Galactic Constitution

The Galactic Constitution, also known as the Republic Constitution, or Republic's Constitution was the document by which the Galactic Republic was governed. Sistros Nevet, an ancient lawgiver, contributed to the constitution. During the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Sheev Palpatine, made increasing changes to the Galactic Constitution with the war effort as his excuse. His changes included four new amendments, one of which was the Reflex Amendment. Another amendment, passed towards the end of the Clone Wars, was the Sector Governance Decree.

These changes prompted members of his own Loyalist Committee to question his honesty, resulting in the creation of the Delegation of 2,000 and the Petition of 2,000. They were ultimately proved right when Palpatine, secretly a Sith Lord, reformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire that he led himself.

The Galactic Constitution declared that all sentients were equal. It also outlawed slavery and forced servitude, and guaranteed protection against hardships. Droid rights supporters pointed to the Galactic Constitution to back up their assertion that droids should be extended the same rights and protections guaranteed to organics.