Before Voting: Select information from Wookieepedia:

Finis Valorum (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Finis_Valorum)

He was Senator of the Lytton sector, a member of the Core faction of senators and Chancellor Kalpana's administration, and had been involved with negotiations to end the Stark Hyperspace War.
In 40 BBY, Valorum ran for the Chancellorship under the support of the Core faction of senators. Valorum was largely elected due to the recognition and influence of his family. His involvement as a negotiator in the Stark Hyperspace War was another factor that aided his election. He presumably also was helped by his accomplishments as an adviser to Kalpana.

Despite the fact that many senators doubted Valorum's competency, he easily won re-election. This was very much due to the facts that his enemies considered him easily controllable and there were no real opposing candidates. However, many of those considering opposing Valorum considered backing Palpatine. Perhaps because of this, it was shortly after the election that Valorum and Palpatine began a friendship, with Palpatine becoming a de facto Vice-Chancellor.

After the Incident at Dorvalla in 33 BBY, on the initiative of Senator Palpatine, Valorum suggested for the taxation of Free-Trade routes to make peace with the Nebula Front who had been terrorizing the Trade Federation. The Front did not think this would make any difference and attempted to murder the Chancellor. The terrorists made two assassination attempts, both of which were foiled by the Jedi.

(Censored by 501 Trooper because Senate did not know who did it, or even if it did happen) funneled several million credits, believed to have been stolen by the Nebula Front, through the Bank of Aargau, and into the accounts of the Valorum family. (censored) Senator Orn Free Taa, who revealed it to the Internal Activities Committee, thus critically weakening the Chancellor's already tenuous hold on power.

Although Valorum denied the accusations and his supporters rallied to his side, his influence and reputation languished. Correctly thinking that he could be ousted from his charge in a near future, Valorum then decided to perform one last good deed while he could, and he gathered the Coruscant security forces to fight a subversive organization known as The Flail. The Flail, who believed the Senate was corrupt, had performed several attacks, disrupting public services with no care for the lives or property lost. The Flail's members dwindled thanks to Valorum's efforts, and the main leaders of the conspiracy died in a shooting with the police. Valorum publicly promised that the remnants of the Flail would be taken to justice before the following Senate conference, which prompted the new terrorist leader, Zegmon Pent, to send Valorum death threats and vainly assault his aide Sei Taria.

In 32 BBY, the Trade Federation made use of their battleships in a practically impenetrable blockade orbiting Naboo. It was a bold move for the usually cowardly Federation, triggering the Naboo crisis.

For the next month, the Senate debated fiercely, but did not act to aid the people of Naboo. The Federation's representative, Lott Dod, successfully argued his case: they had not violated any Republic laws; they had attacked no ships, nor had they moved against Naboo itself. And if no outright crime had been committed, the Judicial Department could not be sent. The stalling further weakened the Valorum administration; their defiance of his measures was in itself damaging to the Chancellor's already dwindling support.

Queen Amidala of Naboo contacted Valorum and held him personally responsible for the suffering on her world. Every day he delayed, she stated, he took bread out of the mouths of the starving children of Naboo. Pressed against the wall by his conscience, and desperate to shore up his crumbling support, he decided to act. He would call for a special session of the Senate to discuss the blockade, but to have a strong bargaining position, he needed the battleships sent home from Naboo. He would use the Jedi as ambassadors and send them to Naboo. Their presence would shake the Neimoidians' confidence and show them he meant business. But this came to nothing as the Federation occupied Naboo and detained Amidala. In a daring raid, she was rescued by the two Jedi Valorum had sent; Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Valorum met the Queen when she arrived on Coruscant to assure her that necessary steps were being taken to end the crisis.

The long-anticipated special session of the Senate had only two items on its agenda: a hearing of the Naboo delegation's case, and a debate on the Trade Federation's continued opposition to Senate Resolution BR-0371. Few expected it to be anything other than routine. Lott Dod, the Federation's representative, stalled the proceedings with every procedural tool at his command.

Dod and his allies threw up objection after objection; Amidala, unable to even finish her plea, grew more and more frustrated. Finally, Dod moved that a Senate committee be created to go to Naboo to determine if her "accusations" were valid, citing senatorial procedures that Amidala had no hope of understanding. Then, Mas Amedda—as expected—pulled Valorum aside, subtly forcing Valorum to concede that Dod was within his rights according to Section 523A.When Valorum turned back from Amedda and asked the queen if she would defer her motion to allow the committee to do its work, it was the last straw. She had seen with her own eyes that Palpatine had been right–Valorum was ineffective–and she had nowhere left to go. Amidala delivered the words that sealed Finis Valorum's fate.

"I will not defer. I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now! I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee. If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed. I move for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."
―Queen Amidala

Valorum was surprised by the motion, never anticipating the betrayal - events had moved past him. Senator Edcel Bar Gane of Roona seconded Amidala's motion, and the vote was on the floor. The Senate had waited for this for months, perhaps years, and so unpopular was Valorum that there was little resistance to the move to impeach him. The Senators erupted into a frenzied uproar, calling out, "Vote now! Vote now! Vote now!" All the Chancellor could do was to postpone the vote until the following day. When the Senate convened the following day to vote on the no confidence motion, the outcome was decisive. Valorum had few friends left, and the Senate so badly wanted him gone that they did not hesitate.




Bail Antilles (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Bail_Antilles)

A Human male, Bail Antilles was born on Alderaan, a planet that had been an established center point in culture and politics of the Galactic Republic for thousands of years. The young Bail, a prince by birth on his homeworld, was a prominent member of the House of Antilles, one of the planet's most influential noble bloodlines. Following the Alderaanian law, Antilles reached the age of responsibility at seventeen, becoming a full adult independent of his parents. He joined galactic-wide politics by succeeding his elder colleague Agrippa Aldrete as Senator of the Alderaan sector to the Galactic Senate, the main legislative and executive council of the Republic. Prince Antilles occupied a highly prestigious function, since the delegation from Alderaan held considerable power in the Senate Rotunda. Apart from his political career, Antilles started a family by marrying a woman, with whom he lived on Coruscant—the capital world of the Republic—during his senatorial service.

Toward the end of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum's administration, Senator Antilles was a known supporter of the Chancellor. At that time, the Senate was mostly divided in two factions: the liberal Core faction, led by Antilles and traditionally supporting Valorum, and the conservative Rim faction, opposed to Valorum's measures and using Senator Ainlee Teem of Malastare as their spokesbeing. Both Teem and Antilles were considered plausible successors to Valorum by many, including the Chancellor himself.

During that time, corruption was a thorn in the flesh of the Senate. Antilles decided to go on crusade against it, becoming a paragon of integrity. He joined the Internal Activities Committee, a core group the role of which was to maintain ethics and legality among the high-ranking officials of the Republic. Antilles was even appointed chairman of the Committee, which also included Horox Ryyder of Gravlex Med, Yarua of Kashyyyk and nominally Palpatine of Naboo. The Alderaanian senator retained that position for years until his retirement.[11] During the last days of his service, Antilles was assisted by two senatorial aides: the former Senator Aldrete[12] and Liana Merian, a female diplomat also indigenous to Alderaan.

In 33 BBY, the Trade Federation, a shipping interest that monopolized the trade routes of the Outer Rim Territories, suffered the attacks of the criminal organization known as the Nebula Front in several sectors. Through the voice of its representative in the Senate, Lott Dod, the Federation asked the Galactic Republic for help. The Chancellor proposed a taxation of the Free Trade Zone, a solution that the Federation disapproved of. Senator Dod suggested that alternatively the Trade Federation could increase their own security expenses, thus not needing the protection of the Republic. Dod's idea was supported by Ainlee Teem,[11] but Antilles protested, as it could endanger the stability of the already dangerous Outer Rim.[1][11] Antilles suggested instead that the Trade Federation simply avoid the dangerous areas; it was not to the liking of representatives of the planets there. As the problem was considered tricky, a summit was arranged on the planet Eriadu to discuss it later. Antilles, along with Ryyder, still attempted to meet privately with the Chancellor before that moment.

Soon afterward, the Nebula Front attempted to assassinate Valorum. Their plan, however, was thwarted by the Jedi Masters Qui-Gon Jinn and Adi Gallia, and the Chancellor was only wounded. Antilles obtained proof of the Front's involvement in the incident and, along with Senator Com Fordox of Corellia, paid the recovering politician a social visit at the Galactic Senate Medcenter. Later, a recovered Valorum thanked Antilles for his interest by consulting him—along with other aides, Ryyder and Palpatine—about a hostage situation.

Censored

Once the taxing of trade routes had been approved, Antilles, in his role as Internal Activities chairman, informed Valorum of charges of corruption filed against him and represented the prosecution in the subsequent Supreme Court inquiry. Valorum's reputation was at stake and as his second mandate drew to a close, both Antilles and Teem started campaigning to replace him.

Censored Queen Padmé Amidala, the recently elected ruler of Naboo, called for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Valorum.

The motion was greeted with resounding success, and Valorum was removed from office. As a consequence, Bail Antilles, Ainlee Teem and Palpatine were nominated to succeed Valorum in the upcoming Chancery election.[15] During the campaign, Antilles organized a political meeting aboard the Perlemian Orbital Facility. The Prince had obtained the support of several Senators and businessbeings, as well as that of Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth, who had been tasked with settling a dispute among some of Alderaan's noble houses. Since Antilles had gained popularity following the taxation debates, he was considered the top candidate for the chancellorship by both the holomedia and his fellow senators.



Ainlee Teem (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ainlee_Teem):

Ainlee Teem was a Gran male politician and member of the Gran Protectorate of Malastare. He succeeded Pax Teem as the Gran Protectorate's senator, representing it jointly in the Galactic Senate with Aks Moe, with Baskol Yeesrim serving as his aide.

Senator Teem was one of the candidates nominated to replace Finis Valorum as Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic in the Chancery election of 32 BBY, presumably by a group of the Rim faction, and he was considered the frontrunner. Teem secured the backing of the Corporate Policy League.

Palpatine (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Palpatine):

When Senator Vidar Kim was assassinated by a never-identified Maladian gunman on a passing airspeeder in 52 BBY, the thirty-year-old Palpatine stood for election to succeed him. The people of Naboo elected him as their sectorial Senator, to represent Naboo and the thirty-five other affiliated worlds of the Chommell sector.

The new representative of Chommell sector wasted no time in forming relationships that could help him in the future. The first was the son of the man whose death ensured his own election. Ronhar Kim was a Jedi who had forsworn his family ties but had also been present to witness his father's murder. Palpatine approached the younger Kim even as he stood before his father's body, lying in state. Under his mask of sorrow and condolence, he studied Kim carefully. But he said little; instead, he demonstrated an art that would serve him well, and give him access to the powerful: his ability to listen, to serve as a confidant for others.

During their conversation, it quickly became clear that, rather than finding whoever struck down the father he had barely known, Kim was more concerned about himself and his own choices in life: Vidar Kim, lacking any other living family, had wanted his son to honor his bloodline again, perhaps follow him into politics. But Palpatine suggested that for a Jedi to become a politician would be a waste. Instead, perhaps the best course would be an alliance between a Jedi and a politician.

Kim agreed, and struck up a "friendship" that would last some three decades. Ronhar Kim would be the first of Palpatine's "alliances" with individual Jedi, but this particular alliance would be of great use: Kim would eventually be used as a pawn in a scheme that resulted in the creation of the feared Red Guards (32 BBY).

By the time Palpatine stepped onto the Senate floor for the first time, he already knew that the prominent power-brokers in the Senate looked down their noses at the more provincial delegates, expecting little to nothing of importance from them. He knew that he, too, was lumped in with the other hopefuls from Rimward worlds, those who, having never ventured far from their homeworlds before, would in short order be overwhelmed by Coruscanti politics.

Rather than do anything to prove the elites wrong, Palpatine encouraged them to keep thinking this way. Again, he failed to take advantage of opportunities that could have landed him on important advisory boards and powerful committees, and unless pressed, he never shared his observations with his colleagues;[30] apparently he purposely sought to keep his advancement slow, knowing that the more he did so, the more harmless he seemed to potential rivals. The performance evidently worked; the powerful Senators, wrapped up in their own petty power struggles, simply laughed at the small and quiet provincial, and otherwise paid him no mind.

Palpatine surprised everyone as he became increasingly popular. He wrote extensively, his notes on power becoming popular texts among political and military science students, his theories even taught at leading universities throughout the galaxy. Despite this growing influence, Palpatine remained unassuming, and would spend many hours alone reflecting in his modest, yet well-appointed quarters. People remarked on how he remained a private man, rarely attending social functions, devoting all his time to his work. It was left to his senatorial aides and to droids, such as TC-4[32] to do much of the day-to-day work and maintain his guise as the mild-mannered representative of Naboo.

Senator Palpatine began establishing relationships with respected public figures in key positions of government. As it grew, the list of friends included Senators both weak and powerful, military officers, members of the great organs of commerce, and even members of the Jedi Order.

Palpatine served as part of a Republic task force sent to monitor the demilitarization of Ando, where the two native species had resumed a long-standing feud over mining rights. It was here that he met Jorus C'baoth, a Jedi who was also a member of the expedition. Palpatine took advantage of the encounter to establish what would become a long-standing friendship with C'baoth. Upon returning to Coruscant, they often met to discuss politics, philosophy, and the state of the Republic. Eventually, at Palpatine's request, the Jedi Reassignment Council sent C'baoth to act as his personal advisor, and C'baoth became part of his staff. One thing they discussed during their time together held promise for the future: they spoke of the ExGal Society, a small, dedicated group of scientists studying the possibilities of life outside the galaxy, and the idea of an excursion beyond the Galactic Rim. It would be conversations like this that would result in the ill-fated Outbound Flight project.

Janus Greejatus, then a politician on Chommell Minor, had established himself as an isolationist—in fact his political language concealed a virulent anti-alien prejudice that stemmed from his earliest formative years—with a significant popular following on his homeworld. The Greejatus family had had friendly relations with House Palpatine of Naboo, and Cosinga Palpatine, based on the rapport he perceived between his son and Janus Greejatus. Years later, Palpatine became senator, and Greejatus came to his attention as a result of his political achievements on Chommell Minor. Palpatine did not echo Greejatus's more divisive statements, but he did see a use for Greejatus and took him under his wing. Palpatine's own feelings are a mystery, but Greejatus labored under the impression that theirs was a firm friendship. That friendship, if such it was, would endure for more than three decades.

Commander Terrinald Screed, then a young officer in the Republic Judicial Department, was contacted by Palpatine, and found that his own ideas easily meshed with those of the Senator.

Senator Palpatine also brought his own loyal aides with him from Naboo and elsewhere.

The ruthless Ars Dangor was also an aide to Senator Palpatine at this time. He was also responsible for all public addresses.

The Trade Federation rapidly built up its forces in the Naboo system, assembling enough battleships to ensure a tight blockade. At command, they closed the planet off and strangled its formerly thriving trade business. No supply ships could land or take off. Then the Federation secured the outer gate to the system by stationing a battleship at Station TFP-9, its own outpost at the outer edge of the system, to ward off the curious and advertise the act to all who would listen. The last free entrance was closed off, and all incoming ships were informed that the Federation was acting in protest of the illegal taxes that the Republic had levied against them.

For the next month, the Senate debated fiercely, but did nothing to help the Naboo. The Federation's representative, Lott Dod, successfully argued that they had not yet violated any Republic laws; they had attacked no ships, nor had they moved against Naboo itself. And if no outright crime had been committed, the Judicial Department could not act. The stalling further weakened the Valorum government; their defiance of his measures was in itself damaging, but the longer it went on, the more impotent Valorum appeared. Palpatine urged Queen Amidala to be patient and wait until the Senate reached a decision.

Amidala proved harder to rein in than expected: her patience spent, she contacted Valorum and told him that she held him personally responsible for her world's suffering. Shocked, pushed into a corner by his own conscience, and desperate to shore up his crumbling support, Valorum decided to act. He would call for a special session of the Senate to discuss the blockade.

The long-anticipated special session of the Senate—the last under the Valorum government—had only two items on its agenda: a hearing of the Naboo delegation's case, and a debate on the Trade Federation's continued opposition to BR-0371. Few expected it to be anything other than routine.

During the session, Dod and his allies threw up objection after objection; Amidala, unable to even finish her plea, grew more and more frustrated. Finally, Dod moved that a Senate committee be created to determine if her "accusations" were valid - a proposition that was further supported by Senator Aks Moe of Malastare. Amedda then pulled Valorum aside, subtly forcing him to concede that Dod was within his rights. When Valorum then asked Amidala to defer her motion to allow the committee to do its work, it was the last straw. She saw with her own eyes that Palpatine was right—Valorum was ineffective—and she had nowhere left to go. Palpatine hid his satisfaction as, next to him, Amidala delivered the words that sealed Finis Valorum's fate.

"I will not defer! I have come before you to resolve this attack on our sovereignty now! I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee! If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed. I move for a Vote of No Confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."
―Queen Amidala before the Galactic Senate in 32 BBY

Valorum was thunderstruck, but by the time he could recover, events had moved past him. Senator Edcel Bar Gane of Roona seconded Amidala's motion, and the vote was on the floor - before long, hundreds of Senators were demanding the vote take place. The Senate had waited for this for months, perhaps years, and so unpopular was Valorum that they descended upon him with no mercy, demanding a vote. It was all the Chancellor could do to postpone the vote until the following day.

The sudden power vacuum left a choice for the two major factions in the Senate. The loyal Senators saw the danger of an unstable government and sought to elect a strong leader to truly clean up the corruption in the Senate. The corrupt Senators wanted stability too, if only so they could continue plundering the system, and sought a figurehead who would provide the appearance of stability and just look the other way while they fattened themselves. Bail Antilles, representative of Alderaan, was the choice of the loyal Senators, while Ainlee Teem, representative of Malastare, was the choice of the corrupt Senators. These two nominations came as no surprise; both had been campaigning for months, even before the corruption scandal.

Much of the back-room politicking that led to Palpatine's nomination has been lost to history. What is known is that he had been working for months to catch the attention of an influential clique in the Senate, led by Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth. Taa was not satisfied with Teem or Antilles. As early as the breaking of the corruption scandal, Palpatine had caught Taa's eye as a potential compromise candidate.[29] From Taa's point of view, it made sense: Palpatine had few enemies in the Senate, and many friends, ensuring that all factions could work well with him. Thus, it can be assumed either Taa or one of those Senators in his circle nominated Palpatine.

(Palpatine had so much censored stuff I didn't put in any censored stuff, I just left it blank.)



Vote as if you were a senator, and sorry for making you read so much.

I'm sorry- if you look at the last couple of posts on the original thread, I kinda messed up making the original. This one, I did research and made a good thread with correct info.

Thats an interesting point of view. Obama and Palpatine are very similar.

Well, aside from the fact that Palpatine is an evil Sith mastermind who manipulates the political system to amass more and more power. :)

No. (you aren't)

Mildly amusing, maybe, awesome, no.

I would find that a little scary.

Hello? I got a lot of answers for the one I messed up on. could I get more votes?

Why do you have to act so grown up? Gosh!

My view on this all is that without actually watching the movies or anything, how would the senators know if Amidala is telling the truth or not? The trade federation and Naboo had been not liking each other, so this could have been revenge of some sort. Also, Amidala refusing to let a committee check to see if she was telling the truth or not seems kind of sketchy. Also, as stated by Gwek, Antilles would most likely follow Valorum's lead of being completely useless. If I were a senator, and that was all I knew, I'd vote for Ainlee Teem. Now if anyone would like to say why they would vote for anyone else, that would be appreciated so voting people can see all the different views.