Head of the Jedi Council: Yoda or Mace?

All throughout the Prequel Trilogy, during the numerous Jedi Council scenes, it would seem to some that Mace Windu appears to be the head of the Jedi Order. Yoda looks toward Mace in terms of the Anakin situation, Mace gives Anakin his special assignment, and he adjerns the session during the Kashyyyk campaign. It seems, to me, that Mace Windu, in certain scenes, looks to be the Jedi that everyone reports to. In the Original Trilogy, considering Yoda is the only Jedi left, I have thought that he was the leader, but now, considering the Prequel Trilogy and what we have seen, things may be different.

The question I have, is Yoda the head of the Council, or is it Mace?

 

I would assume Yoda. Not only is he the most powerful Jedi, but also the wisest. Yes, Mace dismisses the Council, but who's to say that Yoda and Mace do not talk before the Council meetings and clear everything up. Yoda's right there in the center, the one everyone can see. He's an important and powerful Jedi.

But I don't think he likes to talk very much and bark so much crap during Council sessions. Yoda's very peaceful. He'd rather allow Mace that. Since it's clear Mace is the voice of the Jedi, more or less.

 

In the EU, it makes Yoda out to be "Grand Master", but I always envisioned it as more of a Knights of the Round Table organization. Some members are older and more experienced, but every Master's opinion counts.

 

Offically, Yoda carries the title of 'Grandmaster of the Jedi" Order, so he leads the Jedi. But I always figured Yoda was grooming Mace to take over the Grand Master title. Yoda died 25 years after ROTS, so to us, in our life span, it's like a couple of years. Yoda knew his life was coming to an end. He was letting Mace slowly take over the duties of Grand Master.

 

Thats pretty much how I see it too. Every member of the councils vote counts equally. However, some members are senior to others and the junior members defer to the senior members.
Because of Yodas 800 plus year age, he's the most senior. But I do get the feeling from the movies that Mace may think Yoda is bordering on senility, and thats why as second most senior member, Mace does a lot of the speaking.

 

Mace is definately jockeying for position in the Council. You can sorta tell he wants to be the big dog, but...yeah...my point about the round table analogy remains. Although I fully agree with the seniority thing.

 

I also think that Yoda was grooming Mace to be grand master, so they are the heads of the JC.

 

Agreed, but I believe that if there is a 3rd 'super-power' amidst the council it would be Plo Koon because he is also labeled a Senior Concil Memeber like Yoda and Mace.

 

Read the Ep.1 visual dictionary. It says that Mace is the SENIOR member of the council. They sit in order of importance starting with Mace and going counterclockwise.

 

Yoda is called Grand Master because of his years of experience and knowledge of the Force. Mace was known as the Senior Jedi Master. Though they all had equal votes, Yoda and Mace would often confer on how best to handle situations. Mace was the leader in the Council sessions and most decisions, while Yoda was in an advisory capacity.

The Grand Master title was only used towards the end of Clone Wars. Prior to that, there is no official listing of other Grand Masters. But it did exist in that era, for Luke would use it later on.

 

Since it's clear Mace is the voice of the Jedi, more or less.

Ooo I like that!

I also agree that Yoda was prepping Mace to be head honcho, a position I think Obi-Wan may have eventually earned. The Council definately respects him. They unanimously (well minus Anakin) vote to send Kenobi after Grievous. Yoda and Mace are also not adverse to holding private meetings with him (AotC in the hall, and the RotS Gunship scene, plus it was originally Mace/Yoda/Obi-Wan in the plot to destroy the Jedi scene).
If Anakin didn't screw up (on more than one instance) I could see Obi-Wan prepping the Chosen One to take over. But yeah, the wife, then the kid, then the chopping off Mace's hand, then the Sith thing kinda screwed that up.
But Obi-Wan could have easily made it. Anakin could've been his top field guy much like Obi-Wan was to Mace and Yoda.

"Master Skywalker, we have reports of pirates planning to ambush a Republic freighter heading for Duros. Disuade them, won't you?"

 

That would have been nice.

 

I'd say that Mace and Yoda are equals-notice that neither one ever seems to give the other orders; they simply tell eachother what the other plans to do, and go from there.

 

Mace is probably head of the council, Yoda is the Jedi Order's Grandmaster. Yoda is pretty much ahead of the chief of the council.

In other words,

Mace = Chief of Staff
Yoda = Commander in Chief

 

That's a concise way of putting it I think.

 

yep.

 

This is WRONG. Yoda is 2nd to Mace. All you Yoda lovers need to remove your Yoda blinders and realize this. READ the visual dictionary. Mace is the LEADER of the Jedi council. If you want to make an Arthur/Merlin comparison, then I might buy that one. But definitely NOT President/Chief of Staff. Mace is the man. Yoda may be wiser, but NOONE can best Mace one on one. Not even Master Yoda.

 

Yoda.

 

Yoda is the head of the Council. He is the best by far.

 

Doo_Doo that's an idiotic statement. GL HIMSELF stated Mace was second in power, and Yoda was first, don't get off-topic on power. There is NO argument there, Yoda is THE most POWERFUL Jedi, while Mace is second. This is a Council, there is no head of staff or crap like that.

Put simply, Mace and Yoda probably both have the most say on matters. Yet Mace is the PUBLIC voice of the Jedi Order. Yoda does not seem like the type who cares for the politics or even to bark orders, clearly he and Mace discuss terms before sessions and then Mace relays them.

 

What does Mace being able to best Yoda have to with anything? I've read the V.D. many times and i'm aware what it says.

 

No kidding. Look at the other people on the council: Are they there because they're great warriors? ) No, they're there because they're skilled in a multitude of things: diplomacy and maturity overtakes fighting skill for a Council nomination in most if not all cases.

 

Yoda is the most powerful Jedi Master in the galaxy, and one would have to be a giant pile of poodoo to think otherwise

 

READ the visual dictionary for Episode 1. Mace is the SENIOR MEMBER of the Jedi High Council. Mace beats Palpatine, while Yoda loses to Palpatine. End of story.

 

Caps do not help you.

Yes, Mace won. Which ultimately triggered order 66 and the Galactic Empire. Whereas Yoda went on to train the boy who one day would be the catalyst for its downfall.