British Commonwealth

See Also

Commonwealth.

English Legal System: British Commonwealth

In the context of the English law, A Dictionary of Law provides the following legal concept of British Commonwealth : (Commonwealth, British Commonwealth)

n.

A voluntary association consisting of the UK and many of its former colonies or dependencies (e.g. protectorates) that have attained full independence and are recognized by international law as separate countries. The earliest to obtain independence (e.g. Canada and Australia) did so by virtue of the Statute of Westminster 1931, but the majority have been granted it individually by subsequent Independence Acts. Some (such as Canada and Australia) are still technically part of the Crown’s dominions; others (e.g. India) have become republics. All accept the Crown as the symbol of their free association and the head of the Commonwealth.