Gwent constituency]] <br> (one of eight constituencies covering the preserved county of [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]])

|-

| 2. [[Cynon Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Cynon Valley CC(Westminster)]]

|-

| 3. [[Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (UK Parliament constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney CC(Westminster)]] (part)

|-

| 4. [[Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)|Ogmore CC(Westminster)]]

|-

| 5. [[Pontypridd (UK Parliament constituency)|Pontypridd CC (Westminster)]]

|-

| 6. [[Rhondda (UK Parliament constituency)|Rhondda CC (Westminster)]]

|}

[[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] is the nominal [[Head of the Commonwealth]]. Some members of the Commonwealth, known as [[Commonwealth Realm]]s, also recognise the Queen as their [[head of state]]. However, the majority of members are [[republic]]s, and a handful of others are indigenous monarchies. The Queen's position as Head of the Commonwealth is not hereditary, and when and if the present [[Prince Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince of Wales]] becomes King, it will be for Commonwealth Heads of Government to decide whether he assumes the role of Head of the Commonwealth.

== Assembly boundaries ==

Since 1965 there has been a London-based [[Commonwealth Secretariat|Secretariat]]. The current (2005) [[Commonwealth Secretary-General]] is [[Don McKinnon]], a former Foreign Minister of [[New Zealand]]. The organisation is celebrated each year on [[Commonwealth Day]], the second Monday in March.

=== 1999 to 2007 ===

The Commonwealth has long been distinctive as an international forum where highly developed economies (the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Australia]], [[Canada]], [[New Zealand]]) and many of the world's poorer countries seek to reach agreement by [[consensus]]. This aim has sometimes been difficult to achieve, as when disagreements over [[Rhodesia]] in the 1970s and over [[apartheid]] in South Africa in the 1980s led to a cooling of relations between the UK and African members.

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

The main decision-making forum of the organisation is the biennial [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] (CHOGM), where Commonwealth presidents or prime ministers assemble for several days to discuss matters of mutual interest. CHOGM is the successor to the Prime Ministers' Conferences and earlier Imperial Conferences and Colonial Conferences dating back to 1887. There are also regular meetings of finance ministers, law ministers, health ministers, etc.

|-

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Region !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency boundaries !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Notes

|-

| 1. [[Bridgend (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Bridgend CC (Assembly)]] (part) || [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South West West]] ||rowspan=7| [[Image:MidGlamorganParliamentaryConstituenciesNumbered.png|left|Parliamentary constituencies in Mid Glamorgan]] ||rowspan=7| Bridgend, Ogmore and Pontypridd are also partly [[South Glamorgan constituencies]] <br> (three of seven constituencies covering the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]] <br> The area of Ogmore within South Glamorgan is too small to show on the map <br> Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney is also partly a [[Gwent constituencies|Gwent constituency]] <br> (one of eight constituencies covering the preserved county of [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]]) <br>

The South Wales West region includes five other constituencies, <br> all entirely [[West Glamorgan constituencies]] <br>

The South Wales Central region also includes five other constituencies, <br> all entirely South Glamorgan constituencies <br>

The South Wales East region includes seven other constituencies, <br> all entirely Gwent constituencies

|-

| 2. [[Cynon Valley (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cynon Valley CC (Assembly)]] || [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]]

|-

| 3. [[Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney CC (Assembly)]] (part) || [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]]

|-

| 4. [[Ogmore (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ogmore CC (Assembly)]] (most) || [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South West West]]

|-

| 5. [[Pontypridd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Pontypridd CC (Assembly)]] (part) ||rowspan=3| [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]]

|-

| 6. [[Rhondda (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Rhondda CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 7. [[Vale of Glamorgan (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Vale of Glamorgan CC (Assembly)]] (part)

|}

=== From 2007 ===

The most important statement of the Commonwealth's principles is the 1991 [[Harare Declaration]], which dedicated the organisation to democracy and good government, and allowed for action to be taken against members who breached these principles. Before then the Commonwealth's collective actions had been limited by the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other members.

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

Every four years the Commonwealth's members celebrate the [[Commonwealth Games]], a multi-sport event similar to the [[Olympic Games]].

|-

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Region !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency boundaries

|-

| 1. [[Bridgend (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Bridgend CC (Assembly)]] || [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South West West]] ||rowspan=6| [[Image:MidGlamorganParliamentaryConstituenciesProposed.png|left|Proposed Revision]]

|-

| 2. [[Cynon Valley (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Cynon Valley CC (Assembly)]] || [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]]

|-

| 3. [[Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney CC (Assembly)]] (part) || [[South Wales East (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales East]]

|-

| 4. [[Ogmore (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ogmore CC (Assembly)]] || [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South West West]]

|-

| 5. [[Pontypridd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Pontypridd CC (Assembly)]] ||rowspan=3| [[South Wales Central (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales Central]]

|-

| 6. [[Rhondda (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Rhondda CC (Assembly)]]

|}

Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney will be, also, partly a [[Gwent constituencies|Gwent constituency]], and one of eight constituencies covering the preserved county of [[Gwent (county)|Gwent]].

==Benefits of membership and contemporary concerns==

The Commonwealth has often been likened to an English [[club|gentlemen's club]], and the issue of who is and who is not a member often seems to be more important, and certainly attracts much more attention, than what the organisation actually does. This is because the main benefit of membership is the opportunity for close and relatively frequent interaction, on an informal and equal basis, between members who share many ties of language, culture, and history.

The South Wales West region will include five other constituencies, all entirely [[West Glamorgan constituencies]].<br>

In its early days, the Commonwealth also constituted a significant economic bloc. Commonwealth countries accorded each others' goods privileged access to their markets ("Commonwealth Preference"), and there was a free or preferred right of migration from one Commonwealth country to another. These rights have been steadily eroded, but their consequences remain. Within most Commonwealth countries, there are substantial communities with family ties to other members of the Commonwealth, going beyond the effects of the original colonization of parts of the Commonwealth by settlers from the British Isles. Furthermore, consumers in Commonwealth countries retain many preferences for goods from other members of the Commonwealth, so that even in the absence of tariff privileges, there continues to be more trade within the Commonwealth than might be predicted. On the UK's entry to the [[European Union]], the [[Lomé Convention]] preserved some of the preferential access rights of Commonwealth goods to the UK market.

The South Wales Central region will include six other constituencies, all entirely [[South Glamorgan constituencies]].<br>

The South Wales East region will include seven other constituencies, all entirely [[Gwent constituencies]].

= Re [[West Glamorgan constituencies]] =

But in recent decades there has been a mutual decline of interest in maintaining active inter-Commonwealth relations, and the organisation's direct political and economic importance has declined. [[Realist]] critics have argued that in the 21st Century the organisation is an inherently arbitrary alliance with members that are united only through a historical accident of British colonialism. They argue that the organisation lacks a balanced membership, and point out that it is very unusual for any [[international organisation]] to exclude highly important regions of the world such as most of [[Western Europe]] and [[South America]] from membership. Indeed, many Commonwealth members look increasingly to regional partners, non-Commonwealth as well as Commonwealth, to form their most important alliances.

There are five '''constitencies''' covering '''West Glamorgan''', three [[County constituency|county constituencies (CCs)]] and two [[Borough constituency|borough constituencies]] of the [[House of Commons (UK)|House of Commons]] of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] ([[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]]). The constituencies are used also, since the [[Welsh Assembly election, 1999|1999 Welsh Assembly election]], for elections to the [[National Assembly for Wales]].

The UK has forged closer relationships with other European countries through the European Union; this was widely felt as a betrayal by citizens of the "Old Commonwealth" whose economies had been developed on the assumption of access to British markets. Similarly, former British colonies have forged closer relationships with non-Commonwealth trading partners and closer geographic neighbours. Reaction to immigration from the new Commonwealth countries into the UK in the 1950s and early 1960s led to the restriction of the right of migration. The Commonwealth today mainly restricts itself to encouraging community between nations and to placing moral pressure on members who violate international laws, such as [[human rights]] laws, and abandon [[democracy|democratically-elected]] government. Key activities today include training experts in developing countries and assisting with and monitoring elections.

[[West Glamorgan]] is one of the eight [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved counties]] of [[Wales]].

Some Commonwealth countries give Commonwealth citizens privileges that are not accorded to aliens. For example, in the UK the right to vote is given to all Commonwealth citizens resident in that country. This is reciprocated mainly in the Commonwealth [[Caribbean]], even to the point that in some countries (including the UK) resident Commonwealth citizens may even be elected or appointed to the national legislature. But these privileges are largely not reciprocal, and it is up to each country to decide what privileges it accords to Commonwealth citizenship, except for the [[Commonwealth Scholarship]]. Other privileges that the UK grants Commonwealth citizens include access to immigration programmes such as the [[working holidaymaker visa]]. Some privileges offered by individual countries have eroded over the last few decades, but most countries continue to afford special treatment for immigration (e.g. [[History of British nationality law#British_Nationality_Act_1981|right of abode in UK]] for some) and visas.

[[Boundary Commission for Wales]] proposals for new boundaries have been accepted,<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20061041.htm ''The Parliamentary Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions (Wales) Order 2006'', OPSI website]</ref> to become effective for the [[54th United Kingdom general election|next United Kingdom general election]] and the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007]].

==Cultural links==

Within West Glamorgan, however, there will be only a very minor change to the boundary between two constituencies, Gower and Neath.

The Commonwealth is also useful as an [[international organisation]] that represents significant cultural and historical links between wealthy first-world countries and poorer nations with diverse social and religious backgrounds. The common inheritance of the [[English language]] and literature, the common law, and British systems of administration all underpin the club-like atmosphere of the Commonwealth.

For Welsh Assembly elections, constituencies are grouped into [[Additional member system|additional member]] [[National Assembly for Wales constituencies and regions|electoral regions]], and changes to constituency boundaries will affect, also, regional boundaries.

Mostly due to their history of British rule, many Commonwealth nations share certain identifiable traditions and customs that are elements of a shared Commonwealth culture. Examples include common sports such as [[cricket]] and [[rugby football|rugby]], [[driving on the left]], parliamentary and legal traditions, and the use of British rather than American spelling conventions (see [[Commonwealth English]]). None of these is universal within the Commonwealth countries, nor exclusive to them, but all of them are more common in the Commonwealth than elsewhere.

All five South Glamorgan constituencies are within the South Wales West region, and will remain so when new boundaries become effective.

== Westminster boundaries ==

Commonwealth countries share many links outside government, with over a hundred Commonwealth-wide [[non-governmental organisation]]s, notably for sport, culture, education and charity. A multi-sports championship called the [[Commonwealth Games]] is held every four years, in the same year as the [[Winter Olympic Games]]. As well as the usual athletic disciplines, the games include sports popular in the Commonwealth such as [[bowls]]. The [[Association of Commonwealth Universities]] is an important vehicle for academic links, particularly through scholarships, principally the [[Commonwealth Scholarship]], for students to study in [[university|universities]] in other Commonwealth countries. There are also many non-official associations that bring together individuals who work within the spheres of law and government, such as the [[Commonwealth Lawyers Association]] and the [[Commonwealth Parliamentary Association]].

In recent years the Commonwealth model has inspired similar initiatives on the part of [[France]], [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]] and their respective ex-colonies, and in the former case, other sympathetic governments: the ''organisation internationale de [[la Francophonie]]'' , the "Comunidad Iberoamericana de Naciones" ([[Organization of Ibero-American States]]) and the ''[[Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa]]'' (Community of Portuguese-speaking countries).

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

===Literature===

|-

The shared history of British rule has also produced a substantial body of writing in many languages - Commonwealth literature. There is an Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies ([http://www.aclals.org ACLALS]) with nine chapters worldwide. ACLALS holds an international conference every three years. The [http://aclals.org/events/2k4/participants.htm 13th Triennial] was held in Hyderabad, India, in August 2004; the next will be held in 2007 in Calgary, Canada.

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Boundaries

|-

| 1. [[Aberavon (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberavon CC (Westminster)]] ||rowspan=5| [[Image:WestGlamorganParliamentaryConstituenciesNumbered.png|left|Parliamentary constituencies in West Glamorgan]]

|-

| 2. [[Gower (UK Parliament constituency)|Gower CC (Westminster)]]

|-

| 3. [[Neath (UK Parliament constituency)|Neath CC]]

|-

| 4. [[Swansea East (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea East BC (Westminster)]]

|-

| 5. [[Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea West BC (Westminster)]]

|}

The change to the boundary between Gower and Neath is too small to represent on a map at this scale.

In 1987, the Commonwealth Foundation established the [http://www.commonwealthwriters.com/ Commonwealth Writers Prize] "to encourage and reward the upsurge of new Commonwealth fiction and ensure that works of merit reach a wider audience outside their country of origin." [[Caryl Phillips]] won the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2004 for ''[[A Distant Shore]]''. [[Mark Haddon]] won the Commonwealth Writers Prize 2004 Best First Book prize worth £3,000 for ''[[The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time]]''.

== Assembly boundaries ==

Although not affiliated with the Commonwealth in an official manner, the prestigious [[Booker Prize]] is awarded annually to an author from a Commonwealth country or the [[Republic of Ireland]]. This honour is one of the highest in literature.

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

==Commonwealth Business Council==

|-

The [[Commonwealth Business Council]] (CBC) was formed at the Edinburgh [[CHOGM]] in 1997. The aim was to utilise the global network of the Commonwealth more effectively for the promotion of global trade and investment for shared prosperity.

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Region !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency boundaries

|-

| 1. [[Aberavon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Aberavon CC (Assembly)]] ||rowspan=5| [[South Wales West (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|South Wales West]] ||rowspan=5| [[Image:WestGlamorganParliamentaryConstituenciesNumbered.png|left|Parliamentary constituencies in West Glamorgan]]

|-

| 2. [[Gower (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Gower CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 3. [[Neath (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Neath CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 4. [[Swansea East (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Swansea East BC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 5. [[Swansea West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Swansea West BC (Assembly)]]

|}

The change to the boundary between Gower and Neath is too small to represent on a map at this scale.

The CBC acts as a bridge for cooperation between business and government, concentrating efforts on these specific areas:

The South Wales West region includes two other constituencies. Until the 2007 Welsh Assembly election, both of these are partly [[Mid Glamorgan constituencies]] and partly [[South Glamorgan constituencies]]. (One of these, however, is almost entirely within the preserved county of [[Mid Glamorgan]], with only a very small area in the preserved county of [[South Glamorgan]].) At the election, both will become entirely Mid Glamorgan constituencies.

* Enhancing Trade

* Mobilising Investment

* Promoting [[Corporate Citizenship]]

* Facilitating [[ICT for Development]]

* [[Public Private Partnerships]]

= Re [[Dyfed constituencies]] =

Commonwealth countries are major stakeholders in the process and success of the [[Doha Development Agenda]]. Together the 53 member countries account for 30% of the world’s population, 25% of international trade and investment, and 40% of WTO membership.

== Assembly boundaries ==

CBC’s trade development objectives include encouraging trade facilitation and further liberalisation of services; encouraging developing countries to play an active role in the [[WTO]], and in new trade rounds, by maximising their negotiating strength through cooperative action.

=== 1999 to 2007 ===

The CBC helps to mobilise investment into Commonwealth countries through measures including ensuring access to international capital markets; strengthening 26 domestic capital markets; encouraging regional integration; committing the private sector to work together with governments to help achieve a successful market economy for generating investment.

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

|-

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Assembly region !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency boundaries

|-

| 1. [[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr CC (Assembly)]] ||rowspan=5| [[Mid and West Wales (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]] || rowspan=5| [[Image:DyfedParliamentaryConstituenciesNumbered.png|left|Parliamentary constituencies in Dyfed]]

|-

| 2. [[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 3. [[Ceredigion (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ceredigion CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 4. [[Llanelli (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Llanelli CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 5. [[Preseli Pembrokeshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire CC (Assembly)]]

|}

The Mid and West Wales region includes, also, two [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in Powys|Powys constituencies]] and one [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in Gwynedd|Gwynedd constituency]].

=== From 2007 ===

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"

|-

! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Assembly region !! bgcolor="#ff9999"| Constituency boundaries

|-

| 1. [[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr CC (Assembly)]] ||rowspan=5| [[Mid and West Wales (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|Mid and West Wales]] || rowspan=5| [[Image:DyfedParliamentaryConstituenciesProposed.png|left|Proposed Revision]]

|-

| 2. [[Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 3. [[Ceredigion (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ceredigion CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 4. [[Llanelli (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Llanelli CC (Assembly)]]

|-

| 5. [[Preseli Pembrokeshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Preseli Pembrokeshire CC (Assembly)]]

|}

The Mid and West Wales region will include, also, two [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in Powys|Powys constituencies]] and one [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in Gwynedd|Gwynedd constituency]].

== Notes and references ==

<references/>

= North Wales boundary changes =

'''Conwy''' is a [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]] of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. It elects one [[Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] method of election. Also, however, it is one of nine constituencies in the [[North Wales (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|North Wales]] [[National Assembly for Wales constituencies and electoral regions|electoral region]], which elects four [[additional member system|additional members]], in addition to nine constituency members, to produce a degree of [[proportional representation]] for the region as a whole.

== Boundaries ==

The constituency was created for the [[Welsh Assembly election, 1999|first election to the Assembly]], in 1999, with the name and boundaries of the [[Conwy (UK Parliament constituency)|Conwy Westminster constituency]]. It is partly within the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[Clwyd]] and partly within the preserved county of [[Gwynedd]].

The other eight constituencies of the region are [[Alyn and Deeside (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Alyn and Deeside]], [[Caernarfon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Caernarfon]], [[Clwyd South (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd South]], [[Clwyd West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd West]], [[Delyn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Delyn]], [[Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Meirionnydd Nant Conwy]], [[Vale of Clwyd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Vale of Clwyd]], [[Wrexham (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Wrexham]] and [[Ynys Môn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ynys Môn]].

The Conwy constituency will be replaced for the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007|2007 Assembly election]]. Its area will be partly within the [[Arfon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Arfon]] constituency, and partly within the [[Aberconwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Aberconwy]] constituency. Arfon will be entirely within the preserved county of Clwyd and Aberconwy will be entirely within the preserved county of Gwynedd. Both of these constituencies will be in the North Wales electoral region. For Westminster purposes, the new constituency boundaries will be come effective for the [[54th United Kingdom general election|next United Kingdom general election]].

----

----

'''Clwyd South''' is a [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]] of the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. It elects one [[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] method of election. Also, however, it is one of nine constituencies in the [[North Wales (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|North Wales]] [[National Assembly for Wales constituencies and electoral regions|electoral region]], which elects four [[additional member system|additional members]], in addition to nine constituency members, to produce a degree of [[proportional representation]] for the region as a whole.

== Boundaries ==

The constituency was created for the [[Welsh Assembly election, 1999|first election to the Assembly]], in 1999, with the name and boundaries of the [[Clwyd South (UK Parliament constituency)|Clwyd South Westminster constituency]]. It is mostly within the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[Clwyd]] and partly within the preserved county of [[Powys]]. For the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007|2007 Assembly election]], it will become a constituency entirely within Clwyd. Part of its area will be transferred to the [[Montgomeryshire (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Montgomeryshire]] constituency, in Powys. Also, part of its area will be transferred to another Clwyd constituency, [[Clwyd West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd West]]. For Westminster purposes, the same boundary changes will become effective at the [[54th United Kingdom general election|next United Kingdom general election]].

As created in 1999, the North Wales region includes the constituencies of [[Alyn and Deeside (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Alyn and Deeside]], [[Caernarfon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Caernarfon]], [[Clwyd West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd West]], Clwyd South, [[Conwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Conwy]], [[Delyn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Delyn]], [[Vale of Clwyd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Vale of Clwyd]], [[Wrexham (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Wrexham]] and [[Ynys Môn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ynys Môn]]. For the 2007 election the region will include [[Aberconwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Aberconwy]], [[Alyn and Deeside (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Alyn and Deeside]], [[Arfon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Arfon]], Clwyd South, [[Clwyd West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd West]], [[Delyn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Delyn]], [[Vale of Clwyd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Vale of Clwyd]], [[Wrexham (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Wrexham]] and [[Ynys Môn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ynys Môn]].

= Re [[Arfon (National Assembly for Wales constituency)]] =

* [[North Wales (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)]]

{| class="toccolours" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 300px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; float: right;"

|+ style="margin-left: inherit; font-size: large;" |'''Arfon'''

|-

!colspan="2" bgcolor="#efefef"|[[Welsh Assembly]] [[county constituency]]

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|To be created:|| 2007

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|[[Electoral region (Welsh Assembly)|Electoral region]]:|| [[North Wales (National Assembly for Wales electoral region)|North Wales]]

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|[[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|AM]]:||

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|[[List of political parties in the United Kingdom|Party]]:||

|- style="vertical-align: top;"

|[[Preserved counties of Wales|Preserved county]]:|| [[Gwynedd]]

|}

'''Arfon''' will be a [[United Kingdom constituencies|constituency]] of the [[National Assembly for Wales]], created for the [[Welsh Assembly election, 2007|2007 Assembly election]]. It will elect one [[Assembly Member (Welsh Assembly)|Assembly Member]] by the [[first past the post]] method of election. Also, however, it wil be one of nine constituencies in the [[North Wales (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|North Wales]] [[National Assembly for Wales constituencies and electoral regions|electoral region]], which elects four [[additional member system|additional members]], in addition to nine constituency members, to produce a degree of [[proportional representation]] for the region as a whole.

== Boundaries ==

The constituency will have the boundaries of the [[Arfon (UK Parliament constituency)|Arfon Westminster constituency]], which will come into use for the [[54th United Kingdom general election|next United Kingdom general election]]. It will be a constituency entirely within the [[Preserved counties of Wales|preserved county]] of [[Gwynedd]].

The North Wales region was created for the [[Welsh Assembly election, 1999|first Assembly election]], in 1999. For the 2007 election, however, it will have new boundaries. It will include the constituencies of [[Aberconwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Aberconwy]], [[Alyn and Deeside (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Alyn and Deeside]], Arfon, [[Clwyd South (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd South]], [[Clwyd West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Clwyd West]], [[Delyn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Delyn]], [[Vale of Clwyd (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Vale of Clwyd]], [[Wrexham (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Wrexham]] and [[Ynys Môn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ynys Môn]].

==Voting==

In [[general election]]s for the National Assembly for Wales, each voter has two votes. The first vote may be used to vote for a candidate to become the Assembly Member for the voter's constituency, elected by the first past the post system. The second vote may be used to vote for a regional [[closed list|closed party list]] of candidates. Additional member seats are allocated from the lists by the [[d'Hondt method]], with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.

<nowiki>[[Category:National Assembly for Wales|National Assembly for Wales]]

[[Category:Politics of Wales]]

[[Category:Elections in Wales]]</nowiki>

= Re [[Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Scottish Parliament constituency)]] =

{|Class=wikitable

|-

! Period

! Member of Parliament

! Party

|-

| [[Scottish Parliament election, 1999|1999]] to 2001

| [[Sam Galbraith]]

| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|-

| [[Strathkelvin and Bearsden by-election, 2001|2001]] to 2003

| [[Brian Fitzpatrick (Scottish politician)|Brian Fitzpatrick]]

| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|-

| [[Scottish Parliament election, 2003|3003]] to present

| [[Jean Turner]]

| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]

|}

= Re [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)]] =

A key feature of CBC is its global membership, comprising corporate members from both [[developed countries|developed]] and [[developing countries]]. This gives CBC the capacity to make a special contribution to the debate on corporate citizenship, dominated by developed countries.

= Re [[Politics of Edinburgh]] =

The CBC has been working to involve the [[private sector]] in facilitating the implementation of an Information Communications Technologies for Development programme. The CBC programme enhances collaborative partnerships between the various stakeholders including governments, private sector, donor agencies and [[civil society]]. Major goals include:

*[[Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]] constituency was abolished and split between the original [[Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North and Leith]] and [[Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]] constituencies and an entirely new constituency that was created - [[Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South West]].

* Bridge the [[digital divide]] for social and economic development.

*[[Edinburgh East and Musselburgh (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh East and Musselburgh]] took in parts of the [[Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North and Leith]] seat, with the town of [[Musselburgh]] being transferred into the [[East Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)|East Lothian]] constituency, with the new seat renamed [[Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh East]].

* Promote [[ICT for development]] in Commonwealth countries.

*[[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]] constituency was also divided between the new [[Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South West]] seat and the existing [[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]] seat.

* Promote an experience exchange among stakeholders in Commonwealth countries.

*[[Edinburgh North and Leith (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh North and Leith]] was increased in size by taking in parts of the old [[Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]] constituency.

* Promote business and government cooperation for development.

*[[Edinburgh South (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South]] was expanded in size taking in elements of the old [[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]] seat.

* Create awareness and enhance the knowledge of policy makers about economic, technical and legal aspects of implementation of ICT for development.

*[[Edinburgh South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh South West]] was an entirely new constituency created for the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 UK general election]] taking in elements of the old [[Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]] seat, the original [[Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]] seat and [[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]] seat.

* Provide and facilitate training and [[capacity building]].

*[[Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh West]] was expanded to include some parts of the defunct [[Edinburgh Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Central]] seat.

= Re [[City status in the United Kingdom]] =

CBC believes that there remains a significant gap for independent support to emerging market governments in the structuring and transacting of ICT infrastructure opportunities. The key CBC objectives are:

How does this look?:

* Examine how support from highly experienced individuals can assist through the creation of an infrastructure technical advisory unit.

:City status in the United Kingdom is usually associated with recognition, in the form of [[letters patent]], from the [[monarch]]. Also, at present, such cities are usually [[Local government in the United Kingdom|local government]] areas, as defined under legislation which has been created during and since the late 19th century.

* Provide senior-level government support to provide focused advice.

* Provide mechanisms that will help governments leverage the huge capacity of the private sector to address the demand for better infrastructure.

= Re [[Buchan]] =

The CBC has a dedicated team, [[CBC Technologies]], based in [[London]] and focused on the international technology and global services industry throughout the Commonwealth.

<nowiki>{{otheruses}}</nowiki>

==List of Commonwealth members==

'''Buchan''' is one six [[committee area]]s of [[Aberdeenshire Council]], [[Scotland]]. The committee areas were created by the council in 1996, when the [[Aberdeenshire]] [[Council areas of Scotland|unitary council area]] was created under the [[Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994]]. The council area was formed by merging three districts of the [[Grampian]] [[Regions and districts of Scotland|region]], [[Banff and Buchan]], [[Gordon, Scotland|Gordon]] and [[Kincardine and Deeside]].

* [[List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations by continent]]

* [[List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations by date joined]]

* [[List of members of the Commonwealth of Nations by name]]

There is also a town of Buchan and an [[Earl of Buchan|Earldom of Buchan]].

==See also==

*[[Federal Commonwealth Society]]

*[[Anglosphere]]

*[[British Empire]]

*[[British Empire and Commonwealth Museum]]

*[[British overseas territory|British Overseas Territory]]

*[[Commonwealth Games]]

*[[Dominion]]

*[[High Commissioner]]

*[[List of Commonwealth visits made by Queen Elizabeth II]]

*[[Commonwealth of Learning]]

The modern administrative area has a population of 39,160 (2001 census) and an area of 547 km^{<small>2</small>}. It contains the towns of [[Peterhead]] & [[Fraserburgh]] and is adjacent to the [[administrative areas]] of [[Banff and Buchan]] and [[Formartine]]. [[RAF Buchan]], a radar station, is in the area.

'''Other organizations:'''

*[[Commonwealth of Independent States]]

*[[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]]

*[[La Francophonie]]

*[[Organization of Ibero-American States]]

[[Peterhead]] is the largest town in Buchan and Aberdeenshire; the principal white fish landing port in Europe; and a major oil industry service centre. Equally important is the nearby gas terminal at [[St Fergus]].

==References==

*''The Constitutional Structure of the Commonwealth'', by K C Wheare. Clarendon Press, 1960. ISBN 0313236240

Attempts are being made to counter the negative effects of several recent key company closures and economic threats. Inland, the area is dependent upon agriculture, and many villages have seen a decline in population and services. Issues affecting Banff and Buchan also apply here, as does the future of the oil and gas industry. Part of Buchan benefits from EU aid coverage. Opportunities exist through the Buchan Local Action Plan to safeguard and enhance the economic future of Peterhead and Buchan.

==Further reading==

* ''The Commonwealth in the World'', by J D B Miller. Harvard University Press, 1965. ISBN 0674147006

* ''The Commonwealth Experience: From British to Multiracial Commonwealth'', by N Mansergh. University of Toronto Press, 1982. ISBN 0802024920

* ''Making the New Commonwealth'', by R J Moore. Clarendon Press, 1988. ISBN 0198201125

The [[Formartine and Buchan Way]] runs through Buchan.

==External links==

*[http://www.direct.gov.uk/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/InternationalBodies/InternationalBodiesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4003092&chk=JXlogH The Commonwealth] - UK government site

*[http://www.thecommonwealth.org The Commonwealth Secretariat]

*[http://www.commonwealth.org.uk/ The Commonwealth Institute, London]

*[http://www.col.org/ Commonwealth of Learning]

*[http://www.rcsint.org The Royal Commonwealth Society]

*[http://rcs.ca/ The Royal Commonwealth Society (of Canada)]

*[http://empiremuseum.co.uk/ British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Bristol, England]

*[http://www.acu.ac.uk/ Association of Commonwealth Universities]

*[http://sas.ac.uk/commonwealthstudies/index.htm University of London Institute of Commonwealth Studies]

*[http://aclals.org Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies]

*[http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21707 The Commonwealth as a popular club]

*[http://www.globaled.org.nz/schools/pdfs/factsheets/Commonwealth.pdf What is the Commonwealth]

*[http://www.cpahq.org The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association]

*[http://www.chogm2005.mt The Commonwealth Meeting in Malta, 2005]

{{Commonwealth of Nations}}

<nowiki>[[Category:Buchan| ]]

{{featured article}}

{{Aberdeenshire-geo-stub}}

[[Category:Cultural heritage]]

[[Category:Commonwealth of Nations]]

[[Category:Political history of England]]

[[Category:Political history of Australia]]

[[Category:United Kingdom political history]]

[[afno:Britse StatebondBuchan]]

[[ru:Бухан]]</nowiki>

[[an:Mancomunidá Britanica de Nazions]]

[[ast:Mancomunidá Británica de Naciones]]

[[bg:Общност на нациите]]

[[ca:Commonwealth]]

[[cs:Commonwealth]]

[[cy:Y Gymanwlad]]

[[da:Commonwealth of Nations]]

[[de:Commonwealth of Nations]]

[[et:Rahvaste Ühendus]]

[[es:Mancomunidad Británica de Naciones]]

[[eo:Komunumo de Nacioj]]

[[fr:Commonwealth]]

[[gl:Commonwealth de Nacións]]

[[ko:영국 연방]]

[[id:Negara-Negara Persemakmuran]]

[[is:Breska samveldið]]

[[it:Commonwealth delle nazioni]]

[[he:חבר העמים הבריטי]]

[[sw:Jumuiya ya Madola]]

[[lv:Nāciju sadraudzība]]

[[lt:Tautų Sandrauga]]

[[hu:Nemzetközösség]]

[[ms:Negara-negara Komanwel]]

[[nl:Gemenebest van Naties]]

[[ja:イギリス連邦]]

[[no:Samveldet av nasjoner]]

[[pl:Wspólnota Narodów]]

[[pt:Commonwealth]]

[[ru:Содружество наций]]

[[scn:Commonwealth]]

[[sk:Spoločenstvo národov]]

[[sl:Skupnost narodov]]

[[fi:Kansainyhteisö]]

[[sv:Samväldet]]

[[ta:பொதுநலவாய நாடுகள்]]

[[th:เครือจักรภพ]]

[[vi:Khối Thịnh vượng chung Anh]]

[[tr:İngiliz Milletler Topluluğu]]

[[zh:英联邦]]