Petition of 2000

"This is a list of traitors!"

―Palpatine discrediting the Petition of 2000's signers^[1]

The Petition of 2000 was a document drafted near the end of the Clone Wars by a group of senators and other political officials (the "Delegation of 2000") addressed to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. As Palpatine established the Grand Army of the Republic and consolidated more and more power, some Republic senators watched with ever-growing concern. When they introduced measures or promoted actions to slow Palpatine's methodical power grab, they were stymied by the Chancellor's skillful use of bureaucracy and manipulation of public opinion.^[2]

The Petition stated that, since the war's end was nearing, Palpatine should give up the emergency powers he had assumed since the end of the Separatist Crisis, which Anakin Skywalker realized would never happen under this Chancellor. It also specifically denounced the resurrected office of Moff, as it would make the Senate essentially powerless.

After the Galactic Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire, many senators removed their signatures from the petition. Nevertheless, all 2,000 were investigated by the newly created Imperial intelligence agencies, including the Imperial Security Bureau. Some were publicly cleared, while others were arrested; some disappeared forever.^[2]