SNIP
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>The CNMI is a U.S. posession. We have nothing equivalent to the British Commonwealth of Nations. Calling itself a "commonwealth" implies that it has a status equal to Puerto Rico with is also called that. Since they aren't a state, they don't vote for president, don't have voting representation in congress, and don't pay federal income tax. They do elect a governor (and presumably a legislature) and may have a non-voting delegate in congress who can vote in comittee (like the District of Columbia) or maybe not. Some states such as Virginia call themselves a "commonwealth" sometimes but in that case it doesn't mean anything.
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>I don't remember if any of the more substantial U.S. posessions (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa) call themselves a commonwealth or if they have the same deal. Smaller posessions like Wake Island or Midway Island with little or no permanent population are probably just "territories". The rest of the old U.S. Trust Territory of the Pacific is now all independent, more or less.
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>When this came up before, I answered because J.'s time zone wasn't out of bed yet. I don't remember what we said then, so I again invite her to correct any errors.

Hi Bret,

Interesting. Seems to be a semantical problem with political overtones.
Your original was the difference between a commonwealth and a territory. Seems the real difficulty should be the difference between a "territory" and a "possession" it seems to me.

I can see any state of your union calling itself a "commonwealth" if, historically, it was created by the wilful joining of two or more counties (or other such entities).

Do you know if any/many of the non-original 13 states were called (by the federal government) territories or possessions (or whatever) prior to becoming states? I seem to remember reading of "Oklahoma Territory" in various places. I wonder if it was residents of that area or the Federal Government that named it that (especially the 'territory' part)?

"Possession" has the 'look' of referring to offshore entities. I wonder if any of the continental 48 were ever called "possessions". I could see Louisiana or Alaska being called that since they were bought but have no idea in fact.

Finally, since CNMI is a U.S. possession, how is it governed?...By who? A Governor (appointed or elected, and by who), a "Governor General" as was common for the British model (Canada still has a ceremonial one), a Mayor, a General (of the military variety)? Just curious.

Cheers,

JimN