Commonwealth nations are countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association of 54 member states. These nations share various political, economic and cultural ties and are often described as a family of nations. Other synonyms for Commonwealth nations include Commonwealth realm, Commonwealth country, Commonwealth member state or simply member of the Commonwealth. These terms are commonly used in diplomatic and political circles to refer to countries that have historical ties to the British Empire and are now joined through a shared commitment to democratic principles, human rights and rule of law. They also often share a common language, culture, and legal system.