The Congress of the Confederation or the Confederate Systems in Congress Assembled was the unicameral governing body of the Galactic Confederate Systems starting in 5 ABY. It comprised delegates appointed by the legislatures of the systems. It was the immediate successor to the Imperial Senate. At first, it referred to itself as the Confederation Congress throughout its first years in history. The membership of the Second Confederate Congress automatically carried over to the Congress of the Confederation when the latter was created by the ratification of the Confederate Systems Constitution.
History[]
The Congress of the Confederation opened in the last stages of the Confederate War of Secession. Combat ended in 19 ABY with the surrender of the Imperials at the Operation Detachment. The Imperials, however, continued to occupy Bastion, while the Confederate delegates in Dantooine to the New Republic, named by the Congress, negotiated the terms of peace with the Galactic Empire. President Kroger, Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom of the New Republic and Emperor Palpatine in a cloned body, negotiated for days on how to end the war. Based on preliminary articles made on November 30, 18 ABY, and approved by the Congress of the Confederation on April 15, 19 ABY, the Treaty of Independence was signed on September 3, 19 ABY, and ratified by Congress on January 14, 20 ABY, formally ending the War of Secession between the Galactic Empire and the Galactic Confederate Systems which on July 5, 1 ABY, had declared independence.
The Congress had some power and without the external threat of a war against the Imperials, it became more successful to get enough delegates to meet to form a quorum. The Congress even managed to pass important laws, most notably the Northwest Ordinance, Land Ordinance of 3 ABY and the Partisan Ranger Act.
The War of Independence saddled the country with an enormous debt, though. In 2 ABY, the total confederate debt was nearly $40 million. Of that sum, $8 million was owed to the Rebel Alliance and smugglers. Of the domestic debt, government bonds, known as loan-office certificates, composed $11.5 million, certificates on interest indebtedness $3.1 million, and confederate certificates $16.7 million.
The certificates were non-interest bearing notes issued for supplies purchased or impressed, and to pay soldiers and officers. To pay the interest and principal of the debt, Congress had twice proposed an amendment to the Constitution granting them the power to lay a 5% duty on imports, but amendments required the consent of all systems. All systems eventually agreed.
The Congress of the Confederation continued to conduct business for another month after setting the various dates.
Bombing[]
Congress is bombed.
A year before Operation Detachment, the Congress was a subject to an Imperial terrorist bombing in an effort to weaken the Confederacy.