Important Notice: Our web hosting provider recently started charging us for additional visits, which was unexpected. In response, we're seeking donations. Depending on the situation, we may explore different monetization options for our Community and Expert Contributors. It's crucial to provide more returns for their expertise and offer more Expert Validated Answers or AI Validated Answers. Learn more about our hosting issue here.
They’re not states, they’re commonwealths. So technically, the US is 46 states and four commonwealths. They have a “government based on the common consent of the people”. Basically, four states (VA, PA, MA, and later KY when it split from VA) wanted to emphasize that they were not ruled by an authoritarian ruler.
