New Republic Senate

The New Republic Senate, also called the Galactic Senate or the New Republic Assembly, was the unicameral legislative body of the New Republic formed in 4 ABY, shortly after the Battle of Coruscant. It consisted of representatives from all over Republic space, which convened on Coruscant (and later other planets) to make high-level decisions and advice the Chief of State.

Powers
The Senate was the legislative and executive power of the New Republic. It also had limited judicial authority, presumably for high-profile plaintiffs or cases too controversial for the Supreme Court. Such cases included trying Senators for treason, crimes against civilization and presumably corruption and treason of the Chief of State.

The Senate debates and implements matters-of-law, votes on the admission of new worlds into the Republic, and has the power to change the constitution. Members of the Senate form smaller committees, along with carefully selected advisers, to cover specific legislative issues, such as finance, human rights, or agriculture. Changes to the constitution can not be made outside of the Senate, nor can laws affecting all New Republic citizens be implemented without senatorial approval.

Composition
Primary members are represented in the Senate by a Senator. Each Senator has a single vote, regardless of the population represented. Affiliate members are represented by a High Commissioner, who may speak in general sessions of the Senate, but may 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 is an almost impossibly unwieldy structure for getting work done. Consequently, most of the real governance is performed by the Senate's councils, committees, and commissions. The daily business of the Senate proper is primarily speech-making and public debate. When the Senate meets as a committee of the whole, it is sometimes referred to as the New Republic Assembly.

Councils are 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 oversees the New Republic Military). The most populous and powerful members of the New Republic are disproportionately represented on the Senate's councils.

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

Commissions are voluntary bodies with an advisory capacity only. They may prepare reports on issues of concern for presentation to the Chief of State, to the Minister of State, to the Supreme Commander, or to the general membership; schedule and conduct hearings; and contract for independent research.

Known members

 * Chief of State
 * Minister of State