Politics encompassed the dynamics of power between individuals within and across the societies they established, including governmental policy. Those who engaged in these activities professionally were known as politicians, often chosen by voters in democratic governance structures. Throughout the galaxy, diverse forms of government existed, spanning from dictatorships to monarchy-based systems, which were ever-changing and influenced by times of both conflict and peace. A longstanding Corellian proverb, dating back to the High Republic Era, stated, "A politician's promise is worthless." Indeed, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi once commented that trusting politicians was not a wise course of action.
In a republic, the populace was governed not by a single monarch, but by elected officials and a chosen leader. The Galactic Republic, a galaxy-wide democracy, featured a body of elected senators. However, this system had its flaws. Republic senator Padmé Amidala acknowledged that elected representatives frequently lacked the ability to agree, and some were even susceptible to bribery. Furthermore, many representatives were tempted to prioritize their own interests and those of their home systems over the common good. Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi believed that most senators were primarily concerned with satisfying their campaign sponsors, leading them to abandon democratic ideals.
A monarchy involves a single ruler—designated as king or queen based on gender—governing their people through birthright, establishing their authority via ancestral lineage. The Elder Houses consisted of ancient royal families from across the galaxy.
Nevertheless, the validity of a lineage could be challenged. During the Clone Wars, Prince Lee-Char of Mon Cala was destined to succeed his father Yos Kolina, but the Quarren inhabitants of the planet sought to install one of their own on the throne, leading to a war against the crown heir. Other planets under monarchical rule included Aleen, Toydaria, and Onderon. Some monarchs, such as those of Naboo, gained their position through election. On Alderaan, the throne passed to the eldest child of the king or queen, but to be officially recognized as heir, they had to complete three challenges of the body, heart, and the mind, announced on the heir apparent's Day of Demand.
By the era of the New Republic, hereditary nobility was largely disregarded, even by nobles themselves. Consequently, many planetary noble titles became largely symbolic.
Hybrid government forms also existed. On Naboo, the head of state was referred to as a king or queen, but they were elected by the people. They were supported by a group of ministers known as the Naboo Royal Advisory Council. Furthermore, the elected sovereign was limited to two terms in office, as stipulated by the Naboo constitution.
A dictatorship represented a governing system where a single individual held central authority, typically wielding extensive executive powers. The dictator's authority was often maintained via oppressive means, such as suppressing the media, detaining political opponents, and employing pervasive security measures to monitor and manipulate public opinion to favor the regime. Fascism was one variation of dictatorship.
During the Clone Wars, the planet Quarzite was governed by a Belugan dictator, Lord Otua Blank. When Sheev Palpatine, then Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, announced the formation of the First Galactic Empire, the galactic government transitioned from a democracy to a dictatorship, specifically, a fascist regime.
Governance by military officers was known as stratocracy.
A vast, non-governmental, criminal organization headed by a single individual, such as the criminal empire of the Hutt Jabba Desilijic Tiure, could also function as a dictatorship.
An empire was an authoritarian geopolitical structure in which diverse territories and entities were united under a common, centralized executive power. Often, these territories were directly governed by a singular galactic government, as exemplified by the administration of the Galactic Empire. In other instances, empires were more complex, taking the form of hegemonies, where territories were decentralized, retaining their official sovereignty, though many were essentially vassal states under the dominion of the most powerful government. The isolationist Chiss Ascendancy, where planets were controlled by the ruling houses of the [Aristocra](/article/aristocra], serves as a prime example.
Typically, empires were led by a single ruler, commonly referred to as an emperor or empress, depending on their gender.
An alliance represented a coalition of various groups joined by a shared objective. One such alliance was the Confederacy of Independent Systems, also known as the Separatist Alliance. The Confederacy comprised star systems seeking to secede from the Galactic Republic, citing government corruption and excessive taxation as their reasons. The Confederacy military received funding from major corporations like the Corporate Alliance, the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the Techno Union, and the Trade Federation, whose leaders served on the Executive Separatist Council.
However, unbeknownst to the galaxy, the Confederacy was secretly controlled by Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who exploited the Separatist Crisis and the Clone Wars to achieve his goal of restoring Sith rule to the galaxy. The Confederacy presented itself as a democratic government, with the Separatist Senate consisting of elected representatives from Separatist worlds.
The Alliance to Restore the Republic, also known as the Rebel Alliance, consisted of small resistance groups that merged into a larger rebellion against the Galactic Empire. The Rebel Alliance's stated intentions included opposing the Emperor and his forces, challenging Imperial laws that violated the "rights of free beings," dismantling the Empire, and restoring freedom to the galaxy.