The Ultimate Guide to the Senate Committee: Unveiling Members, Powers & the Exciting Path Ahead in the Star Wars Universe
The New Republic's Senate Committee wields power in controlling the Defense Fleet, led by Chancellor Mon Mothma Discover its members and their skepticism towards the Empire's threat
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episode 3.
Summary
In Ahsoka episode 3, the audience is introduced to the New Republic Senate and its Defense Fleet Committee. This episode sheds light on the various characters and their respective powers.
Leading the charge is Mon Mothma, the Chancellor of the New Republic. Driven by her intense loathing for Emperor Palpatine's authoritarian regime in the Galactic Empire, Mon Mothma aims to reinstate the democratic Senate, returning power to the people.
The New Republic Defense Fleet Committee, including skeptical members like Senator Xiono, Senator Mawood, and Senator Rodrigo, need to make collective decisions regarding the threat posed by Thrawn and the Empire.
In episode 3 of Ahsoka, we are introduced to a section of the New Republic Senate comprised of both familiar and new faces, each holding their own power and shaping the future of Star Wars. The episode opens with Ahsoka, the lead character, training her newly-reinstated Padawan Sabine in various forms of lightsaber combat, while also helping her forge a stronger connection to the Force. Simultaneously, New Republic General Hera Syndulla meets with the Senate Committee responsible for the Defense Fleet, seeking their support in deploying a squadron to assist Ahsoka and Sabine in the Denab system.
At the end of episode 3 of Ahsoka, the New Republic Committee chooses not to help Hera, much to her frustration. She is well aware of the threat posed by Grand Admiral Thrawn to the galaxy. The Defense Fleet committee of the New Republic denies Hera's request to assist Sabine and Ahsoka in the Denab system, which is filled with Imperial sympathizers and imminent dangers. In light of the New Republic's decision, it is important to explore the members of the Defense Committee, their authority, and their role in the Star Wars franchise.
Mon Mothma Is A Chancellor Who Seeks To Empower The Senate
In Ahsoka episode 3, one of the familiar Star Wars characters on the New Republic Defense Fleet Committee is Mon Mothma, portrayed by Genevieve O'Reilly. Mon Mothma serves as an Easter egg reference to properties like Rogue One and Andor. It is revealed that she is the Chancellor of the New Republic and is dedicated to establishing a democratic Senate. Ahsoka emphasizes that Mon Mothma aims to restore the Senate's republican ways that existed for a thousand years before Palpatine's emergency powers as Supreme Chancellor.
The events in Andor shed more light on this revelation in Ahsoka. Mon Mothma has consistently shown her disdain for Emperor Palpatine's rule in her other Star Wars appearances, such as in Star Wars Rebels and Rogue One, where she actively opposes the Empire. This, in addition to her efforts to dethrone the Empire during the Dark Times, makes it clear that her establishment of a Senate based on democratic election is the logical progression for the New Republic with Mon Mothma as Chancellor. As a result, other members of the Defense Fleet Committee also have significant influence when addressing the issues presented in Ahsoka episode 3.
The New Republic Defense Fleet Is Controlled By A Dedicated Senate Committee
In Ahsoka, the new system requires Hera to present her request to all five members of the New Republic Defense Fleet Committee. Mon Mothma, as the Chancellor of the New Republic, is among the governing members. The committee must vote unanimously, or at least overwhelmingly, in favor of Hera's request. This approach differs from the previous Galactic Empire, where decisions were made solely by one individual, such as Palpatine. The New Republic adopts a collective decision-making process with dedicated committees for different sectors. In episode 3 of Ahsoka, it is revealed that the Defense Fleet Committee operates in this manner. It is likely that Mon Mothma, as Chancellor, holds a seat on most New Republic Committees. For the Defense Fleet Committee specifically, Mon Mothma is joined by four other members who have authority over the deployment of the New Republic Defense Fleet, based on requests from naval officers like Hera Syndulla.
Who Are The Members Of The New Republic's Senate Committee?
It is worth investigating the identities of the remaining senators on the New Republic Defense Fleet Committee. Aside from Mon Mothma, there are four other members, and only one of them has appeared in previous Star Wars stories. The remaining three senators are relatively unknown. In the Ahsoka series, one of the committee members is an uncredited Gran Senator from Kinyen. Additionally, there are two other senators named Senator Rodrigo and Senator Mawood, portrayed by Jacqueline Antaramian and Maurice Irvin respectively. These two human senators are part of the New Republic Defense Fleet Committee. Another member of the committee is Senator Hamato Xiono, who briefly appeared in Star Wars Resistance, a show set during the sequel trilogy. Hamato Xiono is the father of Kazuda Xiono, the main character in Resistance. While there is limited information about Hamato outside of his responsibilities within the New Republic, Ahsoka episode 3 sheds light on his skepticism towards the return of the Empire and his involvement in the Defense Fleet Committee.
Why The New Republic Senate Committee Don't Believe The Empire's A Threat
Given that the Defense Fleet Committee chooses not to assist Hera's investigation, the question arises as to why Ahsoka's New Republic is permitting the Empire's resurgence. Senator Xiono's comments make it evident that this is not the first time Hera, the New Republic General, has sought aid from the Defense Fleet in relation to Grand Admiral Thrawn. Xiono suggests that Hera has previously utilized the New Republic Defense Fleet to search for Ezra and has used the potential danger of Thrawn as a bargaining tool to secure assistance in her quest to find the missing Bridger.
Consequently, the New Republic Defense Fleet, particularly Senator Xiono, is reluctant to provide aid again if it serves no purpose and would be better utilized elsewhere. Another reason why the New Republic Defense Fleet Committee refuses to assist Hera is simply because its members do not see Thrawn as a threat. Senator Rodrigo and Senator Xiono express in Ahsoka episode 3 that they believe Thrawn and Ezra are deceased, and that the remaining Imperial factions in the galaxy lack a unified leader or centralized command, thus posing no danger to the New Republic.
The primary reason why the Senate Committee does not see the Empire as a threat is fear. Senator Mawood and the Defense Fleet Committee share the sentiment that the people of the Republic are unwilling to engage in another war. This fear of another conflict makes the Senate Committee hesitant to actively pursue someone like Thrawn, who has the potential to start a galaxy-wide war. The belief that Thrawn is either dead or lost in a distant galaxy also contributes to the Senate Committee's lack of concern.
Interestingly, Ahsoka episode 3 gives hints that Mon Mothma partially believes Hera's claims. Mon Mothma, more than anyone else, understands the importance of not ignoring new threats and personally played an active role in rebelling against the Empire. While others avoided conflict out of fear, Mothma sacrificed everything for the Rebel Alliance's greater good. However, Mothma's voice alone is not enough in the New Republic Committee of Ahsoka episode 3, leading them to decide against aiding Hera based on the beliefs of other senators. This decision is likely to have dire consequences when Thrawn inevitably resurfaces.
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