Chapter 17 Summary

Anakin and Jar Jar are invited by the Queen to attend the Senate session as observers. Anakin is awed f by the arena-sized Senate Chamber with its central podium for the Chancellor and the Senatorial boxes, which hold representatives from all parts of the galaxy and have the ability to float in to the center as its Senator is given permission to speak. The boy quickly recovers from his initial reaction, and follows the proceedings closely.

Senator Palpatine privately councils the Queen to call for a vote of non-confidence in Chancellor Valorum if it looks like the Senate is going to defer action on the invasion of Naboo. She is reluctant. Senator Palpatine is persuasive, and it looks as though the Senate is just what he has represented it to be - the Trade Federation hotly denying their guilt and Palpatine pressing the...