Senate

The Galactic Senate, also known as the Republic Senate, was a governing body in the Star Wars universe that comprised representatives of various member worlds within the Galactic Republic. It was founded at the end of the Unification Wars and had its principal military arm through the Republic military. Executive power was held by the elected Supreme Chancellor, while the legislative body was comprised of a multitude of senators who would meet in the senate building on Coruscant.

The Senate's primary responsibilities included forming laws, resolving disputes between member worlds, overseeing trade, and ensuring justice and stability throughout the galaxy. Each member world had the right to have a single senator to represent and voice the concerns of their people within the Senate. The Senate also had the authority to assign missions to the Jedi Order, which acted as peacekeepers during times of conflict and instability.

Throughout its history, the Galactic Senate faced numerous challenges and ongoing internal strife. Widely considered to be corrupt and inefficient, the Senate eventually became increasingly paralyzed by its bureaucratic nature. One of the significant crises that threatened the Senate was the Separatist movement, which led to The Clone Wars, as several systems sought to secede from the Galactic Republic due to their dissatisfaction with the Senate and the Jedi Order's perceived inability to maintain peace and justice.

During the Clone Wars, the Senate granted emergency powers to the Supreme Chancellor, specifically to Chancellor Palpatine, who manipulated the conflict to his advantage. This allowed him to create and maintain a Grand Army of the Republic, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Separatist movement and the extermination of the Jedi Order through Order 66.

After the end of the Clone Wars and the destruction of the Jedi Order, Palpatine declared himself Emperor and transformed the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire. The Senate continued to exist as a puppet body under the Emperor's rule, with most senators remaining in place, although they had little real power. The Imperial Senate was eventually disbanded by Palpatine shortly before the events of the original Star Wars film (A New Hope), with regional governors taking direct control over individual sectors.

The Senate was later reestablished in the form of the New Republic Senate following the defeat of the Galactic Empire by the Rebel Alliance. It continued to serve as the galaxy's primary legislative body, albeit with significantly reduced power to prevent the rise of another emperor. However, the New Republic Senate would eventually be destroyed by the First Order during the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

the Galactic Senate was a crucial institution in the Star Wars universe, serving as the primary legislative body for the Galactic Republic and later the New Republic. Despite its noble intentions, the Senate's history was marked by corruption, inefficiencies, and manipulation by those seeking greater power. The Senate's rise and fall reflected the broader saga of the galaxy, from the era of the Galactic Republic to the reign of the Galactic Empire and beyond.