The United Republic Senate




 * "There is no civility, only politics."
 * ―Palpatine [src]

The Galactic Senate, also referred to as the Republic Senate, Galactic Congress, Republic Congress, or Old Senate (during the time of the New Republic), was the legislative and executive branch of the Galactic Republic that was located on Coruscant. Its primary duties were to mediate any disputes between star systems, worlds and cultures, to regulate trade between systems, to protect and care for citizens in need and to provide mutual defense in face of threats to the Republic.

History

 * "The Republic is not what it once was. The Senate is full of greedy, squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good."
 * ―Senator Palpatine to Queen Amidala [src]

The Galactic Senate was a place where all the Republic's elected and appointed senators and representatives from the farthest reaches of the galaxy would discuss major problems and come to decisions. The Galactic Constitution invested the Senate with the power to regulate trade, maintain maps of the galaxy's hyperspace routes, and to maintain the Republic's military. It was still a relatively weak body at the end of the Old Sith Wars. Following the Ruusan Reformation, a large amount of power was removed from the Supreme Chancellor and granted to the Senate, which although resulting in greater regional involvement in galactic politics, also resulted in increased gridlock and corruption. One of the privileges a Supreme Chancellor still possessed was his or her ability to call an Extraordinary Session. The Chagrian senator during the Great Galactic WarThe Senate's role changed somewhat over the centuries. As of the Old Sith Wars it played a slightly more passive role regarding internal affairs. While recognized as the central government of the Republic and deferred to in matters of galactic policy, the Senate's power over many members was more that of a mediator than a ruling body. Negotiation and coercion were staples of its activities.

The terrorist organization known as The Flail attempted to overthrow the Senate in 33 BBY, accusing it of corruption; but Chancellor Finis Valorum's forces disbanded The Flail.[1]

Before the start of the Clone Wars, the Senate suffered a shutdown, with corporations controlling it. The majority of the senators around the time of the Invasion of Naboo became corrupt, changing their affiliations based on their own interests in mind. Eventually, through a series of various organizational reforms in response to the Separatist threat, the charismatic Palpatine took control of the Senate. During the Clone Wars, Sate Pestage was in charge of the Senate's executive agenda.

During the time of the Empire, the Galactic Senate was known as the Imperial Senate. However, this Senate was largely powerless, with its members discouraged to disagreeing with the Emperor's wishes. Immediately before the Battle of Yavin, Palpatine officially dissolved the Imperial Senate. It was not until 6.5 ABY that the New Republic restored it, soon after liberating Coruscant.

Organization

 * "Answer: There are a lot of politicians on Coruscant, master. I could spend decades slaughtering them and still not make a dent."
 * ―HK-47 [src]

Senate Guard and Commando, protectors of the SenateThe Senate was led by a Supreme Chancellor, elected by a vote of the Senate from amongst its delegates. He had little real authority over the Senate other than prerogative to call for a special session and could be removed by a vote of no confidence. The Vice Chair, also elected and removed by the Senate, wielded far more power being empowered to open, close and moderate debate on each motion, which allowed him to control agenda within the Senate.

The Galactic Senate was made up of over 2,000 congressmen: governor-delegates (referred to as senators) and representatives, representing sectors, systems, individual planets, or even Corporation or Guilds. Some were elected directly, while others were appointed by a planet's ruler (or even were the planet's ruler). Diplomats, religious figures, local political leaders, and other prominent people could also address the Senate as part of a senatorial delegation. Senators, however, were the only members with voting power, with the Representatives organized into the Galactic Representative Commission, although they could be appointed by their absent Senators as their temporary subsitute, and still could have a minor voice in Senate business.

Before the invasion of Naboo, Republic-member worlds could join or become signatories to various federations or groups. Often, smaller worlds would give their voting power over to these Federations in exchange for lucrative trade deals. This allowed various corporations, guilds, federations, and businesses to gain extra power in the Senate.[2]

The Senate was divided into many committees and subcommittees, each to handle various issues of Galactic government and lawmaking. Some of them were: In addition to the formal committees, there were informal political factions in the Senate as well. In the years leading up to the Battle of Naboo, there were two main ones: the Core faction and the Rim faction.
 * Senate Action Subcommittee
 * Senate Action Subcommittee for Corellian Trade Spine Defense
 * Allocations CommitteeNormal_Coruscant-14-SenateSpeakingPlatform.jpg
 * Appropriations Committee
 * Delegation of 2000
 * Finance Committee
 * Senate Intelligence Oversight Committee
 * Internal Activities Committee
 * Interspecies Advisory Committee
 * Loyalist Committee
 * Oversight Committee
 * Security Council
 * Senate Committee on Refugees
 * Senate Guard Committee
 * Senate Naval Subcommittee
 * Procurement Panel of the Senate Naval Subcommittee
 * Senate Budgetary Committee
 * Senate Bureau of Intelligence
 * Senate Committee on New World Discovery and Exploration
 * Senate Investigative Committee
 * Senate Military Oversight Committee
 * Senate Security Committee
 * Senatorial Council
 * Trade Commission
 * Trade Council
 * Travel and Transport Bureau

During the Clone Wars, the supermajority of the Senate supported Palpatine, allowing him to amend the Galactic Constitution and be granted more emergency powers.

Powers

 * "I am the Senate!"
 * ―Palpatine [src]

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, last leader of the Galactic RepublicThe Senate was the legislative and executive power of the Republic (although at various times by the end of the Republic's existence, the Office of the Supreme Chancellor held supreme dictator Legislative, Executive, and Judicial authority). It also had limited judicial authority, presumably for high-profile plaintiffs or cases too controversial for (or tried in) the Supreme Court. Such cases included trying senators for treason (as wished by Vien'sai'Malloc); crimes against civilization (the interrupted trial of Ulic Qel-Droma); and presumably corruption and treason of the Supreme Chancellor (as Anakin Skywalker wished for Palpatine).

The New Senate
The United Republic Senate was established in 510 ABY and is currently under elections for chancellor, as well as other offices at this time.