In addition to this new rule , the former rules were consolidated into a single document . These requirements are that members must accept and comply with the Harare principles , be fully sovereign states , recognise the monarch of the Commonwealth realms as the Head of the Commonwealth , accept the English language as the means of Commonwealth communication , and respect the wishes of the general population with regard to Commonwealth membership . These requirements had undergone review , and a report on potential amendments was presented by the Committee on Commonwealth Membership at the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting . New members were not admitted at this meeting , though applications for admission were considered at the 2009 CHOGM
2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007
Commonwealth of Nations