Constitution of the Galactic Union

The **Constitution of the Galactic Union** was the governing document and the supreme law of the Galactic Union of Free Systems. The **Constitution** was written and ratified in 35 ABY by the Galactic Convention, and constructed the government of the Galactic Union, as well as defined its responsibilities to the citizenry.

## Full text

**Article I**
Section I — All legislative Powers herein shall be vested in a Senate of the Galactic Union.
Section II — The Senate of the Galactic Union shall be composed of one Senator from each member world. The Election or appointment of the Senators shall be left to the worlds they represent. The Term of each Senator is herein defined as being Six standard years; and each Senator is confined to serving only Two terms. Should any vacancies occur by Resignation or otherwise, the power to appoint a new Senator to serve the rest of the vacant Senator's term is vested in that Senator's member world. No being may be elected or appointed as Senator of a world on which they do not reside. The Vice President of the Galactic Union shall be President of the Senate, but they shall have no vote unless the Senate is equally divided. The Vice President may appoint a *pro tempore* in the event of their absence or the necessity that they execute the Office of the President of the Galactic Union. In the Senate is vested the sole power of Impeachment. Should the President of the Galactic Union be tired, the Chief Justice shall preside; and the threshold for conviction is set at a two-thirds majority. In the Senate is also vested the power to raise Revenue.
Section III — The Senate shall convene at least Twice a standard Year. The power to convene the Senate for emergencies is hereby vested in the Vice President of the Galactic Union.
Section IV — The Senate is hereby vested with the power to decide its Rules and Procedures. A Majority vote of the Senate may compel the Attendance of absent members; a Plurality vote of the Senate may compel the body to adjourn.
Section V — Every Bill which has passed the Senate shall be presented to the President of the Galactic Union for their signature before becoming Law. The President of the Galactic Union is hereby vested the Power of the Veto should they disapprove of the Senate's Bill. However, should two-thirds of the Senate, having had their Bill returned to them, override the President's objections, it shall become Law. Should the President have no objections and sign the Bill, it shall become Law.
Section VI — The Senate is hereby vested with the power to impose and collect Taxes and Duties, Imports and Excises, to pay the debts and provide for the defense of the Galactic Union; but all taxes and duties must be uniform across the Galactic Union. To the Senate is also vested:

* The Power to borrow money on the Credit of the Galactic Union;
* The Power to regulate commerce with foreign sovereignties and between member worlds;
* The Power to coin Money, regulate its value, and of foreign money;
* The Power to establish Hyperspace Lanes;
* The Power to promote the Sciences and Arts by providing limited protections for Authors and Inventors the exclusive rights to their work;
* The Power to punish Piracy and Felonies within Galactic Union space;
* The Power to declare War, grant Letters of the Marque and Reprisal, and to make Rules concerning captures in such conflicts;
* The Power to raise and support Armies, a Power that may never, by means of Law or Decree, be ceded to the President of the Galactic Union, nor any other body;
* The Power to provide and maintain a Navy;
* The Power to make Rules and Regulations for the Army and the Navy;
* The Power to set the Capitol of the Galactic Union.

Section VII — The Senate may not assign Emergency Powers to the President of the Galactic Union. No being may become a Senator without having reached the age of majority for their respective species.

**Article II**
Section I — All executive Powers herein shall be vested in a President of the Galactic Union.
Section II — The President and Vice President of the Galactic Union shall serve a term of Four standard years; their terms are hereby limited to two.
Section III — The President shall not be chosen from among the Senators of the Galactic Union Senate. Should a Senator wish to run, they must Resign their office. The President shall be Elected by a majority of the eligible Voters in the Galactic Union. No being shall be President of the Galactic Union without having reached the age of majority for their respective species. The vote of each member planet must be certified by the Galactic Union Senate before it is considered legitimate.
Section IV — The President shall only be chosen from among the Citizens of the Galactic Union. The President, at the time of their Inauguration, shall take the following Oath of Office: „ I solemnly affirm that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the Galactic Union, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the Galactic Union.”
Section V — The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Galactic Union. To the President is vested the power of the Pardon, except in cases of impeachment; and, together with the Senate, to make Treaties. To the President is also vested:

* The Power to appoint Ambassadors;
* The Power to appoint Ministers and Consuls;
* The Power to appoint Justices of the Supreme Court;
* The Power to divide their power among the Departments and appoint the heads thereof, henceforth known as the Cabinet;

But the Senate must confirm their appointments through a Majority vote.
Section VI — The President and Vice-President shall be removed from office on Impeachment and Conviction for Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Section VII — The President and Vice-President shall relinquish all titles and business holdings to be eligible for Election.

**Article III**
Section I — All judicial Powers herein are vested in the Supreme Court of the Galactic Union, and in such inferior courts as the Senate deigns to establish.
Section II — To the Supreme Court is vested the power of Judicial Review, herein defined as the process by which a court reviews the Law, when a petition is brought before them, to determine constitutionality.
Section III — A Justice of the Supreme Court is hereby restricted to a Term of no more than Eighteen standard years. A former Justice may be temporarily recalled to the court in the case of vacancies; but the President and Senate must with all due haste appoint a replacement. No being shall be a Justice of the Supreme Court without having reached the age of majority for their respective species.
Section IV — The Trial of all Crimes, except in cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trials shall take place on the world where said crimes have been committed.

**Article IV**
Section I — All law enforcement Powers herein are vested in the Jedi Order, hereby enjoined with the Galactic Union.
Section II — To the individual member worlds is vested the power to create and maintain law enforcement organizations for the purposes of local matters. Member worlds may petition the Jedi Order to intervene should local resources prove insufficient. The power to enforce federal Law is hereby vested in the Jedi Order.
Section III — To the Jedi Order is vested the power to dictate its own Rules and Procedures, as well as the Power to try its own criminals. The Jedi shall be governed by a High Council, led by a Grand Master, whom shall advise the President of the Galactic Union and the Senate.
Section IV — No member of the Jedi Order may knowingly use the Force on a Citizen of the Galactic Union without probable cause or a warrant. Nor may a member of the Jedi Order exercise lethal force on a Citizen of the Galactic Union but for the defense of their own life or the lives of others.
Section V — No active member of the Jedi Order may hold military rank, nor may they hold the title of Senator, nor Justice, nor President or Vice President of the Galactic Union.
Section VI — No Jedi may use the Power of Arrest on a sitting member of the Galactic Union Senate, nor on a Justice of the Supreme Court, nor on the President or Vice President of the Galactic Union but for a two-thirds agreement from the Senate.
Section VII — To the Jedi Order is vested the power to recruit Force-sensitive citizens of the Galactic Union into their ranks, under the following conditions:

* That they either have reached the age of majority for their respective species, or permission has been obtained from the recruit's parents or legal guardians.

**Article V**
Section I — New worlds, or sovereign corporations, may be admitted by the Senate into the Galactic Union.
Section II — No world or sovereign corporation may secede from the Galactic Union without a Majority referendum of that world's citizens, and which is thereafter verified and certified by the Senate.
Section III — The Galactic Union shall guarantee to every World a protection of its rights, customs, religions, and traditions, and shall protect each of them from Invasion and domestic violence.

**Article VI**
Section I — The Senate of the Galactic Union may propose amendments to this Constitution, and, if approved by two-thirds of the body, having then garnered two-thirds support from all the member worlds therein, shall become the Law.

**Article VII**
Section I — The Senate shall make no Law prohibiting the free exercise of, or the freedom from, religion. The Senate shall not abridge the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the Beings of the Galactic Union to peacefully assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.
Section II — The Citizens of the Galactic Union shall have the right to keep and bear arms. To the Senate is enumerated the right to regulate the bearing of arms within reason.
Section III — The Citizens of the Galactic Union shall have the right to health care to be paid for out of Government revenues. The administration of this healthcare will be left to the Senate, unless directed elsewhere by Law. The Senate shall make no Law abridging this right on the basis of species, race, tradition, religion, sexuality, or gender identity.
Section IV — The Citizens of the Galactic Union shall have the right to be free of unreasonable searches or seizures and secure in their persons and effects but for probable cause, herein defined as a cause supported by an Oath, and in which a specific crime is alleged and the place, Beings, and items to be seized are specifically enumerated.
Section V — The Citizens of the Galactic Union shall have the right of marriage to any sentient being(s) who, having given their consent, has reached the age of majority for their respective species. The Senate shall make no Law abridging this right on the basis of species, race, tradition, religion, sexuality, or gender identity.
Section VI — No Citizen of the Galactic Union shall be held to answer for any Crime but for the indictment of a Grand Jury. No Citizen shall be suspect for the same crime twice; nor shall they be compelled in any criminal case to witness against themselves; nor be deprived of their basic rights without due process of law.
Section VII — The practices of Slavery and Indentured Servitude, herein defined as the practice of owning another being and benefiting from their free labor, or the movement or trade thereof, is hereby forbidden within Galactic Union space.
Section VIII — No Citizen of the Galactic Union shall be subject to excessive bail or fines, nor of cruel and unusual punishments.

## Behind the scenes

The Constitution of the Galactic Union drew heavy inspiration from the wording of the United States Constitution.

## Notes and references

1. ↑  Timeline of the tenth universe on the *Star Wars* Fan Works Wiki
2. ↑  Galactic Union on the *Star Wars* Fan Works Wiki
3. ↑  Galactic Convention on the *Star Wars* Fan Works Wiki