A male Zabrak bureaucrat
A bureaucrat signified any person holding an official capacity within a government. It was also a derogatory term for someone in a position of authority who prioritized administrative details above the needs of the people.
During the twilight years of the Galactic Republic, the Galactic Senate had become increasingly tainted by corruption, with bureaucrats like Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda operating covertly. Amedda served under Supreme Chancellors Finis Valorum and Sheev Palpatine. Then-Senator Palpatine claimed that many of these bureaucrats were secretly funded by major trading organizations, such as the Trade Federation, and lobbying groups with vested interests. These entities exploited loopholes in the Republic's free trade laws. Consequently, the bureaucrats aimed to keep chancellors in power who would become entangled in red tape, preventing them from acting against their benefactors. To this end, the bureaucrats facilitated Chancellor Valorum's reelection for a second term to perpetuate their practices.
At one juncture during his tenure, Valorum secretly dispatched Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas and his administrative aide, Silman, to negotiate with members of the Pyke Syndicate. The goal was to avert a large-scale conflict brewing beneath the surface of Coruscant concerning spices. Valorum and several senators kept these negotiations confidential, fearing that open talks with a criminal organization would give opposition leaders in the bureaucracy grounds to undermine the administration. After Valorum was ousted from office, the newly elected Chancellor Palpatine vowed to eliminate corruption and bureaucratic obstacles within the Senate.