| abstract | - Palpatine II was a clone of the original Emperor Palpatine originally bred on the planet Kamino first bred in 10 BBY to be the official heir to the rulership of the Galactic Empire. Unlike the original Palpatine and Darth Vader, Palpatine II was never intended to be a Sith, and Palpatine II's ability to use the Force was limited. After his "father" was killed along with Vader and the second Death Star battle station at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, Palpatine II assumed the Imperial throne. Meeting the challenge of the Rebel Alliance, now renaming itself the New Republic—a supposed restoration of the Galactic Republic that had been abolished in 19 BBY—Palpatine II reinstated the Galactic Senate that had been officially dissolved by his predecessor in 0 ABY along with sector assemblies that were appointed by local planetary governments under both the Old Republic and the early Empire in order to elect the Senate on Coruscant and to aid in the governing of individual sectors. Palpatine II had the Imperial Charter (the constitution under which the Galactic Empire had been governed, at least nominally) amended to require a Senate majority approve of any decrees from the Imperial throne. The Imperial Charter was also amended to require a Council of Regents composed of 12 members randonly selected from the ranks of the senators to govern the Empire until a Senate majority elected a new Imperial ruler in cases the ruling Emperor (in this case Palpatine II himself) was mentally or physically incompetent, died, or vacated the throne. By 5 ABY, Palpatine II's government was in diplomatic negotiations with the New Republic in order to halt the Galactic Civil War. However, New Republic leaders insisted that the Galactic Empire make more changes to laws and policies that discriminated against non-human species, permitted slavery, and restricted civil rights. By late 6 ABY, the New Republic had split into two factions, one that still called itself the New Republic and a breakaway faction that named itself the "True" Republic. In 7 ABY, a decree by Palpatine II approved by an overwhelming Galactic Senate majority repealed discriminatory policies against non-humans, outlawed the slave trade and eliminated restrictions on free-speech rights. The New Republic ended its armed struggle against the Empire in reaction to these new laws, and the New Republic leaders assumed control of 150 solar systems called the Free Worlds League. This League was officially part of the Galactic Empire, but it also had local self-government and direct representation in the Galactic Senate, appointing two senators. However, the True Republic, being extremely anti-Imperial, denounced the New Republic/Free Worlds League leadership for "selling out" and stepped up its war against Imperial authority. In 8 ABY, pro-True Republic terrorists assassinated Emperor Palpatine II, and a Council of Regents composed of 12 members chosen by lottery from the ranks of the Senate assumed leadership of the Imperial regime. In 10 ABY, the Senate elected former Rebel Alliance/New Republic and current Free Worlds League leader and senator Mon Mothma as Empress. Empress Mothma praised Palpatine II as the best ruler and leader in the history of the Galactic Empire.
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