Swiss order of precedence
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The Swiss order of precedence is a hierarchy of important positions within the government of Switzerland. It has no legal standing but is used by ceremonial protocol. The order of precedence is determined by the Protocol Regulations[1] and the Table of Precedence[2] of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Unless otherwise noted, precedence among persons of equal rank is determined by seniority. As a general rule, spouses share the same rank.
Table of precedence
| Color legend |
|---|
| Governments, Parliaments and Courts of the Confederation, Cantons and Communes |
| Diplomats |
| Armed forces |
| Federal administration |
| Religious and educational authorities |
| Rank | Position | Incumbent (as of May 2018[update]) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | President of the Confederation | Alain Berset[3] |
| 2 | Vice President of the Federal Council | Ueli Maurer[3] |
| 3 | Federal Councillors[note 1] | Doris Leuthard, Simonetta Sommaruga, Johann Schneider-Ammann, Guy Parmelin, Ignazio Cassis[4][5] |
| Commanding General[note 2] | vacant in time of peace | |
| 4 | President of the National Council | Dominique de Buman[6] |
| 5 | President of the Council of States | Karin Keller-Sutter[7] |
| 6 | Federal Chancellor | Walter Thurnherr[4] |
| 7 | President of the Federal Supreme Court | Ulrich Meyer[8] |
| 8 | Former Federal Councillors[note 1] | see List of members of the Federal Council |
| 9 | Presidents of the cantonal governments[note 3] | see List of cantonal executives |
|
||
| 10 | Vice Presidents of the National Council | Marina Carobbio Guscetti, Isabelle Moret[6] |
| 11 | Vice Presidents of the Council of States | Jean-René Fournier, Géraldine Savary[7] |
| 12 | Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court | Martha Niquille[8] |
| Bishops | ||
| 13 | Chief of the Armed Forces | Philippe Rebord[9] |
| Secretaries of State | ||
| 14 | Members of the National Council[note 1] | see List of members of the National Council |
| 15 | Members of the Council of States[note 1] | see List of members of the Council of States |
| 16 | Judges of the Federal Supreme Court[note 1] | see List of judges of the Federal Supreme Court |
| 17 | President of the Federal Criminal Court | Tito Ponti[10] |
| 18 | President of the Federal Administrative Court | Jean-Luc Baechler[11] |
| 19 | President of the Federal Patent Court | Mark Schweizer[12] |
| 20 | Heads of Swiss diplomatic missions | |
| Lieutenant Generals | ||
|
||
| President of the Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology | Fritz Schiesser[16] | |
| 21 | Vice Presidents of the cantonal governments[note 3] | see List of cantonal executives |
| 22 | Vice President of the Federal Criminal Court | Giuseppe Muschietti[10] |
| 23 | Vice President of the Federal Administrative Court | Marianne Ryter[11] |
| 24 | Vice President of the Federal Patent Court | Frank Schnyder[12] |
| 25 | Members of the cantonal governments[note 3] | see List of cantonal executives |
| 26 | Members of the Board of the Swiss National Bank | Fritz Zurbrügg, Andréa Maechler[13] |
| 27 | Ambassadors | |
| Major Generals | ||
|
see Federal administration | |
| 28 | Mayor of Bern | Alec von Graffenried[17] |
| Rectors of universities and equivalent establishments | ||
| 29 | Presidents of cantonal legislatures[note 3] | see List of cantonal legislatures |
| Brigadier Generals | ||
| Deputy directors | ||
| 30 | University deans and directors | |
| 31 | Presidents of the cantonal courts[note 3] | |
| Deans of religious authorities | ||
| 32 | Judges of the Federal Criminal Court[note 1] | see List of judges of the Federal Criminal Court |
| Professors of universities and equivalent establishments | ||
| 33 | Judges of the Federal Administrative Court[note 1] | see List of judges of the Federal Administrative Court |
| 34 | Judges of the Federal Patent Court[note 1] | see List of judges of the Federal Patent Court |
| 35 | Presidents of municipal executive authorities[note 3] | |
| 36 | Chancellors of cantons[note 3] | |
| Ministers | ||
| Colonels | ||
| Vice directors | ||
| 37 | Members of cantonal legislatures[note 3] | see List of cantonal legislatures |
| 38 | ||
| Lieutenant Colonels | ||
| 39 | Majors | |
| Section heads | ||
| Priests and Protestant Ministers | ||
| 40 | Vicars |
Notes
References
- ^ Protocol regulations for the Swiss Confederation: English (unofficial) - German - French - Italian
- ^ Precedence in Switzerland (Appendix to the Protocol regulations): English (unofficial) - German - French
- ^ a b "Presidents of the Confederation". www.admin.ch. Federal Chancellery. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "The seven members of the Federal Council". www.admin.ch. Federal Chancellery. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "All federal councils". www.admin.ch. Federal Chancellery. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "The Office of the National Council". www.parlament.ch. The Swiss Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "The Office of the Council of States". www.parlament.ch. The Swiss Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Bundesrichter". www.bger.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Supreme Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Chef der Armee". www.vtg.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Armed Forces. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "President of Court". www.bstger.ch. Swiss Federal Criminal Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Court Presidium". www.bvger.ch. Swiss Federal Administrative Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Organisation". www.bundespatentgericht.ch. Swiss Federal Patent Court. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Governing Board". www.snb.ch. Swiss National Bank. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Board of Directors". www.sbb.ch. Swiss Federal Railways. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Swiss Post Board of Directors". www.post.ch. Swiss Post. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "Members of ETH Board". www.ethrat.ch. ETH Board. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ "City Council". www.bern.ch. City of Bern. Retrieved 6 May 2018.