Supreme Chancellor/Legends

Supreme Chancellor, or commonly Chancellor, was the title of the head of state and government in the Galactic Republic. It's earliest use was around 5,000 BBY.

The Chancellor was elected by and from the members of the Galactic Senate and served for a four-year term. The Chancellor could be removed from office with a Vote of No Confidence at any time.

The office was largely powerless in the last years of the Republic, serving mainly as an officiator of parliamentary procedure. It was still a very prestigious position, however, and the Chancellor had a grand office and was addressed as, "Excellency." The symbol of the office of the Supreme Chancellor was a fanned spear. Brought out for only the most ceremonious occasions, however a large relief image was scuplted prominently on the Chancellor's podium in the center of the Grand Convocation Chamber.

Chancellor Finis Valorum was seen during the Blockade of Naboo and presided over the dispute between Naboo and the Trade Federation. He was ousted when Queen Amidala, on Senator Palpatine's urging, moved for a vote of no confidence.

The office became much more powerful during the term of Chancellor Palpatine, who was able to convince the Senate to grant him a range of "emergency" powers. Eventually, Palpatine became a dictator and proclaimed himself Emperor of the Galaxy, thus abolishing the office of Chancellor and ending the Republic. This brought about the establishment of the Galactic Empire. The title was not revived by the New Republic.

The Chancellorship may not be the original name for the Republic's leader, as the leader of the Republic had previously been styled President of the Senate, though this may also have simply been one of the Chancellor's many titles. It is also possible that the offices of President and Chancellor existed independantly of each other at first, but were at some point merged (possibly as part of the Ruusan Reformation).

List of known Supreme Chancellors

 * Sidrona Diath (c. 5,000 BBY)
 * Fillorean (c. 4,000 BBY)
 * Anwis Eddicus (?)
 * Vaila Pecivas (?)
 * Unknown Valorum (c. 100 BBY)
 * Kalpana (? - 40 BBY)
 * Finis Valorum (40 - 32 BBY)
 * Palpatine (32 - 19 BBY)