Users' questions

Is Massachusetts the only commonwealth?

Is Massachusetts the only commonwealth?

Only four US states have legal names that include the term Commonwealth: Kentucky, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.

What state is Massachusetts known as?

a commonwealth
One of the original 13 colonies and one of the six New England states, Massachusetts (officially called a commonwealth) is known for being the landing place of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. English explorer and colonist John Smith named the state for the Massachuset tribe.

What are the 7 commonwealth states?

Are Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia all that different from the rest? There are four states in the United States that call themselves commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The distinction is in name alone.

Why do they call it the Commonwealth of Massachusetts?

Legally, Massachusetts is a commonwealth because the term is contained in the Constitution. In the era leading to 1780, a popular term for a whole body of people constituting a nation or state (also known as the body politic) was the word “Commonwealth.” This term was the preferred usage of some political writers.

What state is not in the US?

Alaska and Hawaii, the only states that are not part of the mainland United States, were the last states admitted in 1959.

What does CMR stand for in Massachusetts?

Code of Massachusetts Regulations
The Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) is the complete set of Administrative Law (regulations) promulgated by state agencies pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (M.G.L.

What is the biggest industry in Massachusetts?

The leading industries in Massachusetts include biotechnology, maritime trade, engineering, information technology, finance, tourism, as well as higher education.

What is difference between Commonwealth and state?

The distinction is in name alone. The commonwealths are just like any other state in their politics and laws, and there is no difference in their relationship to the nation as a whole. When used to refer to U.S. states, there is no difference between a ‘state’ and a ‘commonwealth’. The distinction is in name alone.

What makes a Commonwealth state?

Nowadays, a commonwealth has come to mean any government in which all people involved have a say, or a loose formation of nations with a shared loyalty. It is also the official designation of a few states including, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and some U.S. territories.

Which is the official name of the state of Massachusetts?

The official name of the state is the “Commonwealth of Massachusetts”. While this designation is part of the state’s official name, it has no practical implications.

Where can I find a guide to Massachusetts law?

The Trial Court law librarians create these guides to Massachusetts legal topics. Here you will find what you need to get started in your legal research on a topic – laws, regulations, cases, and websites.

Which is the only state with the name Commonwealth?

Commonwealth is a designation used by four of the 50 states of the United States in their full official state names: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good.

What are the laws about insurance in Massachusetts?

MGL c.176D Unfair and deceptive acts and practices in insurance 15 USC c.20 Gives states the right to regulate insurance Commerce Insurance v. Szafarowicz, 483 Mass. 247 (2019)

Where can I find the law of Massachusetts?

State agency regulations (sometimes called administrative law) are published in the Massachusetts Register and codified in the Code of Massachusetts Regulations.

What kind of legal system does Massachusetts have?

The legal system of Massachusetts is based on the common law. Like all U.S. states except Louisiana , Massachusetts has a reception statute providing for the “reception” of English law . All statutes, regulations, and ordinances are subject to judicial review .

Is the Massachusetts constitution subordinate to the US Constitution?

The Massachusetts Constitution in turn is subordinate to the Constitution of the United States, which is the supreme law of the land. Pursuant to the state constitution, the Massachusetts General Court has enacted legislation. Its session laws are published in the official Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts.

Which is the best source of Massachusetts law?

The foremost source of state law is the Constitution of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Constitution in turn is subordinate to the Constitution of the United States, which is the supreme law of the land. Pursuant to the state constitution, the Massachusetts General Court has enacted legislation.