New Republic/Legends

Form of Government Confederation Official language Basic Capital Coruscant, Da Soocha V, Dac Head of State Chief of State Commander-in-Chief Supreme Commander Legislative Branch Inner Council, Provisional Council (5–7 ABY); Senate (7–28 ABY) Executive Branch Inner Council, Provisional Council; Ruling Council, Advisory Council, General Ministry, Senate, (de jure), Chief of State (de facto) Judicial Branch Court of Justice Founding Document Declaration of a New Republic Formed from Alliance of Free Planets Establishment 5 ABY Restoration 7 ABY Re-organization 28 ABY Currency Galactic Standard Credit National Holiday Restoration Day

"The New Republic is a mutual self-protection pact among over four hundred sapient species and an economic partnership between eleven thousand inhabited worlds."

- Chief of State Leia Organa Solo

The New Republic was the name of the galactic government that came to power after the Battle of Endor.

Like its predecessor, it too was simply called the Republic.

Overview
With the defeat of the Galactic Empire, the Alliance to Restore the Republic was transformed into the New Republic, a nominal successor to the pre-Imperial Galactic Republic, or Old Republic. It was hoped that the infant organization would, in Mon Mothma's words, "become the New Republic in fact as well as name".

However, contrary to the optimistic intentions and expectations, the New Republic quickly fell afoul of political infighting, similar to that experienced by the Galactic Republic in its waning years. The central government was swiftly rendered impotent. By the time of the Black Fleet Crisis, the authority that the New Republic held over system and sector governments was tenuous at best and non-existent at worst.

Further weakening the influence of the central government was the sorry state of the New Republic Defense Force. Fearing the federal consolidation of power that the Imperial Navy had permitted, the New Republic Senate refused to authorize adequate funding for the Defense Force. Even despite the likes of the Black Fleet Crisis, increased defense expenditure was only forthcoming only after the peace treaty with the Imperial Remnant. By this time it was too late. Taking advantage of the situation, the Yuuzhan Vong began their long-planned extragalactic invasion with near disastrous consequences.

Continuing internal strife coupled with weak leadership hampered the New Republic's ability to counter the invasion. The aftermath of the fall of Coruscant to the Yuuzhan Vong saw the New Republic ally with the Imperial Remnant and, to an extent, the Chiss Ascendancy to form the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. Transferring its institutions to the Galactic Alliance, the New Republic was formally dissolved.

The Provisional Council
The death of Emperor Palpatine four years after the Battle of Yavin at the Battle of Endor signaled the end of the Empire. One month later, the Declaration of a New Republic was issued by eight of the most important members of the Rebel Alliance, setting forth goals, values, and ideals of the new government. These eight individuals, Mon Mothma of Chandrila, Princess Leia Skywalker Organa Solo of Alderaan, Borsk Fey'lya of Kothlis, Admiral Ackbar of Dac, Sian Tevv of Sullust, Doman Beruss of Corellia, Kerrithrarr of Kashyyyk, and Verrinnefra B’thog Indriummsegh of Elom, became the first Inner Council of the New Republic provisional government, or the Provisional Council.

The main goal of the Provisional Council, and so of the New Republic, was to capture Coruscant. This was more for symbolic rather than strategic purposes. Since the beginning of the Old Republic the seat of galactic government had been on Coruscant, and its capture would legitimize the authority of the New Republic in the eyes of the Galaxy. Until the move could be made, the Provisional and Inner Councils met on other member worlds instead, such as Noquivzor. During this period, the Provisional Government continued to provide guidance for the new government and work out a new series of principles and laws.

The First Senate
Shortly after the capture of Coruscant seven years after the Battle of Yavin and the relocation of the New Republic government, the New Republic Senate was established during Restoration Day. The speech of Princess Leia Organa, New Republic Minister of State, reflected the beliefs and principles of the First Senate:


 * "Today we become a galactic family&mdash;a family of the great and the small, the young and the old, with honor to all and favor to none."

Mon Mothma became the first Chief of State of the New Republic and also, under the new Charter, the President of the Senate and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. During her administration, the New Republic government remained very similar to that of the provisional government. The Inner Council continued to be at its head, but the New Republic Senate Assembly assumed the duties of the Provisional Council.

One of the first major tests came in 9 ABY when Grand Admiral Thrawn assumed control of the Imperial Remnant and led a successful campaign against the New Republic which was cut short by his death that same year. Despite Thrawn's death, a series of Republic defeats at Kaikielius and Metellos culminated in the Remnant's capture of Coruscant, which would not pass back to the Republic until 11 ABY. The Remnant's subsequent internecine feuding allowed the Republic to drive the Remnant from the Inner Rim, placing roughly 75% of the known galaxy under Republic protection.

The victory was short lived as a year after Thrawn's death the resurrected Emperor led a major Imperial offensive originating from the Deep Core. Faced with superior forces, including a number of superweapons, the New Republic was forced to fall back and operate in much the same way as the Rebel Alliance had. Ultimately the New Republic was saved by the death of the Emperor.

The Senate during the Black Fleet Crisis (The Second Senate)
Upon the successful recapture of Coruscant in 11 ABY, the New Republic Senate began the first of a series of government restructuring programs. Specialized councils were established, each with greater power than ordinary Senate committees and given the responsibility for a specific aspect of government. These included the Council on the Common Defense, the Council on Security and Intelligence, the Justice Council, the Ministry Council, the Council on Science and Technology, and the Commerce Council.

The Inner Council was replaced by the Ruling Council consisting of the chairpersons of each of the eight Senate councils. The Ruling Council had the authority to remove the Chief of State from office to prevent the head of government from becoming too powerful, as Palpatine had become as Supreme Chancellor.

During the Second Senate, Mon Mothma retired from public life and named Princess Leia Organa Solo as her successor. With the approval of the Senate, Organa Solo became the second Chief of State of the New Republic.

Many important events with long lasting repercussions occurred during the presidency of Organa Solo. The most important of these was the opening of diplomatic talks with the Duskhan League, an alliance of Yevethan worlds in the Koornacht Cluster. This in turn led to what was commonly referred to as the Black Fleet Crisis, during which Organa Solo extended the powers of the Chief of State, amidst two petitions of recall from the Ruling Council and a petition of no confidence in the Senate, in order to protect the New Republic from the fanatical Yevethans and their ruthless campaign of genocide.

It was also during this time that many former Imperial worlds petitioned for and received New Republic membership. However, the governments of many of these worlds retained their Imperial-era character and as a result their Senate delegations often advocated views associated with the late Empire. This ideological disjoint often resulted in deadlock within the Senate.

Finally, after being criticized for New Republic involvement in the Koornacht Cluster, Almania (during which the Senate Hall was destroyed), and the Corellian system, and because of discord within the Senate, especially between the traditional and pro-Imperial senators, Chief of State Leia Organa Solo took an indefinite leave of absence, upon which the Calibop senator Ponc Gavrisom was chosen as the caretaker Chief of State.

The Third Senate
Ponc Gavrisom’s ascension to the office of Chief of State, the construction of a new Senate Grand Convocation Chamber, and a new round of major government restructuring marked the beginning of the Third Senate. The power of government was shifted more to the local, planetary, system, sector, and regional levels to avoid the centralization of power that marked the Palpatine era. The New Republic Senate’s role was thus reduced to little more than providing for the common defense and mediating inter-system disputes. While any legislation passed by it was still binding, the new limit of one bill per delegation per year prevented gridlock, since any proposed legislation would have to pass the scrutiny of both the committee in which it was introduced as well as the full Senate.

Another development made during the restructuring was the creation of the New Republic Observers, an organization that functioned much like the Jedi Order during much of the Republic. The job of the Observers was to move about the New Republic and to report to the Senate what they saw or heard, especially with regard to improper government activities that local authorities preferred to keep out of sight.

The major event of the Third Senate was the Caamas Document crisis, which threatened to begin a civil war between pro-Bothan and anti-Bothan factions of the New Republic. The crisis, which began with the uncovering of the Caamas Document at Wayland, ended with the signing of a final peace treaty between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant, finally ending the thirty-seven year Galactic Civil War.

The Fourth Senate
"The New Republic? Are you blind? There is no New Republic! It died before the Yuuzhan Vong came!"

- Leia Organa Solo, 27 ABY

The end of the Galactic Civil War saw many worlds finally choosing which organization to join, with many being incorporated into the New Republic. Organa Solo returned to the Senate shortly after the signing of the Bastion Accords, but permanently resigned in 23 ABY. In the subsequent election, Borsk Fey'lya was elected Chief of State with a three-fifths majority. Many other long term members of the Senate resigned as well. Unfortunately, these senators, beings of high principle and former rebel leaders, were replaced by senators of lesser principle, and the infighting of the Old Republic was seen again. In the subsequent invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong, the Senate was paralyzed by incompetence and cowardice. In the Fall of Coruscant, most of the Senate hijacked elements of the Defense Fleet to escort themselves out of the system. Fey'lya, who was responsible for many (if not most) of the failures of the War, sacrificed himself in the battle. The Senate reconvened on Mon Calamari, and, after a long campaign, elected Cal Omas as Chief of State. That would be the final election of the New Republic, which formally became the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances with the election of Omas.

Organization
Notes on the Mature Organizational and Administrative Structure of the New Republic By Donn Gulek, Chief Historian, Kellmer Institute (adapted from Cracken's Threat Dossier, with corrections made where necessary).

Membership in the New Republic
The New Republic was a voluntary confederation organized on democratic principles under a common Charter and in accord with the ideals and purposes embodied in the Declaration of a New Republic. Primary (voting) membership was available to any independent sovereign political entity representing one or more unified planetary populations, or to other recognized and definable territories. Membership followed an application process (during which the candidate member reviewed the Charter and other governing statutes and agreed to abide by them) and an assessment process (during which the candidate member's annual support contribution was determined).

Affiliate (non-voting) membership was available to subordinate political units (for example, the individual members of a league of worlds) and to duly recognized representatives of sentient species not constituting a political unit.

Observer (non-voting) membership was available to nonmember allies of the New Republic.

The Declaration of a New Republic set forth the principles to which the New Republic was dedicated; the common Charter was the actual mechanism by which planets became members, and specified both the rights and duties of members, and the various institutions of government and their powers. The common Charter was a creation of the transitional Provisional Council.

The Senate
The government of the New Republic was organized around a unicameral legislative body called the Senate, replacing the Provisional Council. Primary members were represented in the Senate by a Senator. Each Senator had a single vote, regardless of the population represented. Affiliate members were represented on Coruscant by a Legate, who could speak in general sessions of the Senate, but could not vote on official Senate business (to avoid dual representation) or serve in the Senate's various working bodies.

As a body with a large and potentially unlimited membership, the Senate-in-whole was an almost impossibly unwieldy structure for getting work done. Consequently, most of the real governance was performed by the Senate's councils, committees, and commissions. The daily business of the Senate proper was primarily speech-making and public debate. When the Senate met as a committee of the whole, it was sometimes referred to as the New Republic Assembly.

Councils were appointed bodies with autonomous decision-making and appropriation authority over some segment of government operations outside the Senate proper (for example, the Defense Council, which oversaw the Navy). The most populous and powerful members of the New Republic were disproportionately represented on the Senate's councils.

Committees were elected bodies with the authority to administer various aspects of Senate operations, including the general budget. They were semi-autonomous; in the event of a unanimous committee vote, the approval of the Senate-in-whole was not required (however, the Senate-in-whole could override a less-than-unanimous committee decision with a three-to-five majority).

Commissions were voluntary bodies with an advisory capacity only. They prepared reports on issues of concern for presentation to the President of the Senate, to the Minister of State, to the Supreme Commander, or to the general membership; scheduled and conducted hearings; and contracted for independent research.

The President
The President of the Senate, elected by a three-by-five majority of the Senators, was Chief of State of the New Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet.

Tradition varied on the proper form of address for the President. Mon Mothma preferred "Chief of State," but the address varied under Leia Organa Solo depending on context. In general, Senators, the Senate bureaucracy, and the Coruscant media referred to the President, while the General Ministry, member worlds, and the population of the New Republic often referred to the Chief of State, depending on local languages and history. Part of the problem and confusion arose from the lingering association of the term President with the last holder of that office before the Empire&mdash;Senator Palpatine. Most of the subsequent Presidents of the Imperial Senate were lapdogs of the Emperor. The term retained a certain stain; this contributed to Organa Solo's difficulties during crisis situations. The concerted effort by certain public relations aides to bring the term "President" into common use invoked old fears of Presidential tyranny.

The President could be recalled by a majority vote of the Senate on presentation of a petition of no-confidence by a majority of the Ruling, or Inner, Council, or by a quarter of the primary members of the Senate. The election of a President could be blocked by the Ruling Council on a unanimous vote. In practice, the power of the Ruling Council to void an election and initiate the recall of a sitting President meant that any candidate proposed by or approved by the Ruling Council was likely to be elected by the Senate. The Ruling Council consisted of the chairmen of the Senate councils and the President of the Senate. The President could select any member of the Ruling Council to conduct the business of the Senate in her absence from that body.

If the president became incapacitated, incommunicado, or died, the chairman of the Ministry Council selected an acting Chief of State from among the following: any former President, the current Minister of State, any former Minister of State.

The General Ministry
The General Ministry was the non-military bureaucracy of the New Republic. It was organized into several large permanent Ministries, smaller task-oriented service Agencies, and several semi-independent Institutes. The various Senate councils had oversight and financing authority over the corresponding Ministries.

The Cabinet consisted of the heads of the various ministries and was headed by the Minister of State. This body was the link between the Chief of State and the Ministries.

The First Administrator, appointed by the Ministry Council with the approval of the President of the Senate, led the New Republic General Ministry. He reported to the Chief of State.

The Court of Justice
The members of the Court of Justice were selected by the Senate Justice Council from a list of nominees presented by the President of the Senate. The First Justice was elected by the other members of the Court from among their number. Nominally independent, the power of the Court of Justice was limited by its narrowly defined jurisdiction: to review charges of violations of the Charter by members or by the other branches of the New Republic's government. The Court of Justice did not serve as the court of last appeal for ordinary civil and criminal cases; those were settled by local judicial authorities on member worlds.

The New Republic Defense Force
The New Republic Defense Force was the military arm of the New Republic. It operated five full fleets, each consisting of hundreds of warships, transports, and support vessels, divided into battle groups and task forces, in addition to ground troop divisions and starfighter wings. The fleets were known collectively as the New Republic Defense Fleet, although many referred to it as the New Republic Navy.

After the reorganization of the military into a single unified command, the former Minister of Defense was called the Supreme Commander, and the posts of Minister of the Army and Minister of the Navy were abolished.

The Supreme Commander, appointed by the Defense Council with the approval of the President of the Senate, led the Defense Force. He reported to the Chief of State.

Appearances

 * Mandatory Retirement
 * X-wing Series
 * The Courtship of Princess Leia
 * Heir to the Empire
 * The Last Command
 * Before the Storm
 * Shield of Lies
 * Tyrant's Test
 * Tales from the New Republic
 * Specter of the Past
 * Vision of the Future
 * Star by Star
 * Destiny's Way