Galactic Senate

The Galactic Senate of the Republic was the governing legislative body of the Galactic Republic. It consisted of thousands of senators elected to represent their home system.
== History ==
For over a thousand years, the Galactic Senate served as the governing body of the Republic. It was composed of thousands of representatives of systems from across the Galaxy.
=== 32 BBY ===
In 32 BBY, Senator Palpatine and Queen Padmé Amidala made a plea to the Senate, asking for help against the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo. However, in the Senate, the Trade Federation held a huge amount of power thanks to Lott Dod. This led to Amidala calling for a Vote of No Confidence in Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum's leadership.
=== 22 BBY ===
Over the next ten years, many systems began to secede from the Republic and formed the Separatist Alliance. Among those who did so included the Trade Federation, Commerce Guild and the Corporate Alliance. After Obi-Wan Kenobi discovered the Separatist Droid Army on Geonosis, the Senate voted to give emergency powers to Chancellor Palpatine. This gave Palpatine the authority to create the Grand Army of the Republic. 
The Senate, alongside most others, were unaware that Palpatine, secretly a Sith, was also secretly in control of the Separatists and the Clone Wars was all part of his scheme to dominate the Galaxy.
=== 19 BBY ===
Three years later, shortly before the official end of the Clone Wars, Palpatine seduced Anakin Skywalker to the Dark Side of the Force and sent him to assassinate the Separatist leaders. As the assassinations took place, Chancellor Palpatine made a speech to the Senate where he outlawed the Jedi and abolished the Republic and merged it with all former Separatist territories, forming the Galactic Empire. What was the Republic Senate was then transformed into the Imperial Senate.
== Powers ==
The Galactic Senate was chaired by the Supreme Chancellor and consisted of thousands of senators. The Senate would vote on bills and laws and discuss matters relating to its member states. However, in the final decades of the Republic, the Senate had become corrupted with corporations such as the Trade Federation gaining their own representation and holding huge amounts of influence.
== Members ==
These are the known members of the Senate in the year 19 BBY:
=== Leaders ===
==== At the end of the Republic ====
* Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
** Vice Chair Mas Amedda
** Sly Moore, aide to Palpatine
==== Former ====
* Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum (until 32 BBY)
** Vice Chair Mas Amedda
=== Senators ===
==== At the end of the Republic ====
* Bail Organa, representing Alderaan
* Lott Dod, representing the Trade Federation
* Padmé Amidala, representing Naboo
** Jar Jar Binks, a member of the Naboo delegation
==== Former ====
* Aks Moe, representing Malastare (killed after 32 BBY)
* Po Nudo, representing the Aqualish (seceded to the Separatists)
* Tikkes, representing the Quarren (seceded to the Separatists)
== Building ==
The Senate Capitol was located on Coruscant. The interior held the Galactic Senate Chamber which had over a thousand repulsorpods that detached from the chamber wall, and were equipped with voice-amplifying microphones, translators, and hovercams that recorded the various proceedings. At the center of the chamber was a podium where the Supreme Chancellor and the Vice Chair would preside over meetings of the Senate.
== Appearances ==
* Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (First appearance)
* Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
* Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Category:Councils