Chair of the Senate

Chair of the Senate was a political position in the Galactic Senate of the Galactic Republic. The Chagrian politician Mas Amedda held the position while also serving as Vice Chair. During his time as chair of the Senate, Amedda met with representatives of the Outer Rim planet Vallt in a committee but did not address their concerns about whether they were being ignored by the Republic, instead becoming annoyed with them.

Duties

Chair of the Senate was a political role held by an individual for the Galactic Senate of the Galactic Republic. The chair was given the role of meeting with representatives from Republic member worlds in a committee, which was designed to discuss problems the world faced. However, such meetings did not always resolve those issues.^[1] It was possible to hold the position while also serving as the Vice Chancellor, which was also known as Vice Chair^[2] and as the Vice chair of the Senate.^[3]

Whilst leading the Senate from the central podium of the Galactic Senate Chamber, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic also had the right referred to themself as "the chair," using the title to recognize which senators had the right to take the floor and which did not.^[4] In the Imperial Senate of the Galactic Empire,^[5] the Republic's successor state,^[1] an individual referred to as "the Chair"—such as the Oathkeeper who oversaw a Senate session in the aftermath of the Ghorman Massacre^[5] in 2 BBY^[6]—did much the same while standing from the same vantage point.^[5]

History

In 31 BBY,^[2] in the decade before the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Chagrian Mas Amedda,^[1] the Vice Chancellor of the Republic,^[2] served as the chair of the Senate. At some point during his time in the position, Amedda met with representatives of the Outer Rim planet Vallt in a committee. When the representatives argued they were being ignored by the Republic, with the people of Vallt having particular concerns over whether they were receiving fair representation, respect, and trade, Amedda and the committee did not work to help the planet, with Amedda even becoming annoyed and writing the people of Vallt off as a disaffected group.^[1]

By 21 BBY,^[2] Amedda was no longer the chair of the Senate but remained the Vice Chancellor. When Vallt became part of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, which offered the benefits the planet was not receiving from the Republic, Lieutenant Commander Orson Krennic informed Amedda that the scientist Galen Erso was on Vallt and could be used to complete a secret project. Amedda showed annoyance at the mention of Vallt, recounting his experience with the planet from his time as chair of the Senate.^[1]

Behind the scenes

The chair of the Senate was first mentioned in the current Star Wars canon in the 2016 novel Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel by James Luceno.^[1] The title Chair of the Senate originated in the 1996 Star Wars Legends novel Before the Storm by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.^[7] In the Legends continuity, the title designated one of the leaders of the New Republic's senate, with the other leader being Chief of State.^[8] The title was also used in the senate of the New Republic's successor, the Galactic Alliance.^[9]

Appearances

• Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel (and audiobook) (First mentioned)

Notes and references