Editing Galactic Senate (ASWS)

{{title|Galactic Senate}}{{eras|old|imp}}
{{Organization_infobox
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|image=[[Image:GalacticSenateSeal.JPG|250px]]
|name=Galactic Senate
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|headquarters=[[Coruscant (ASWS)|Coruscant]]<ref name="TCO-1" />
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|founded=Approx. [[25,000 BBY]]<ref name="TCO-2" />
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|era=[[Old Republic era]]<ref name="TCO-2" /><BR>[[Rise of the Empire era]]<ref name="TCO-2" />
|affiliation=[[Galactic Republic (ASWS)|Galactic Republic]]<ref name="TCO-1" />}}

The '''Galactic Senate''' was the main legislative body of the [[Galactic Republic (ASWS)|Galactic Republic]]. It was responsible for passing numerous laws, such as the [[Republic Anti-Slavery Law]]. It was eventually replaced by the [[Imperial Senate (ASWS)|Imperial Senate]], the legislative body of the [[Galactic Empire (ASWS)|Galactic Empire]] that replaced the Republic.

== History ==

The Galactic Senate was presumably founded at the same time as its parent government, the [[Galactic Republic (ASWS)|Galactic Republic]], circa [[25,000 BBY]]. The Senate was founded to act as the legislative body of the Republic, making it responsible for passing all laws in regards to the operation and governing of the entire Republic. The Senate operated for thousands of years after its founding.<ref name="TCO-2">[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/swfanon/images/f/f8/TheChosenOne-ChapterTwo.pdf ''The Chosen One'', Chapter 2]</ref>

Sometime before the [[Stark Hyperspace War (ASWS)|Stark Hyperspace War]], a conflict between the Republic and the [[Stark Commercial Combine (ASWS)|Stark Commercial Combine]], the Senate allowed the [[Trade Federation (ASWS)|Trade Federation]] shipping cartel to have a voting member in the Senate, making it the only corporation to have a vote in the legislature. During the Stark Hyperspace War, Federation Senator [[Nute Gunray (ASWS)|Nute Gunray]], who later became the [[Viceroy of the Trade Federation (ASWS)|Viceroy of the Trade Federation]], pushed to allow the Federation to expand its [[Trade Federation Droid Army (ASWS)|droid army]], but the Senate rejected the measure.<ref name="TCO-1">[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/swfanon/images/4/4a/TheChosenOne-ChapterOne.pdf ''The Chosen One'', Chapter 1]</ref>

Years later, the Senate began deliberations over the proposed [[Republic Anti-Slavery Law]], a law that would eventually restrict the use of slaves by Republic companies operating outside of the Republic’s jurisdiction. Although many of these corporations, such as the Federation, fought against the measure, it was passed and signed into law by [[Supreme Chancellor (ASWS)|Supreme Chancellor]] [[Finis Valorum (ASWS)|Finis Valorum]]. One year later, the Federation retaliated against the measure by blockading and subsequently invading [[Utapau (ASWS)|Utapau]], a planet that was a principle supporter of the bill. This action caused lengthy debates in the Senate, although the debates did not produce any results. In response, Chancellor Valorum sent two ambassadors from the [[Jedi Order (ASWS)|Jedi Order]], [[Jedi Master (ASWS)|Jedi Master]] [[Jard Dooku]] and [[Jedi Knight (ASWS)|Jedi Knight]] [[Obi-Wan Kenobi (ASWS)|Obi-Wan Kenobi]], to Utapau to resolve the situation without knowledge or approval from the Senate.<ref name="TCO-1" />

Around the same time, a report from the [[Galactic Senate Armed Services Committee]], the committee that oversaw the [[Republic Judicial Forces (ASWS)|Republic Judicial Forces]] and all other aspects of Republic armed services, was published that suggested a [[Unidentified clone army|clone army]] was being produced on the planet [[Kamino (ASWS)|Kamino]]. The report further suggested that the purpose of the army was an invasion of the Republic. Responding to this report, Jedi Master [[Mace Windy]] traveled to Kamino to verify the Armed Service’s Committees claims and to find out additional information.<ref name="TCO-5">[http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/swfanon/images/e/e0/TheChosenOne-ChapterFive.pdf ''The Chosen One'', Chapter 5]</ref>

Some time later, the Galactic Republic was replaced by the [[Galactic Empire (ASWS)|Galactic Empire]].<ref name="TAA">''[[Star Wars: The Alderaan Affair]]''</ref> Because of the change in governments, the Galactic Senate was replaced by the [[Imperial Senate (ASWS)|Imperial Senate]].<ref name="ASWS-blog">[[User blog:Brandon Rhea/Alternative Saga Update: February 16, 2009|Alternative Saga Update: February 16, 2009]]</ref>

== Organization ==

The Senate was made up of numerous representatives from worlds in the Republic, such as Senator [[Malus Palpatine]] of Utapau.<ref name="TCO-2" /> The Trade Federation had the unprecedented distinction of being the only corporation to have a representative in the Senate. [[Lott Dodd (ASWS)|Lott Dodd]], who served as the Senator of the Trade Federation during the Invasion of Utapau, was the only member of the Senate who did not represent a planet.<ref name="TCO-1" />

The Senate was also made up of a number of committees. One such body was the Senate Armed Services Committee. This committee had the power to oversee all of the armed services of the Republic, such as the [[Republic Judicial Forces (ASWS)|Republic Judicial Forces]]. These committees would also conducted investigations within their jurisdiction, such as when the Armed Services Committee published the investigative report concerning the clones on Kamino.<ref name="TCO-5" />

== Powers ==

Whereas the Supreme Chancellor was the Galactic Republic’s head of state, the Senate served as the main executive body of the galactic government. This gave the Senate the ability to write, propose and pass all bills in the Republic. These bills would then be either signed into law or be vetoed by the Supreme Chancellor.<ref name="TCO-1" />

== Appearances ==

* ''[[Star Wars: Episode I - The Chosen One]]'' {{1stm}}

== Notes and references ==

{{reflist}}

== See also ==

* [[starwars:Galactic Senate|Galactic Senate]] on [[Wookieepedia|Wookieepedia, the ''Star Wars'' Wiki]]