Talk:Excellency

United States President

In the United States, the term "Excellency" was specifically denied to the president, with Mr./Madam President or the honorable being his/her only legal titles. In foreign countries, and in UN protocol, the President is usually referred to as His Excellency, however. New England Governors have retained the title of excellency, though it is rarely used, following traditional British practice (see below).

Really? Can someone please cite the relevant statute that specifically proscribes the use of the style "Excellency" for the President? If not, how is it "specifically denied?"

Washington was regularly referred to as "Excellency" by his officers, and some persons called him that after he was elected President. The article President of the United States says that Lincoln was referred to as "His Excellency" in funeral notices. It may not be officially sanctioned, but is it really officially banned? Is it only "denied" to a President wishing to style himself "Excellency," or is it also illegal for government workers & private citizens to do so? A Google search shows numerous instances of Presidents Bush, Reagan and Clinton being referred to as "His Excellency" by foreign dignitaries. Would a President be required to repudiate the "Excellency" greeting?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400040310/103-0649201-6753455?v=glance His Excellency: George Washingon --- better stop the presses!

I actually thought that Washington was offered the style but denied it. Mac Domhnaill 21:52, 30 September 2005 (UTC)

Most likely, its not illegal, but simply discouraged owing to its vaguely aristocratic air. At any rate, it is not used in the US to refer to the President, who is usually refered to as "Mr./Madam President". RobLinwood 20:44, 2 January 2006 (UTC)

"Madam"? There has never been a female president of the United States; it would be more (historically) accurate to say that the President is always referred to as "Mr. President" and mention "Madam" as a possible title, should there ever be a female president.Leopold III 06:38, 22 April 2007 (UTC)Leopold III

United States governors

I'm a bit troubled by the sentence, "In the six states of New England, governors have retained the honorific "Excellency," following traditional British colonial practice, though it is rarely used." I can't vouch for the other states, but it seems to be anything but rare in Massachusetts (on paper, at least). Sahasrahla (talk) 01:07, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

It looks like someone has since edited this section to include Minnesota: "In the six states of New England, governors have retained the honorific "Excellency," following traditional British colonial practice, though it is rarely used. They are: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. All of these states were among the original Thirteen Colonies, either as colonies in their own right, or (in the case of Vermont and Maine) as parts of other colonies." Given that Minnesota is neither in New England nor one of the original colonies, it seems to have been inserted haphazardly at best and disingenuously at worst, so I'm going to remove it. Selimtheslim (talk) 07:51, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries

In Saudi Arabia the title "Excellency" is a government rank to ministers and high ranking official upon issuing a royal decree by the His Majesty the King. In Arabic is called معالي or Ma'ally in English, and is also used for university Presidents as seen in this royal decree http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/details.php?id=814045 and as seen in the information page on the President of King Abdulaziz University http://university-president.kau.edu.sa/content.aspx?Site_ID=101&lng=EN&cid=2323 a person who is awarded the Excellency rank holds the title for the rest of his life, and even addressed by his title after death. Citizens are required to address the holder of the rank by his title, Example: His Excellency Prof Mahmood Safar the Previous Minister of Hajj معالي الاستاذ الدكتور محمود سفر ويز الحج السابق —Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.50.63.190 (talk) 02:53, 1 September 2010 (UTC)