Why didn't the Jedi use Order 65?

Question

Order 65 states:

Order 65 was one of the 150 contingency orders that the clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic were trained to carry out in the event of different emergency scenarios during the Clone Wars. Order 65 stated that if a majority of the Senate or the Security Council declared that the Supreme Chancellor—at that time Palpatine—was unfit for duty, the Chancellor was to be captured or, if necessary, killed.

But Mace Windu and the Jedi Council:

Thinking pragmatically, Windu concluded that the Jedi Council would have to seize control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition of power from the Office of Supreme Chancellor to the Jedi High Council. Master Yoda feared where such a line of thought would lead the Jedi Order, but even Yoda himself was weary of the Chancellor's actions and seemed to agree, albeit reluctantly, with the idea of arresting Palpatine and stripping him of his office.

Here is the transcript.

MACE WINDU: I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor.

Kl-ADI-MUNDI: If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from office.

MACE WiNDU: That could be a dangerous move ... the Jedi Council would have to take control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition . . .

Kl-ADI-MUNDI: . . . and replace the Congress with Senators who are not filled with greed and corruption.

YODA: To a dark place this line of thought will carry us. Hmmmmm. . . . great care we must take.

How exactly is that thinking pragmatically when they have Order 65 on the table? Not to mention that they aren't just talking about removing Palpatine, but taking over the Senate. It is not like there is no other option, there is an entire Security Council that seems like it was formed for just this purpose. The council is only loosely defined in the Wikia:

The Security Council was a group amongst the Galactic Senate that was charged with overseeing the security of the Galactic Republic.

Among the Security Council's list of powers was the authority to initiate Order 65, a contingency command instructing all units of the Grand Army of the Republic that the Supreme Chancellor had been declared a threat to the Galactic Republic and was to be apprehended or terminated if necessary. Unlike its counterpart, Order 66, Order 65 was never enacted.

But it seems like one would reasonably assume that the Security Council would be autonomous from Palpatine himself. Not only does this decision seem rather odd for the supposedly wise Jedi Council but it:

Leaves the door wide open for Palpatine to execute Order 66 and start the Great Jedi Purge.

It is also important to note that:

At this point the Jedi don't realize Palpatine is Darth Sidious. He's just another politician to them.

So, are there any other in-universe reasons why the Jedi ignore this option?

Answer 1

Since the Jedi believed Palpatine was a Sith Lord, they considered him too dangerous to entrust with the vital functions of a Chancellor. From the film Revenge of the Sith:

Windu: "We just received word that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grevious. We're on our way to make sure the Chancellor returns emergency power back to the Senate."

Anakin: "He won't give up his power. I've just learned a terrible truth. I think Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord."

Windu: "A Sith Lord?"

Anakin: "Yes. The one we've been looking for."

Windu: "How do you know this?"

Anakin: "He knows the ways of the Force. He's been trained to use the dark side."

Windu: "Are you sure?"

Anakin: "Absolutely."

Windu: "Then our worst fears have been realized. We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive." [1:08]

Also, when they went to arrest him:

Windu: In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor."

Palpatine: "Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?"

Windu: "The Senate will decide your fate."

And when Anakin finally showed up, Windu revealed how he felt about the options - why they could not entrust him to the Security Council:

Windu: "You are under arrest, my lord."

But after Palpatine begins to persuade Anakin and attacks Windu with lightning:

Windu: "I am going to end this, once and for all."

Anakin: "You can't. He must stand trial."

Windu: "He has control of the Senate and the Courts. He's too dangerous to be left alive [emphasis mine]

So Windu believed there was no safe way to arrest Palpatine. He had to kill the Chancellor. As to why Windu's mind changed so quickly over Force lightning, well, you'll have to ask George Lucas. But in summary, Windu did say why Order 65 wasn't enacted. Because 'he's too dangerous to be left alive.'

Answer 2

Most Senators were fully supportive of Palpatine.

Even those who opposed, were peacenicks who would have likely shied away from open conflict that Order 65 represented (e.g. Bail Organa or Amidala). And those were a small minority.

Answer 3

In the EU, I have seen no indication that the Jedi were aware of the 150 contingency orders that were taught to the clones, and it's not clear whether they had the authority to invoke such orders.

What's more, the wording of the order seems to indicate the Security Council can do it. Unfortunately, the Sith were regarded as either a myth or just a religion for the general populace -- "The Chancellor is actually a Sith Lord!" is not likely to be a sufficient reason for such a council to label Palpatine a threat. Only the Jedi properly appreciate how dangerous a Sith Lord is.

It's easy to see why the Jedi would take matters into their own hands, and indeed it seems that they were right to do so given that when they failed Palpatine all but wiped out the Jedi Order.

Answer 4

Order 65 couldn't really help the Jedi because of two reasons:

Order 65 stated that if a majority of the Senate or the Security Council declared that the Supreme Chancellor—at that time Palpatine—was unfit for duty, the Chancellor was to be captured or, if necessary, killed.

1. By the time Jedi came to know that Palpatine was a Sith, most government bodies were under the control of Palpatine. There was a high chance that Senate or Security Council wouldn't declare anything against Palpatine.

2. Being a Sith was not a crime. So far, Chancellor Palpatine was doing everything right in the interest of the Republic, officially. He was 100% fit for the duty.

The Jedi knew this fact. Taking down a Sith was their personal interest, not the interest of the Republic.

Answer 5

Using the same evidence as @SSummer's answer I come to a different conclusion.

1. Anakin informs Mace he thinks Palpatine is the Sith Lord.
2. Mace mentions they must "move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive."
3. Time Passes
4. Mace arrives and tries to arrest (then kill) Palpatine.

My suggestion is that during #3, Mace and/or the Jedi Council consult with the (ambiguously defined) Security Council and come to a majority decision to arrest or kill Palpatine. Then Mace proceeds to try to accomplish just that.

I don't have much evidence that this is the case but I have raised another question that could support or negate this argument: Who was in the Security Council?

If the Jedi were aware of Order 65, it is possible that they were able to place sympathetic senators/representatives in the Security Council for this specific purpose.

Answer 6

IF you read Orders 65 and 66... you'll notice a GLARING difference. One that no one would probably even think about... until after the fact. Order 65 requires the action of the Senate or of the Security Council, which is basically a group of high ranking Senators. Order 66 requires ONLY the authorization of the Supreme Chancellor. Palpatine. Without any other authorization.

That is HUGE!!! We already know from the first two movies that the Senate takes a very long time to decide ANYTHING. Further, most of the Senate, or at least enough, is under the control of Palpatine. The Security Council is never actually talked about in the movies or even books. But, if it's anything like what our own governments use... it probably requires either a unanimous decision or at least a two thirds majority vote. Again, I'm sure Palpatine was shrew enough to ensure that they'd never get a two thirds majority against him. So there's NO WAY that Order 65 would ever be issued.

That's why it's a group of Jedi, not clones, that go to arrest Palpatine. Windu says "In the name of the Galactic Senate..." But, in fact, the Jedi HAD NO SUCH AUTHORIZATION from the Senate. Which is why Palpatine utters the statement "So it's treason then." Before spanking four Jedi in lightsaber combat and then suckering Anakin into maiming Windu. So that he could charge them with treason and have audio to prove it. Then shut off the recording and spank some Jedi butt.

If you notice, though, when Yoda confronts Palpatine, he is flanked by two royal guards as well as the Vice Chancellor and Speaker. The Senate entry way is covered by clone troopers. So, he clearly has the Senate supporting him. He gives his speech to the Senate, who welcomes the death of liberty with thunderous applause. The Senate clearly is completely in agreement with the story that the Jedi tried to overthrow the Republic. Which is because that's pretty much true. The Jedi did try to overthrow the Republic. Making Order 66 totally justifiable as well as cementing that Order 65 would never happen.

So, there was never a chance that Order 65 would ever get approved.

Answer 7

If we want to learn this answer we must learn and explore Sifo-Dyas's death with Darth Tyranus's (Count Dooku) life. We can add Kamino, Qui-Gon Jinn, founding of the Clone Troopers, Jango Fett etc. It's a loooong story. But I can say the Jedi don't know about this order. Because Sifo-Dyas found it and he didn't or can't say it (look at Star Wars Clone Wars Sifo-Dyas Scenes, Star Wars 2 Attack Of The Clones and http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Sifo-Dyas). But Darth Tyranus knew it (because he was a friend of Sifo-Dyas and then he killed him [Sifo-Dyas learned Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus for some different sources]) then say it his Master Sidious. You can search it profoundly. Just I can say the Jedi don't know it or the Jedi learned it too late.

Answer 8

According to SW:TCW Season 6, not even the clones knew about Contingency Order 66. Only the Kaminoan doctors and Prime Minister, Dooku and Sidious, and presumably Sifo-Dyas knew about it at all. It would make sense, then, that all contingency orders were completely unknown to everyone else, including the clones that would have no choice but to carry out those orders. Order 65 wasn't an option for the Jedi Council because as far as they were concerned, it didn't exist. If it's true that the Contingency Orders were all approved by the Senate, then perhaps the giant omnibus bill the Senate approved was necessarily vague on the details. With Palpy presiding, he must have simply prevented anyone from asking any further questions. Whether that was through political schmoozing or direct use of the Dark Side, who knows.