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About the Commonwealth

Text 6

Read the text and answer the following questions:

1. What is the Commonwealth?

2. When and why was the London Declaration accepted?

3. What forms of constitution do the member countries of the Commonwealth have?

4. Who is the Head of the Commonwealth?

5. What role does the Commonwealth play today?

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent states working together in the common interests of their citizens for development, democracy and peace. Almost all of these countries were formerly under British rule.

After the Second World War, many countries sought their independence. Soon after achieving independence, India was the first of a number of countries which decided that, although they wished to become republics, they still wanted to remain within the Commonwealth. This was accepted in the London Declaration agreed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 1949.

Over the next two decades, British rule ended in many parts of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Pacific. The newly independent countries joined the Commonwealth and recognized King George VI and, following his death, Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth. This has led to the development of the contemporary Commonwealth.

Member countries of the Commonwealth have different constitutions: a republic with a president as Head of State (such as India and South Africa), a monarchy (for example, Lesotho, Malaysia, Swaziland and Tonga), a sultanate (Brunei), or a realm recognizing the Queen as Sovereign (for example the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Barbados). Whichever form their constitution takes, member countries all recognize the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth.

26^th of April 2009 marked the 60^th anniversary of the London Declaration, when the modern Commonwealth was born. After 60 years of its existence, the Commonwealth is a remarkable organization which remains a major force for change in the world today.

The Commonwealth continues to play an important social and political role as a major association of countries.

1. a voluntary association – добровольный союз (объединение)

2. in the common interests – в общих интересах

3. formerly – прежде, раньше, когда-то

4. seek (sought, sought) – стремиться, добиваться

5. decade – десятилетие

6. contemporary – современный

7. a realm – королевство

8. whichever – какой бы ни

The largest member of the Commonwealth is Canada, at nearly 10 million square kilometers.

The most populous Commonwealth country is India, with nearly 1.1 billion people.

The smallest member is Nauru, with only 13,000 inhabitants.

The Commonwealth also includes the world's driest and most sparsely populated country: Namibia.

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