Galactic Senate

The **Galactic Senate** was the legislative body which governed the Galactic Republic, overseeing the creation of laws. It was led by the Supreme Chancellor and Vice Chair, parts of the executive branch's Office of the Chancellor. It was made up of Senators who represented their homeworlds and home sectors, meeting in the Senate Building in the galactic capital world of Coruscant's Federal District.

When the Galactic Republic was reorganized into the Galactic Empire, the Galactic Senate was similarly reorganized into the Imperial Senate, with similar but diminished powers of legislation, in favor of a more autocratic government ruled by the Galactic Emperor, with the Senate overseen instead by a Grand Vizier.

## History

### Founding

With the rest of the Galactic Republic, the Galactic Senate was founded with the writing of the Galactic Constitution in 25,053 BEF by the Core Founders. It was originally made up of representatives from those Core Founders' homeworlds, but later expanded as the Republic expanded as well. Prior to the Ruusan Reformations, planets with over ten billion inhabitants had a representative, leading to a very large senate which still met within the Senate Building on Coruscant.

### Reformations

The Ruusan Reformations in 1,000 BEF changed the makeup of the Galactic Senate drastically, instituting term limits for the Supreme Chancellor as well as creating sectors which determined representation in the Senate. Senators in the body had a great deal of input in Tarsus Valorum's reformations, advocating for the increased powers given to them over the Chancellor themself.

### Republic's end

In 0 BEF, the Galactic Senate was disbanded by the Imperial Founding Address, which thereafter reformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire and the Senate into the Imperial Senate.

## Organization

### Senators

The Galactic Senate was made up of Senators who served three standard year terms with no set term limits outlined by the Galactic Constitution, although planets or sectors were able to institute laws around term limits, often as a measure to prevent corruption and ensure democratic representation. Most Senators represented entire sectors, and were typically elected from the sector's planet of highest population. However, many sectors petitioned for one or several of their more high-population planets to be separated off to represent only themselves in the Senate, whether that be due to cultural differences or population differences. In most cases, if there was sufficient population in the remaining planets, these petitions were accepted and thus some Senators only represented a single planet or system.

Senators were further assisted by Junior Representatives, who were senators-in-training, often picked to learn from the senior senator to later rise to their position. In some sectors, these representatives were also chosen to represent minority populations, such as Gungan representation for Naboo and the Chommell sector. The relationship between the Quarren and Mon Calamari for control over the Dac/Calamari sector representation was shown by a dual representative, often one of each species.

Senators were often members of different political parties, with dozens of them existing in the Senate and in local jurisdictions.

### Leadership

The Galactic Senate was headed by the Supreme Chancellor and the Office of the Chancellor, and he oversaw the proceedings and was responsible for issuing executive orders, and calling extraordinary sessions when necessary. They were elected every four years, with a term limit of two terms as set by the Ruusan Reformations. The Chancellor was assisted by the Vice Chair who was elected separately, whose purpose was to ensure order during sessions and adherence to codes and policies. The Vice Chair also was responsible for bringing bills to a vote.

### Committees

The Senate's large structure necessitated the use of many dozens of committees which oversaw more specific parts of the governmental process. These committees often were the ones to bring bills to the Senate floor around their specific committee jurisdiction. Committees could be created and disbanded without much oversight from the Chancellor. Some groups, such as the Delegation of 2,000, served as an unofficial party or alliance. Parties as a whole were typically uncommon due to the many different viewpoints of senators, but in historical times some did exist.

Known committees of the Senate:

* Allocations Committee
* Antislavery committee
* Education Committee
* Internal Activities Commitee
* Judicial Committee

## Senate-related documents

The Senate's guiding document was initially the Galactic Constitution, which outlined the workings of the Republic as a whole, although it underwent major rewrites during the Ruusan Reformations, with that reformed constitution guiding the Senate onward. The Senate Code was a separate document which described the minutiae of Senate proceedings as well as the expectations of its members.

## Appearances

* *Star Wars Jedi*: *Ki-Adi-Mundi* 1
* "The Torch Passes"
* *Star Wars Jedi*: *Coleman Trebor* 1 (Mentioned only)
* "The Voice of Naboo"
* *The Clone Wars Retold* – "Supply Lines"
* *The Clone Wars Retold* – "Under Siege"
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter I — *Trial and Sacrifice*
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter II — *Decisions*
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter III — *Darkness Falls*
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter IV — *Plans*
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter V — *Sith*

## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 *The Skywalker Saga Supplement*
2. ↑ *Secrets Revealed* Chapter I — *Trial and Sacrifice*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *Secrets Revealed* Chapter V — *Sith*
4. ↑ *Expanding the Unexpanded*
5. ↑ *Secrets Revealed* Chapter III — *Darkness Falls*