[quote=McFlabbergasty]
I think the main problem with Lucas' execution of the Republic's political unraveling was two-fold: 1) We never see how Palpatine's rule affected the common man on the street and 2) There was too much kriffing C-SPAN going on.
I agree with 1), but not with 2). That is to say, I don't think the politics is the core problem, but rather the fact that Lucas utterly fails in creating a plausible political environment.
Some examples:
1) A non-senator can enter a motion of non-confidence in the Chancellor. What legislative assembly would allow that?
2) A Republic with no armed forces of its own? At least some of these senators will be elected, and the chancellor is, but they have no control over the only group of law enforcement agents in the Galaxy: the Jedi. That defies logic completely.
3) Having Amidala sign the treaty with the TF would actually legalize the invasion and make the crisis go away, achieving the opposite of what Palps wants. A real world example where this actually happened is the Chinese invasion of Tibet, which ended with the Tibetan government forced to sign a treaty legalizing the Chinese occupation.
4) A non-senator can enter a motion to give the Chancellor emergency powers.
5) The strong opposition to the Military Creation Act suddenly disappears because Amidala is not there. Given how long she had struggled with this motion and how potent her group was before the movie starts (indicated by the opening scroll), this is just baffling. Surely, these same Senators would at least offer some resistance to giving Palps so much power?
If the social dynamics work, a political plot can also work. I am convinced of this.