Rewatching #StarWars ahead of the release of #RiseofSkywalker. So I’m going to thread its mentions of the (Galactic) Senate. 
It seems heated political prognostication is a universal trait.
Curious what Sen. Palpatine’s seniority was to be able to brief his queen on a souring trade war.
What kind of “procedures” are we talking here? A friendly committee chairman blocking mark-up? Is he filibustering? Any Nabooian allies forcing cloture votes?
Ah yes, “assurances.”
A good, old-fashioned fly-in!
Wonder what the pool report looks like for this tarmac greeting. And again with “procedure”: maybe the Speaker hasn’t officially invited the Queen to address the Senate?
Now I’m interested in tracking polling on Galactic institutions...
Alas, the decorum!
Lots of power in the Senate parliamentarian here.
A C-SPAN moment, if such a thing exists on Coruscant.
Leadership elections!
This seems like a non sequitur.
Hearings!
Starting off with an assassination attempt on a sitting senator!
Now imagining Capitol Police with lightsabers.
👀
Campaign finance!
Classic example of tribalism, admiring one’s political allies but loathing the institution they inhabit.
Using an EO to compel a senator seems like it would raise constitutional questions of separation of powers.
Did the governor of Naboo sign off on this?
So on Naboo, the queen is elected but senators are not. Got it.
Forgot about this bit of idealism.
Jokes!
An excellent distillation of I’m sure many Thanksgiving dinner debates across the country last week.
Presented without comment.
A cover-up!
FWIW: The concept of a senator fleeing her home planet to fly to the Outer Rim in the middle of a political crisis to help a bodyguard’s mother seems far-fetched!
I forgot to share this example of floor control from earlier in Ep. 2.
Some commentary on the reactive tendencies of legislative bodies.
More procedural concerns!
Apparently Palpatine’s emergency powers were successfully hotlined and approved unanimously.
If history is any guide, executives are rarely willing to delegate authority BACK to a legislature...
The Senate’s reputational rot continues among stakeholders
Just started Episode 3. Jedis’ cynicism about politics continues.
Despite granting Palpatine emergency powers in the last movie, the Senate has to reauthorize military action?
Scandal Threatens to Rock Naboo Politics, Open Senate Seat
MOAR POWER
Back-channel communications!
Why does Chancellor Palpatine have the same office as Sen. Palpatine? Must be a particularly parliamentary system when it comes to the office lottery.
Institutional reverance as an ideological blinder, exhibit A.
Baby, bathwater, etc.
And how would the Senate feel about this?
“I AM THE SENATE”
By now the Republic has lost any semblance of a separation of powers.
That escalated quickly.
Probably not the point, but warp drives must make it way easier to call back lawmakers from recess.
Are weapons allowed on the Senate floor?
“The Sergeant At Arms wouldn’t be happy you’re destroying Senate property.— @rachelkaras
The late Sen. Padmé Amidala (Loyalist-Naboo)
Onto the recent anthology movies, set after the creation of the Galactic Empire & the apparent weakening of representative democracy. Nothing in “Solo” about politics. But in “Rogue One,” military leadership are actively covering up a massive milcon project (the Death Star).
Darth Vader is in on the cover-up.
And senators are in the Rebellion’s leadership, injecting governmental and political considerations into a paramilitary operation.
“Episode IV: A New Hope” kicks off with a pretty aggressive separation-of-powers incident (among family, no less).
Darth Vader testing executive power here and continuing to undermine legislative oversight.
Fin
Decades later, the Senate has apparently reconstituted by “Episode VII: The Force Awakens” under the New Republic. The First Order, then, is an armed insurrection against an elected(?) government.
Strong War of 1812 vibes.
