Emergency Powers Act

The Emergency Powers Act or EPA was an amendment to the Galactic Constitution passed in 24 BBY. It eliminated term limits for Supreme Chancellors, giving each Chancellor the option of when to stand down for new elections. The act also granted powers for chancellors to make instant decisions without the need for full senate approval, giving Palpatine all necessary authority to attempt to end the Separatist Crisis, including declaration of martial law on local systems.

The Senate granted the chancellor special powers for the duration of the emergency, yet Palpatine himself was the only person who had the authority to declare the emergency over.

Text and facts from the “Emergency Powers Act/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.