--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The capacity of the commonwealth…" description: "\"The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg" --- # The capacity of the commonwealth government created under… ![“The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local government in the states of the union in regard to non-federal affairs at the local level.” quote by Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg) > “The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local government in the states of the union in regard to non-federal affairs at the local level.” [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote compares state government power to local government authority, emphasizing limited, decentralized control over non‑federal matters. **In simple terms:** Local government should have limited, local‑level power. Key Takeaway Advocate for balanced, local decision‑making. Themes federalism local governance decentralization Mood analytical formal Type policy legal When to use this quote - municipal planning - state policy - community projects - public administration Key Concepts jurisdiction authority constitutional limits Questions to Reflect On - How can local autonomy coexist with national consistency? - What checks prevent local overreach? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for national standards and coordination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affairs/) [Commonwealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonwealth/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Local government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/local-government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powers/) ## Related quotes > [Obviously any export of uranium to India could only occur within an appropriate international framework to be negotiated by the commonwealth government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-weatherill/obviously-any-export-of-uranium-to-india-could-only-occur-within-an/) [Jay Weatherill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-weatherill/) > [Internal self-government under a local constitution was authorized by Congress and approved by the residents in 1952, but federal law is supreme in Puerto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/internal-self-government-under-a-local-constitution-was-authorized-by/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [However, the sovereignty of the states is constitutionally defined and recognized, while the powers of the local government in Puerto Rico are defined by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/however-the-sovereignty-of-the-states-is-constitutionally-defined-and/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [The seemingly omnipresent storm clouds hanging over the Constitution often make it hard to find a silver lining. Every day, the front page of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barr/the-seemingly-omnipresent-storm-clouds-hanging-over-the-constitution/) [Bob Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barr/) > [ I think very highly of Expo and all is going well. We've seen big problems with \[corruption\] scandals \[at local government level\], but it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/i-think-very-highly-of-expo-and-all-is-going-well-we-ve-seen-big/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I think it is important the communities are listened to and that their voice is heard, particularly with local government boundaries more than parliamentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/i-think-it-is-important-the-communities-are-listened-to-and-that/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [Our issue is local control, local government by local elected people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/our-issue-is-local-control-local-government-by-local-elected-people/) [John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/) > [In Memory of BPP Comrades Fred Hampton & Mark Clark, both assassinated by the US Government via the state and local government of Chicago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emory-douglas/in-memory-of-bpp-comrades-fred-hampton-mark-clark-both-assassinated/) Emory Douglas > [I am not about to let the people who so mismanaged the state budget now try to manage local government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-doyle/i-am-not-about-to-let-the-people-who-so-mismanaged-the-state-budget/) [Jim Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-doyle/) > [There's much more we can be doing in Parliament, we could be giving more power back to people at local government level, through local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/there-s-much-more-we-can-be-doing-in-parliament-we-could-be-giving/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [ “The Salem \[witch\] trials…can be seen as an example of the propensity of the American people to be convulsed by spasms of self-righteous rage… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/the-salem-witch-trials-can-be-seen-as-an-example-of-the-propensity-of/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [I think it true that, you know, sometimes things start to change even before a government changes and, actually, I think you can begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/i-think-it-true-that-you-know-sometimes-things-start-to-change-even/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [“Internationalism is in any case hostile to democracy….The only purely popular government is local, and founded on local knowledge. The citizens can rule the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/internationalism-is-in-any-case-hostile-to-democracy-the-only-purely/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) ## More by Dick Thornburgh > [As the highest ranking American official in the United Nations organization, I came to understand thoroughly that the national constitutional processes of the member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/as-the-highest-ranking-american-official-in-the-united-nations/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Now that the there is a path for the people of Puerto Rico to express their self-determination on Puerto Rico's political status, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/now-that-the-there-is-a-path-for-the-people-of-puerto-rico-to-express/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [The powers of government exercised locally derive from a federal law authorizing government by consent in local affairs only, unless those affairs are otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-powers-of-government-exercised-locally-derive-from-a-federal-law/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Internal self-government under a local constitution was authorized by Congress and approved by the residents in 1952, but federal law is supreme in Puerto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/internal-self-government-under-a-local-constitution-was-authorized-by/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [The political status legislation which emerged in Congress in 1990 and 1991 did not receive the support needed for enactment into law during my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-political-status-legislation-which-emerged-in-congress-in-1990/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [That is why, with optimism instead of fear, all those who want to see Puerto Rico's status resolved should seek the truth about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/that-is-why-with-optimism-instead-of-fear-all-those-who-want-to-see/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [It is quite understandable that Puerto Ricans seek to preserve a cultural sense of identity without separating politically from U.S. national sovereignty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/it-is-quite-understandable-that-puerto-ricans-seek-to-preserve-a/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [After one hundred years of federal rule, the United States House of Representatives has moved to provide for the first meaningful route to self-determination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/after-one-hundred-years-of-federal-rule-the-united-states-house-of/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Every effort must be made to increase forfeiture income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/every-effort-must-be-made-to-increase-forfeiture-income/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Instead of generating either unnecessary alarm or a false sense of security regarding these fundamental issues, the best course is to empower people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/instead-of-generating-either-unnecessary-alarm-or-a-false-sense-of/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Yet, Puerto Ricos economic convergence and political integration with the rest of the nation is in a state of arrest - even though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/yet-puerto-ricos-economic-convergence-and-political-integration-with/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Yet, individuals and corporations in Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/yet-individuals-and-corporations-in-puerto-rico-pay-no-federal-income/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [However, the sovereignty of the states is constitutionally defined and recognized, while the powers of the local government in Puerto Rico are defined by,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/however-the-sovereignty-of-the-states-is-constitutionally-defined-and/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [If U.S. national sovereignty continues, it is only as a state that Puerto Rico will have permanent 10th Amendment powers over its non-federal affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/if-u-s-national-sovereignty-continues-it-is-only-as-a-state-that/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Federal program and services outlay in Puerto Rico is approximately $10 billion per year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/federal-program-and-services-outlay-in-puerto-rico-is-approximately/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) [Explore all 21 Dick Thornburgh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) ## More Affairs quotes > [I don't like to meddle in my private affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/i-don-t-like-to-meddle-in-my-private-affairs/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded -Diana, Princess of Wales”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-lowne/well-there-were-three-of-us-in-this-marriage-so-it-was-a-bit-crowded/) Cathy Lowne > [“I’m not going to deny that I want to fuck you. I can’t promise a future or that I’ll be some sniveling boyfriend who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-hess/i-m-not-going-to-deny-that-i-want-to-fuck-you-i-can-t-promise-a/) [D.L. Hess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-hess/) > [I often feel that when people have affairs, it has more to do with something they're searching for in themselves than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-robins/i-often-feel-that-when-people-have-affairs-it-has-more-to-do-with/) [Laila Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-robins/) > [“What kind of friendship have you had? Or for that matter...what kind of love affairs?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/what-kind-of-friendship-have-you-had-or-for-that-matter-what-kind-of/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [No man should ever lose sleep over public affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/no-man-should-ever-lose-sleep-over-public-affairs/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [The U.N. guards the vital principles entrenched in its charter, notably the sovereign equality of states and the inadmissibility of interference in their internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-u-n-guards-the-vital-principles-entrenched-in-its-charter-notably/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [When the Veterans Affairs Department implemented a program to provide home-based health care to veterans with multiple chronic conditions - many of the system's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/when-the-veterans-affairs-department-implemented-a-program-to-provide/) [Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/) > [International affairs is very much run like the mafia. The godfather does not accept disobedience, even from a small storekeeper who doesn't pay his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/international-affairs-is-very-much-run-like-the-mafia-the-godfather/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ In Stage I, divorces were not allowed, so men's \[sexual\] affairs did not put women's economic security in jeopardy; in Stage II, affairs could… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/in-stage-i-divorces-were-not-allowed-so-men-s-sexual-affairs-did-not/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [For most affairs, this eventually becomes the most fundamental of questions, the only one that matters: Do we love each other more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-udall/for-most-affairs-this-eventually-becomes-the-most-fundamental-of/) [Brady Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-udall/) > [I started, actually, as an analyst on African affairs, mainly on Al Jazeera. I remember the first few series were about Saudi students, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadah-khanfar/i-started-actually-as-an-analyst-on-african-affairs-mainly-on-al/) [Wadah Khanfar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadah-khanfar/) > [“Police officers are well known for their aggressive behaviors, search "Police Officer Angry Aggression Theory". I can speak from personal experience that they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/police-officers-are-well-known-for-their-aggressive-behaviors-search/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I have long believed that women should play a much bigger part in our affairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-grimond/i-have-long-believed-that-women-should-play-a-much-bigger-part-in-our/) [Jo Grimond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-grimond/) [Browse all 305 Affairs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affairs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental powers in local affairs is like that of local government in the states of the union in regard to non-federal affairs at the local level.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Thornburgh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-government-created-under-the-local/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affairs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-government-created-under-the-local/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/387/dick-thornburgh-26389_affairs_the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-governm_412444.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The capacity of the commonwealth government created under the local constitution to exercise governmental…” — Dick Thornburgh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dick Thornburgh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The capacity of the commonwealth government...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-government-created-under-the-local/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-capacity-of-the-commonwealth-government-created-under-the-local/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```