Every planet in Galactic Republic in a revolutionary vote to elect a new chancellor. Pé exuded wisdom at every turn, even uniting the Naboo people with the amphibious Gungans against the attacking waves of battle droids.

The idea that a queen could be elected seems counterintuitive, but the humans who live on the surface of Naboo have operated that way for centuries. After being elected, the monarch would have a team of trusted advisors to help them be an efficient ruler. Along with the elected monarch, Naboo was governed by a group of ministers led by a governor. Together with the queen, the Naboo Royal Advisory Council worked to keep Naboo running smoothly.

The Naboo Elect Their Queens To Rule Them

The planet of Naboo might have one of the strangest systems of government in Star Wars. Their monarchs are usually teenage girls, as the people of Naboo believed that the young women possessed a childlike innocence as well as wisdom. Queens ruled for 4 years at a time, and they could seek reelection once after their first term ended.

Anyone could run for office, but the elected monarch was usually from the royal House of Naboo. During their campaign for monarch, the prospective queen would adopt a new name and appearance that she would use upon her inauguration. This new identity would protect her loved ones in the case of any political foul play, as well as create a perfect camouflage for the young queen by surrounding her with handmaidens who could adopt her likeness in risky situations.

There Were Actually Three More Queens By The End Of The Prequels

After Pé’s time as queen comes to an end, she decides to pursue a career as a senator. The movies briefly discuss this change, but the inner workings of the Naboo government are shown in the novel Queen’s Shadow by E. K. Johnston, which follows Pé and her handmaidens through that process as well as the election of Naboo’s next queen. Queen Jamillia followed in Pé’s footsteps, ruling for two years. During the Clone Wars, Queen Neeyutnee took the throne, followed by Queen Apailana, who saw Naboo through the end of the war and into the Imperial Era.

Queen Apailana was elected at the age of 12, making her one of Naboo’s youngest rulers in Star Wars history. Despite that, she refused to be absorbed into Palpatine’s Empire and actively ed the Rebel Alliance when she could. Following the courageous lead of her predecessor, Pé Amidala, Queen Apailana put her people first.