The Senate

"The best principles of our Republic secure to all its citizens a perfect equality of rights and security."

--- Last words of
4th Chancellor
Moj Tephen

       Founded more than twenty millennia ago to aid in the protection of a handful of species from those who would enslave or destroy them, the Republic has grown to become the unequaled power of the galaxy. This sprawling Republic is ruled by a great council of citizens appointed by the member worlds called the Galactic Senate. Over four thousand worlds claim full membership to the senate, but when you consider that many of these member states also control colonies, protectorates, and client-states of their own; the number of actual worlds under the sway of the Republic Senate becomes truly staggering. If not for the self-imposed limitations placed on the ruling galactic body, it would be frightening to think of what might happen. But the size of the Senate does not only serve to give it strength, it also has created a number of logistic problems that must be carefully handled. For example the seemingly constant change of senators. Five hundred plus seats come up for reappointment from their representative world each year, and each senator holds their position for

eight years unless a major issue of confidence occurs. With so many senators having to oversee so many issues that affect so many worlds, a great bureaucracy has developed to help process the daily business of the galactic government.

       At the pinnacle of this sprawling system of control sits a single individual, the Chancellor. Elected by a majority vote of the Senate from among their own numbers, the Chancellor is charged with ensuring the smooth operation of the Senate's parliamentary procedure. While his actual Senate powers are limited, he may nominate civil service department heads, act as liaison to the republic armed forces, petition for votes of judicial review, and while he cannot prevent votes from coming to the floor he does control the schedule that determines the order in which the bills and resolutions are voted upon. Chancellor Teril Jendee has recently expanded the scope of of the office though with the reassignment of the Secretary Corps to his personal review and there are rumors that he might petition for the opening of a personal advisory office simply called Special Services. One power he does not have is to nominate which senators will chair the various review committees, but his faction still frequently holds great influence on the process.

       The other mainstay of power within the Senate can be found within the small groups called Senate Review Committees. Because there simply isn't enough time in the day for the gathered assembly to vote on every issue and debate the merits of every proposed resolution the various committees were formed. Each is headed by a senator who submits an application for the review committee they wish to join. Once every four years the senate has an open forum and cast their votes in a month long process that eventually assigns every senator to at least one review committee. Once formed, the committee elects one of its members to chair them. Barring a vote of No Confidence from the full assembly, that individual cannot be removed from the post against their will until the next open forum.There are literally hundreds of committees, some of the most well known and more powerful Senate Review Committees include Military Oversight, Trade Authority, Judicial Appointments, Finance Ministry, Member Mediations, Office of Colonial Affairs, and the Universal Rights Foundation. Additionally, senators are occasionally assigned as honorary ambassadors and work with liaisons to various organizations such as the trade guilds, megacorp collectives, trans-system labor unions, and the Jedi Council.